Christian country music (sometimes marketed as country gospel, gospel country, positive country or inspirational country) is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream

secular music Non-religious secular music and Religious music, sacred music were the two main genres of Western world, Western music during the Middle Ages and Renaissance music, Renaissance era. The oldest written examples of secular music are songs with Lat ...

. Christian country music is a form of

Christian music Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...

, and a subgenre of both

Gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...

and

Country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

Characteristic

Christian country musicians are artists who blend traditional country music with faith of Christian music. Like other forms of music, the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of Christian country music varies according to culture and social context. It is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes with a positive message, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. A common theme as with most Christian music is praise, worship or thanks to God and/or

Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...

Organizations

Many Christian country organizations have been around for a great number of years. The oldest of all of these organizations is the International Country Gospel Music Association which was founded in 1957. These organizations were founded to further artists careers much in the same manner as the GMA,

NARAS National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...

or CMA. Many of these organizations have yearly conventions which hosts music showcases and awards shows. The CCMA was sued by the CMA for award name right infringement. The CCMA renamed their awards show after a federal judge ruled that they could no longer use the name. The new name is the ICM Music Awards' which stands for "Inspirational Country Music".United States from AllBusiness.com">CCMA sued by the CMA for Trademark InfringementCCMA SuedCCMA responds to lawsuit

Radio

Radio personality Bob Wilson was one of the first radio personalities to see the potential of the genre. His weekly show ''Gospel Country Round-up'' aired for many years playing southern and Christian country music. Many Christian country stations today are going the way of Internet stations. That is a positive move for this genre, however, because there are few terrestrial radio stations that play a strictly Christian country format. Many mainstream country stations only have a weekly Sunday Country Gospel show.Bob Wilson KNGR Radio Christian country has several syndicated programs. The ''Country Gospel Countdown'' has broadcast since 1984 and syndicated since 1988, ''The Country Parson'' radio program with host Scott Perkins, broadcast since 1995 and has been syndicated since 1998.The Country ParsonCountry Gospel Countdown ''Today's Cross Country'' with Marty Smith, broadcast since 1995, syndicated since 1996.Today's Cross Country ''Ken's Country Radio Show'', The ''Radio Hour'', ''Country Messenger'', ''The Ranch'' radio show on KKUS, and Canadian produced ''Riverside Country''.The Country MessengerThe RanchRiverside Country The Country Gospel Music Guild also airs a weekly radio program while ''Circuit Rider Radio'' airs on conventional and satellite radio worldwide.Circuit Rider Radio Other syndicated weekend shows that feature Inspirational and Positive Country music are ''Power Source Top 20'', and finally, the ''American Christian Music Review'' for United Stations Radio Networks. These programs are aired nationwide weekly on both Country and Southern Gospel radio stations.Power Source Top 20The American Christian Music Review AM/FM and Internet stations that play Christian Country Music include 90.5 KJIC Christian Country Radio, CBN Cross Country, HLE Radio, Heaven's Country and 89.9 Today's Christian Country.

Country gospel musicians

Many secular country music artists have recorded country gospel songs or have performed them on their radio and television programs. From 1956–1960, two network shows usually concluded with a gospel number, which was popular with viewers: '' The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show'' and

Red Foley Clyde Julian "Red" Foley (June 17, 1910 – September 19, 1968) was an American musician who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II. For more than two decades, Foley was one of the biggest stars of the gen ...

's ''

Ozark Jubilee ''Ozark Jubilee'' is a 1950s American television program that featured country music's top stars of the day. It was produced in Springfield, Missouri. The weekly live stage show premiered on ABC-TV on January 22, 1955, was renamed ''Country Mu ...

''. Other shows like ''

Hee Haw ''Hee Haw'' is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired from 1969 to 1993, and on TNN from 1996 to 1997. Reruns of the series were broadcast on ...

'', the '' Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters'', and

the Statler Brothers The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group from Staunton, Virginia. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening a ...

implemented the same programming style. ''Hee Haw'' featured a gospel song at the end of each of its shows. Stars Roy Clark,

Buck Owens Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the frontman for The Buckaroos, which had 21 No. 1 hits on the ''Billboard'' country music chart. He pioneered what came ...

Grandpa Jones Louis Marshall Jones (October 20, 1913 – February 19, 1998), known professionally as Grandpa Jones, was an American banjo player and Old-time music, old time/country music, country music singer. He was inducted as a member of the Country Musi ...

, and Kenny Price would sing a traditional hymn or a well-known song by mainstream country and Christian artists. The segment itself served as a balance to the show's loony, corn-style humor. The ''

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...

'', the longest running radio show and one of the most popular country music shows, includes gospel music as a part of its program. In the past, most Christian country music was recorded by musicians with southern gospel flair like

the Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American vocal quartet. The classic and most well-known lineup of the group, which performed together for over 40 years, consisted of William Lee Golden (baritone), Duane Allen (lead), Richard Sterban (bass), and Joe ...

Webb Pierce Michael Webb Pierce (August 8, 1921 – February 24, 1991) was an American country music vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist of the 1950s, one of the most popular of the genre, charting more number-one hits than any other country and western pe ...

Red Sovine Woodrow Wilson "Red" Sovine (July 7, 1917 – April 4, 1980) was an American country music singer and songwriter associated with truck-driving country songs, particularly those recited as narratives but set to music. His most noted examples ar ...

Mercy River Boys The Mercy River Boys were an American Christian country music band who performed from 1979 to 1985. They were nominated for a Grammy Award for their first album, ''Breakout'' (Canaan Records, 1979). The album was also a finalist for the Gospel Mu ...

The Louvin Brothers The Louvin Brothers were an American musical duo composed of brothers Ira and Charlie Louvin (''né'' Loudermilk). The brothers are cousins to John D. Loudermilk, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member. The brothers wrote and performed ...

, and the

Carter Family The Carter Family was an American folk music group that recorded and performed between 1927 and 1956. Regarded as one of the most important music acts of the early 20th century, they had a profound influence on the development of bluegrass, c ...

. More mainstream country artists, ranging from

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as "Hey Loretta", "The Pill (song), The P ...

and

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

to Alabama and

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studi ...

, recorded gospel albums while continuing to record secular music.

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...

, a devout Christian, recorded several best-selling gospel albums and included a Christian song during his concerts. Webb Pierce released the album ''Faith Hope and Love'', which included the gospel song "I Love Him Dearly".

Ray Stevens Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939), known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country music, country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian. He is best known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "M ...

, a musician known primarily for his comedy and novelty recordings, recorded an album of Christian music. Songs included "Everything is Beautiful" and "Mississippi Squirrel Revival". Although the Oak Ridge Boys began releasing secular country songs in the late 1970s, they maintained their gospel roots by recording religious material and performing gospel songs in their concerts, as well as producing songs stressing Christian values and family unity. The Mercy River Boys released their debut album, ''Breakout'' (via Canaan Records) in 1979, firmly establishing the new Christian Country genre. Don Cusic (''Billboard'' Magazine, Vol. 90, No 31), credits Canaan Records for creating a band to crossover into country music, improving "what is essentially a good product (gospel) and made it become commercially viable." The Mercy River Boys charted hits in Country, Southern Gospel and on traditional Gospel formats. Other gospel groups followed the Oak Ridge Boys and the Mercy River Boys into Christian Country music. At times, gospel and Christian-themed songs earned mass mainstream appeal. Among the most popular of these songs included "

Why Me Why Me or Why Me? may refer to: Music * Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song), "Why Me" (Kris Kristofferson song), 1973 * Why Me (Styx song), "Why Me" (Styx song), 1979 * Why Me? (Irene Cara song), "Why Me?" (Irene Cara song), 1983 * Why Me? (Linda Mart ...

" by

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...

(1973), " The Seeker" by Dolly Parton (1975), " One Day at a Time" by Cristy Lane (1980), " Three Wooden Crosses" by

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country and gospel music singer and songwriter, as well as a film and television actor. Active since 1979, he has recorded over 20 studio albums and ...

(2003), " Long Black Train" by Josh Turner (2003), " Jesus, Take the Wheel" by

Carrie Underwood Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of ''American Idol'' in 2005, returning as a judge beginning with the twenty-third season. Underwood's f ...

(2005), and " When I Get Where I'm Going" by

Brad Paisley Brad Douglas Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His first success came in 1997 as the writer of David Kersh's "Another You (David Kersh song), Another You". After this, he signed with ...

(2006).

Christian country magazines

*''Christian Music Weekly'' (formerly CCRB) since 1990Conversation with Rob Green, publisher *''Power Source Magazine'' *''Circuit Rider Magazine'' *''Christian Country Gospel News'' *''Super Christian Country'' *''Singing News magazine''

References