Country Music Is Entirely at War With Itself
The article explores the deep cultural and political divide within country music, highlighting how the genre is split between a traditional, white-dominated Nashville establishment and a growing, diverse group of Black, Indigenous, queer, and outsider artists reclaiming and redefining country music. As mainstream artists like Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey venture into country, they face a choice between aligning with reactionary whiteness or embracing a more inclusive, diverse vision — a conflict that reflects broader tensions in American culture. Ultimately, country music is less about sound than about who gets to represent the genre, revealing how identity and power shape the music industry.
Animated illustration for The New York Times.
The article explores the deep cultural and political divide within country music, highlighting how the genre is split between a traditional, white-dominated Nashville establishment and a growing, diverse group of Black, Indigenous, queer, and outsider artists reclaiming and redefining country music. As mainstream artists like Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey venture into country, they face a choice between aligning with reactionary whiteness or embracing a more inclusive, diverse vision — a conflict that reflects broader tensions in American culture. Ultimately, country music is less about sound than about who gets to represent the genre, revealing how identity and power shape the music industry.
Animated illustration for The New York Times.
Year: 2025
AD: Elana Schlenker
AD: Elana Schlenker
