Editing Country music (section)

==International==

===Australia===
{{Main|Australian country music}}
[[File:Olivia Newton-John Sydney 2008.jpg|upright=0.7|thumb|left|[[Olivia Newton-John]] singing in [[Sydney]] in 2008]]

[[Australian country music]] has a long tradition. Influenced by US country music, it has developed a distinct style, shaped by British and Irish folk ballads and Australian [[bush ballad]]eers like [[Henry Lawson]] and [[Banjo Paterson]]. Country instruments, including the guitar, [[banjo]], [[fiddle]] and harmonica, create the distinctive sound of country music in Australia and accompany songs with strong storyline and memorable chorus.

Folk songs sung in Australia between the 1780s and 1920s, based around such themes as the struggle against government [[tyranny]], or the lives of [[bushranger]]s, [[swagmen]], [[Drover (Australian)|drovers]], [[Stockman (Australia)|stockmen]] and [[sheep shearer|shearers]], continue to influence the genre. This strain of Australian country, with lyrics focusing on Australian subjects, is generally known as "bush music" or "[[bush band]] music". "[[Waltzing Matilda]]", often regarded as Australia's unofficial [[national anthem]], is a quintessential Australian country song, influenced more by British and Irish folk ballads than by US country and western music. The lyrics were composed by the poet Banjo Paterson in 1895. Other popular songs from this tradition include "[[The Wild Colonial Boy]]", "[[Click Go the Shears]]", "The Queensland Drover" and "The Dying Stockman". Later themes which endure to the present include the experiences of war, of droughts and flooding rains, of [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginality]] and of the railways and trucking routes which link Australia's vast distances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/bush/ |title=Bush songs and music – Australia's Culture Portal |work=Cultureandrecreation.gov.au |access-date=February 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406104520/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/bush/ |archive-date=April 6, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/country/ |title=Australian country music – Australia's Culture Portal |work=Cultureandrecreation.gov.au |date=November 24, 2006 |access-date=February 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217020802/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/country/ |archive-date=February 17, 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Kasey_Chambers_at_APRA_Music_Awards_2012_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kasey Chambers]] arguably one of the most successful Australian female country singers.]]

Pioneers of a more Americanised popular country music in Australia included [[Tex Morton]] (known as "The Father of Australian Country Music") in the 1930s. Author Andrew Smith delivers a through research and engaged view of Tex Morton's life and his impact on the country music scene in Australia in the 1930s and 1940s. Other early stars included [[Buddy Williams (country musician)|Buddy Williams]], [[Shirley Thoms]] and [[Smoky Dawson]]. Buddy Williams (1918–1986) was the first Australian-born to record country music in Australia in the late 1930s and was the pioneer of a distinctly Australian style of country music called the bush ballad that others such as Slim Dusty would make popular in later years. During the Second World War, many of Buddy Williams recording sessions were done whilst on leave from the Army. At the end of the war, Williams would go on to operate some of the largest travelling tent rodeo shows Australia has ever seen.

In 1952, Dawson began a radio show and went on to national stardom as a singing cowboy of radio, TV and film. [[Slim Dusty]] (1927–2003) was known as the "King of Australian Country Music" and helped to popularise the Australian [[bush ballad]]. His successful career spanned almost six decades, and his 1957 hit "[[A Pub with No Beer]]" was the biggest-selling record by an Australian to that time, and with over seven million record sales in Australia he is the most successful artist in Australian musical history.<ref name="Guardian-obit">Dave" Laing, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/20/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries "Slim Dusty: Country singer famous for A Pub With No Beer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104171338/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/20/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries |date=November 4, 2021 }}, ''The Guardian (UK)'', 20 September 2003</ref> Dusty recorded and released his one-hundredth album in the year 2000 and was given the honour of singing "[[Waltzing Matilda]]" in the closing ceremony of the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000 Olympic Games]]. Dusty's wife [[Joy McKean]] penned several of his most popular songs.

[[Chad Morgan]], who began recording in the 1950s, has represented a [[vaudeville]] style of comic Australian country; [[Frank Ifield]] achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Charts and [[Reg Lindsay]] was one of the first Australians to perform at Nashville's [[Grand Ole Opry]] in 1974.<ref>{{cite news|last=Duncan |first=Jamie |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/reg-lindsay-country-great-takes-final-bow/1236107.aspx |title=Reg Lindsay, country great, takes final bow – Local News – News – General |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=August 6, 2008 |access-date=February 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807072605/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/reg-lindsay-country-great-takes-final-bow/1236107.aspx |archive-date=August 7, 2008 }}</ref> [[Eric Bogle]]'s 1972 folk lament to the [[Gallipoli Campaign]] "[[And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda]]" recalled the British and Irish origins of Australian folk-country. Singer-songwriter [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]], whose music style straddles folk, rock and country, is often described as the [[poet laureate]] of Australian music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=15390 |title=Civics &#124; Paul Kelly (1955–) |work=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |access-date=February 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602031440/http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=15390 |archive-date=June 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |date=June 14, 2005 }}</ref> 
[[File:Keith Urban in PoAH (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright|[[Keith Urban]] in 2007]]

By the 1990s, country music had attained crossover success in the pop charts, with artists like [[James Blundell (singer)|James Blundell]] and [[James Reyne]] singing "[[The Dingoes|Way Out West]]", and country star [[Kasey Chambers]] winning the [[ARIA Award for Best Female Artist]] in three years (2000, 2002 and 2004), tying with pop stars [[Wendy Matthews]] and [[Sia]] for the most wins in that category. Furthermore, Chambers has gone on to win nine [[ARIA Award for Best Country Album|ARIA Awards for Best Country Album]] and, in 2018, became the youngest artist to ever be inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]]. The crossover influence of Australian country is also evident in the music of successful contemporary bands [[the Waifs]] and the [[John Butler Trio]]. [[Nick Cave]] has been heavily influenced by the country artist [[Johnny Cash]]. In 2000, Cash, covered Cave's "[[The Mercy Seat (song)|The Mercy Seat]]" on the album ''[[American III: Solitary Man]]'', seemingly repaying Cave for the compliment he paid by covering Cash's "The Singer" (originally "[[The Folk Singer]]") on his ''[[Kicking Against the Pricks]]'' album. Subsequently, Cave cut a duet with Cash on a version of [[Hank Williams]]' "[[I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry]]" for Cash's ''[[American IV: The Man Comes Around]]'' album (2002).<ref>{{cite news| first=Nick | last=Cave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/13/arts.artsnews1 |title=Nick Cave on Johnny Cash &#124; Music |newspaper=The Guardian |date= September 13, 2003|access-date=February 1, 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

[[File:Sara_Storer.png|thumb|upright=.8|[[Sara Storer]] celebrated for her heartfelt songwriting and authentic storytelling.]]

Popular contemporary performers of Australian country music include [[John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson]] (who wrote the iconic "[[True Blue (John Williamson song)|True Blue]]"), [[Lee Kernaghan]] (whose hits include "Boys from the Bush" and "[[The Outback Club]]"), [[Gina Jeffreys]], Forever Road and [[Sara Storer]]. In the U.S., [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Sherrié Austin]] and [[Keith Urban]] have attained great success. During her time as a country singer in the 1970s, Newton-John became the first (and to date only) non-US winner of the [[Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year]] which many considered a controversial decision by the CMA; after starring in the rock-and-roll musical film ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]'' in 1978, Newton-John (mirroring the character she played in the film) shifted to pop music in the 1980s. Urban is arguably considered the most successful international Australian country star, winning nine CMA Awards, including three [[Country Music Association Award for Male Vocalist of the Year|Male Vocalist of the Year]] wins and two wins of the CMA's top honour [[Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year|Entertainer of the Year]]. Pop star [[Kylie Minogue]] found success with her 2018 country pop album ''[[Golden (Kylie Minogue album)|Golden]]'' which she recorded in Nashville reaching number one in Scotland, the UK and her native Australia.

Country music has been a particularly popular form of musical expression among [[Indigenous Australians]]. [[Troy Cassar-Daley]] is among Australia's successful contemporary indigenous performers, and [[Kev Carmody]] and [[Archie Roach]] employ a combination of folk-rock and country music to sing about Aboriginal rights issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/folk/ |title=Australian folk music – Australia's Culture Portal |work=Cultureandrecreation.gov.au |access-date=February 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217015929/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/folk/ |archive-date=February 17, 2011 }}</ref>

The [[Tamworth Country Music Festival]] began in 1973 and now attracts up to 100,000 visitors annually. Held in [[Tamworth, New South Wales]] (country music capital of Australia), it celebrates the culture and heritage of Australian country music. During the festival the [[Country Music Association of Australia|CMAA]] holds the [[Country Music Awards of Australia]] ceremony awarding the [[Golden Guitar]] trophies.  Other significant country music festivals include the Whittlesea Country Music Festival (near [[Melbourne]]) and the [[Mildura Country Music Festival]] for "independent" performers during October, and the [[Canberra Country Music Festival]] held in the national capital during November.

''Country HQ'' showcases new talent on the rise in the country music scene [[down under]]. CMC (the [[Country Music Channel]]), a 24‑hour music channel dedicated to non-stop country music, can be viewed on [[pay TV]] and features once a year the Golden Guitar Awards, CMAs and CCMAs alongside international shows such as ''The Wilkinsons'', ''The Road Hammers'', and ''Country Music Across America''.

===Canada===
{{Main|Canadian country music|Canadian Country Music Association|Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame}}
[[File:ShaniaTwainJunoAwardsMar2011.jpg|thumb|upright|Shania Twain in 2011]]
Outside of the United States, Canada has the largest country music fan and artist base, something that is to be expected given the two countries' proximity and cultural parallels. Mainstream country music is culturally ingrained in the [[Canadian Prairies|prairie provinces]], the [[British Columbia Interior]], Northern Ontario, and in [[Atlantic Canada]].<ref name="book">{{cite book |last=Wolfe |first=Charles K. |author2=James Edward Akenson |title=The Women of Country Music |year=2003 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |pages=162=163}}</ref> [[Celtic music|Celtic traditional music]] developed in Atlantic Canada in the form of Scottish, Acadian and Irish folk music popular amongst Irish, French and Scottish immigrants to Canada's Atlantic Provinces ([[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], [[Nova Scotia]], [[New Brunswick]], and [[Prince Edward Island]]).<ref name="book"/> Like the southern United States and [[Appalachia]], all four regions are of heavy [[British Isles]] stock and rural; as such, the development of traditional music in the Maritimes somewhat mirrored the development of country music in the US South and Appalachia. Country and western music never really developed separately in Canada; however, after its introduction to Canada, following the spread of radio, it developed quite quickly out of the Atlantic Canadian traditional scene. While true Atlantic Canadian traditional music is very Celtic or "[[sea shanty]]" in nature, even today, the lines have often been blurred. Certain areas often are viewed as embracing one strain or the other more openly. For example, in Newfoundland the traditional music remains unique and [[Music of Ireland|Irish]] in nature, whereas traditional musicians in other parts of the region may play both genres interchangeably.

[[File:Terri_Clark_on_CP_Holiday_Train_2017-12-09.jpg|thumb|left|[[Terri Clark]]]]
''[[Don Messer's Jubilee]]'' was a [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax, Nova Scotia]]-based country/folk variety television show that was broadcast nationally from 1957 to 1969. In Canada it out-performed ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' broadcast from the United States and became the top-rated television show throughout much of the 1960s. ''Don Messer's Jubilee'' followed a consistent format throughout its years, beginning with a tune named "Goin' to the Barndance Tonight", followed by fiddle tunes by Messer, songs from some of his "Islanders" including singers [[Marg Osburne]] and [[Charlie Chamberlain]], the featured guest performance, and a closing hymn. It ended with "[[Till We Meet Again (1918 song)|Till We Meet Again]]". The guest performance slot gave national exposure to numerous Canadian folk musicians, including [[Stompin' Tom Connors]] and [[Catherine McKinnon]]. Some Maritime country performers went on to further fame beyond Canada. [[Hank Snow]], [[Wilf Carter (musician)|Wilf Carter]] (also known as Montana Slim), and [[Anne Murray]] are the three most notable. The cancellation of the show by the public broadcaster in 1969 caused a nationwide protest, including the raising of questions in the Parliament of Canada.

[[File:Lindsay_Ell_on_tour.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lindsay Ell]] career gained momentum in the mid-2010s with a combination of strong guitar skills and country-pop appeal.]]

The Prairie provinces, due to their western cowboy and agrarian nature, are the true heartland of Canadian country music.<ref name="book"/> While the Prairies never developed a traditional music culture anything like the Maritimes, the folk music of the Prairies often reflected the cultural origins of the settlers, who were a mix of [[Scottish Canadian|Scottish]], [[Ukrainian Canadian|Ukrainian]], [[Canadians of German ethnicity|German]] and others. For these reasons [[polka]]s and western music were always popular in the region, and with the introduction of the radio, mainstream country music flourished. As the culture of the region is western and frontier in nature, the specific genre of country and western is more popular today in the Prairies than in any other part of the country. No other area of the country embraces all aspects of the culture, from two-step dancing, to the cowboy dress, to rodeos, to the music itself, like the Prairies do. The Atlantic Provinces, on the other hand, produce far more traditional musicians, but they are not usually specifically country in nature, usually bordering more on the [[Folk music|folk]] or [[Celtic music|Celtic]] genres.<ref name="book"/>

Canadian country pop star [[Shania Twain]] is the best-selling female country artist of all time and one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling artists of all time]] in any genre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2017/04/14/Shania-Twain-joins-The-Voice-as-key-adviser/1801492174760/|title=Shania Twain joins 'The Voice' as key adviser|work=[[United Press International]]|first=Annie|last=Martin|date=April 14, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818043346/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2017/04/14/Shania-Twain-joins-The-Voice-as-key-adviser/1801492174760/|archive-date=August 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gordinier|first=Jeff|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/11/08/shania-twain-does-not-believe-tears/|title=Shania Twain Does Not Believe in Tears|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=November 8, 2002|access-date=March 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925112009/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,386430,00.html|archive-date=September 25, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, she is the only woman to have three consecutive albums be certified [[RIAA certification|Diamond]].

===Mexico and Latin America===
[[File:Lorenzo-Antonio-Performing-2016.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Lorenzo Antonio]]]]
Country music artists from the U.S. have seen crossover with Latin American audiences, particularly in [[Mexico]]. Country music artists from throughout the U.S. have recorded renditions of Mexican folk songs, including "[[El Rey (song)|El Rey]]" which was performed on [[George Strait]]'s ''[[Twang (album)|Twang]]'' album and during [[Al Hurricane]]'s [[A Tribute to Al Hurricane|tribute concert]]. American [[Latin pop]] crossover musicians, like [[Lorenzo Antonio]]'s "Ranchera Jam" have also combined Mexican songs with country songs in a [[New Mexico music]] style.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

While Tejano and New Mexico music is typically thought of as being Spanish language, the genres have also had charting musicians focused on English language music.<ref name="Escamilla 2022">{{cite web | last=Escamilla | first=Maria | title=Tejano And Country Music: Six Key Figures | website=Yahoo | date=October 7, 2022 | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tejano-country-music-six-key-130724770.html | access-date=January 7, 2023 | archive-date=October 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024032416/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tejano-country-music-six-key-130724770.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> During the 1970s, singer-songwriter [[Freddy Fender]] had two #1 country music singles, that were popular throughout [[North America]], with "[[Before the Next Teardrop Falls (song)|Before the Next Teardrop Falls]]" and "[[Wasted Days and Wasted Nights]]".<ref name="Lamitschka 2021">{{cite web | last=Lamitschka | first=Christian | title=Freddy Fender. 15 Years Gone But Never Forgotten. | website=Country Music News International | date=October 23, 2021 | url=https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/freddy-fender-15-years-gone-but-never-forgotten/ | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref> Notable songs which have been influenced by Hispanic and Latin culture as performed by US country music artists include [[Marty Robbins]]' "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]" trilogy, [[Willie Nelson]] and [[Merle Haggard]] covering the [[Townes Van Zandt]] song "[[Pancho and Lefty]]", "[[Toes (Zac Brown Band song)|Toes]]" by [[Zac Brown Band]], and "[[Sangria (song)|Sangria]]" by [[Blake Shelton]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Marty Robbins, 'El Paso' |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-200-greatest-country-songs-of-all-time-60414/marty-robbins-el-paso-60549/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>

[[File:Patricia_Vonne_-_Hamburg_Harley_Days_2017_06_(cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|[[Patricia Vonne]]]]
[[Regional Mexican]] is a radio format featuring many of [[Mexico]]'s versions of country music. It includes a number of different styles, usually named after their region of origin. One specific song style, the [[Ranchera|Canción Ranchera]], or simply Ranchera, literally meaning "[[ranch]] song", found its origins in the Mexican countryside and was first popularized with [[Mariachi]]. It has since also become popular with [[Grupera|Grupero]], [[Banda music|Banda]], [[Norteño (music)|Norteño]], [[Tierra Caliente music|Tierra Caliente]], [[Duranguense]] and other regional Mexican styles. The [[Corrido]], a different song style with a similar history, is also performed in many other regional styles, and is most related to the [[Western music (North America)|western]] style of the United States and Canada. Other song styles performed in regional Mexican music include [[Sentimental ballad|Ballad]]s, [[Cumbia]]s, [[Boleros]], among others. Country en Español (Country in Spanish) is also popular in Mexico. Some Mexican artists began performing country songs in Spanish during the 1970s, and the genre became prominent mainly in the northern regions of the country during the 1980s. A Country en Español popularity boom also reached the central regions of Mexico during the 1990s. For most of its history, Country en Español mainly resembled [[Neotraditional country]]. However, in more modern times, some artists have incorporated influences from other country music subgenres.

In [[Argentina]], on the last weekend of September, the yearly San Pedro Country Music Festival<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.country2.com |title=Country2.com  |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=February 2022}} takes place in the town of [[San Pedro, Buenos Aires]]. The festival features bands from different places in [[Argentina]], as well as international artists from Brazil, [[Uruguay]], [[Chile]], [[Peru]] and the U.S.

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Bonnie woman1 (cropped).JPG|thumb|left|upright|Before pop stardom, [[Bonnie Tyler]] had a country hit with "[[It's a Heartache]]"]]

Country music is popular in the United Kingdom, although somewhat less so than in other English-speaking countries. There are some British country music acts and publications. Although radio stations devoted to country are among the most popular in other Anglophone nations, none of the top ten [[List of most-listened-to radio programs|most-listened-to stations in the UK]] are country stations, and national broadcaster [[BBC Radio]] does not offer a full-time country station ([[BBC Radio 2 Country]], a "pop-up" station, operated four days each year between 2015 and 2017). The BBC does offer a country show on [[BBC Radio 2]] each week hosted by [[Bob Harris (radio)|Bob Harris]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |publisher=Rajar |title=Quarterly Listening }}</ref>

The most successful British country music act of the 21st century are [[Ward Thomas (band)|Ward Thomas]] and [[The Shires (duo)|the Shires]]. In 2015, the Shires' album ''[[Brave (The Shires album)|Brave]]'', became the first UK country act ever to chart in the Top 10 of the [[UK Albums Chart]] and they became the first UK country act to receive an award from the American [[Country Music Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/the-shires-become-first-uk-country-act-to-reach-albums-chart-top-10/061094|title=The Shires become first UK country act to reach Albums Chart Top 10|last=Stassen|first=Murray|date=March 9, 2015|work=[[Music Week]]|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, [[Ward Thomas (band)|Ward Thomas]] then became the first UK country act to hit number 1 in the [[UK Albums Chart]] with their album [[Cartwheels (Ward Thomas album)|''Cartwheels'']].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7503506/ward-thomas-uk-charts|title=Ward Thomas Is First Homegrown Country Act to Score No. 1 Album on U.K. Charts|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Sexton|first=Paul|date=September 9, 2016|access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Cowboy humpy 10-31-2008.JPG|thumb|right|[[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]] had hits with country songs]]

There is the [[C2C: Country to Country]] festival held every year, and for many years there was a festival at [[Wembley Arena]], which was broadcast on the [[BBC]], the International Festivals of Country Music, promoted by [[Mervyn Conn]], held at the venue between 1969 and 1991. The shows were later taken into Europe, and featured such stars as [[Johnny Cash]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Tammy Wynette]], [[David Allan Coe]], [[Emmylou Harris]], [[Boxcar Willie]], [[Johnny Russell (singer)|Johnny Russell]] and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]. A handful of country musicians had even greater success in mainstream British music than they did in the U.S., despite a certain amount of disdain from the music press. Britain's largest music festival [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury]] has featured major US country acts in recent years, such as [[Kenny Rogers]] in 2013 and Dolly Parton in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Britain is taking country music to its achy-breaky heart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/06/why-britain-is-taking-country-music-to-its-achy-breaky-heart |access-date=May 24, 2023 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

[[File:Nathan_Carter._Royal_Concert_Hall._Glasgow.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Nathan Carter]] a British-born Irish country music singer based in the UK and Ireland.]]
From within the UK, few country musicians achieved widespread mainstream success. Many British singers who performed the occasional country songs are of other genres. [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], by this point near the end of his peak success as a pop singer, had a string of country hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The [[Bee Gees]] had some fleeting success in the genre, with one country hit as artists ("[[Rest Your Love on Me]]") and a major hit as songwriters ("[[Islands in the Stream (song)|Islands in the Stream]]"); [[Barry Gibb]], the band's usual lead singer and last surviving member, acknowledged that country music was a major influence on the band's style.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.countryweekly.com/news/bee-gees-barry-gibb-country-music-always-inspired-us |title=The Bee Gees' Barry Gibb: "Country Music Always Inspired Us" |date=November 4, 2013 |work=Country Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085038/http://www.countryweekly.com/news/bee-gees-barry-gibb-country-music-always-inspired-us |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> Singer [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]], while charting only once in the U.S. country top 40 with "[[After the Lovin']]", achieved widespread success on both the U.S. and British pop charts with his covers of Nashville country ballads such as "[[Release Me (1949 song)|Release Me]]", "[[Am I That Easy to Forget]]" and "[[There Goes My Everything (song)|There Goes My Everything]]". Welsh singer [[Bonnie Tyler]] initially started her career making country records, and in 1978 her single "[[It's a Heartache]]" reached number four on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. In 2013, Tyler returned to her roots, blending the country elements of her early work with the rock of her successful material on her album ''[[Rocks and Honey]]'' which featured a duet with [[Vince Gill]]. The songwriting tandem of [[Roger Cook (songwriter)|Roger Cook]] and [[Roger Greenaway]] wrote a number of country hits, in addition to their widespread success in pop songwriting; Cook is notable for being the only Briton to be inducted into the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]].

A niche country subgenre popular in the [[West Country]] is [[Scrumpy and Western]], which consists mostly of [[novelty song]]s and [[comedy music]] recorded there (its name comes from [[scrumpy]], an alcoholic beverage). A primarily local interest, the largest Scrumpy and Western hit in the UK and Ireland was "[[The Combine Harvester]]", which pioneered the genre and reached number one in both the UK and Ireland; [[Fred Wedlock]] had a number-six hit in 1981 with "The Oldest Swinger in Town". In 1975, comedian [[Billy Connolly]] topped the UK Singles Chart with "[[D.I.V.O.R.C.E.]]", a parody of the [[Tammy Wynette]] song "[[D-I-V-O-R-C-E]]".<ref>{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 320}}</ref>
 
[https://britishcountrymusicfestival.com The British Country Music Festival] is an annual three-day festival held in the seaside resort of [[Blackpool]]. It uniquely promotes artists from the United Kingdom and Ireland to celebrate the impact that Celtic and British settlers to America had on the origins of country music. Past headline artists have included [[Amy Wadge]], [[Ward Thomas (band)|Ward Thomas]], [[Tom Odell]], [[Nathan Carter]], [[Lisa McHugh]], [[Catherine McGrath]], [[Wildwood Kin]], The Wandering Hearts and [[Henry Priestman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live Review: The British Country Music Festival – maverick-country.com |date=September 13, 2022 |url=https://maverick-country.com/live-review-the-british-country-music-festival/ |access-date=September 19, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Ireland===
{{main|Country and Irish}}
[[File:Catherine_McGrath_(52338298859).jpg|thumb|[[Catherine McGrath]]]]
In [[Ireland]], Country and Irish is a music genre that combines traditional [[Irish folk music]] with US country music. Television channel [[TG4]] began a quest for Ireland's next country star called ''[[Glór Tíre]]'', translated as "Country Voice". It is now in its sixth season and is one of TG4's most-watched TV shows. Over the past ten years, country and gospel recording artist [[James Kilbane]] has reached multi-platinum success with his mix of [[contemporary Christian music|Christian]] and traditional country influenced albums. James Kilbane like many other Irish artists is today working closer with Nashville. [[Daniel O'Donnell]] achieved international success with his brand of music crossing country, Irish folk and [[schlager music|European easy listening]], earning a strong following among older women<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/daniel-is-shite-geldof-has-no-talent-says-louis-walsh-134107.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802120044/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/daniel-is-shite-geldof-has-no-talent-says-louis-walsh-134107.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2012 |title=Daniel is 'shite', Geldof has no talent, says Louis Walsh – National News |work=Independent.ie |date=August 27, 2006 |access-date=April 18, 2012 }}</ref> both in the British Isles and in North America. A recent success in the Irish arena has been [[Crystal Swing]].

===Japan and Asia===
[[File:ClaraChung.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.7|[[Clara Chung]]]]
In [[Japan]], country and western music first developed a following before World War II, but many Japanese became exposed to it after the war due to the [[Far East Network]].<ref name="Kitazawa 2019">{{cite web | last=Kitazawa | first=Yosuke | title=Y'All Come: Japan's Country Music Scene | website=PBS SoCal | date=September 11, 2019 | url=https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/country-music/yall-come-japans-country-music-scene | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name="AFAR Media 2020">{{cite web | title=Honky-Tonk Tokyo | website=AFAR Media | date=July 7, 2020 | url=https://www.afar.com/magazine/in-tokyo-japan-country-music-finds-an-audience | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref> One of the first Japanese western acts was Biji Kuroda & The Chuck Wagon Boys, other vintage artists include Jimmie Tokita and His Mountain Playboys, The Blue Rangers, Wagon Aces, and [[Tomi Fujiyama]].<ref name="Kitazawa 2019"/> While the majority of these musicians sung in English, a few of them sang in the Japanese language, such as Fujiyama and Kazuya Kosaka.<ref name="Kitazawa 2019"/> The genre continues to have a dedicated following in Japan, thanks to Charlie Nagatani, Katsuoshi Suga, J.T. Kanehira, Dicky Kitano, and Manami Sekiya.<ref name="Kitazawa 2019"/> Country and western venues in Japan include the former annual Country Gold which were put together by Charlie Nagatani, and the modern honky tonks at [[Little Texas (Tokyo restaurant)|Little Texas]] in Tokyo and Armadillo in [[Nagoya]].<ref name="Nerozzi 2020">{{cite web | last=Nerozzi | first=Timothy | title=Clocking up the years with Charlie Nagatani, Japan's country king | website=The Japan Times | date=January 16, 2020 | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/01/16/music/charlie-nagatani-japan-country-king/ | access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="KPRC 2021">{{cite web | title=See inside the Little Texas Bar and Grille in Tokyo | website=KPRC | date=August 8, 2021 | url=https://www.click2houston.com/video/news/2021/08/08/see-inside-the-little-texas-bar-and-grille-in-tokyo/ | access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name="赤坂カントリーミュージック ライブハウス">{{cite web | title=赤坂カントリーミュージック ライブハウス | website=赤坂カントリーミュージック ライブハウス | url=http://www.countryhouse-tokyo.com/sp/link.html | language=ja | access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref>

In [[India]], there is an annual concert festival called "Blazing Guitars"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2158484.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707011005/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2158484.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |title=Country Roads |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref> held in [[Chennai]] brings together Anglo-Indian musicians from all over the country (including some who have emigrated to places like Australia). The year 2003 brought home-grown Indian, [[Bobby Cash (singer)|Bobby Cash]] to the forefront of the country music culture in India when he became India's first international country music artist to chart singles in Australia.

In the [[Philippines]], country music has found their way into Cordilleran way of life, which often compares the [[Igorot]] lifestyle to that of US cowboys. The Philippines was once a US Commonwealth from 1900 to 1946, and country music began to be exported to the islands in the early 20th centurty. [[Baguio]] City has an FM station that caters to country music, [[DZWR]] 99.9 Country, which is part of the [[Catholic Media Network]]. Bombo Radyo Baguio has a segment on its Sunday slot for Igorot, Ilocano and country music. And as of recently, [[DWUB]] occasionally plays country music. Many country music musicians tour the [[Philippines]]. [[Original Pinoy Music]] has influences from country.

===Other international country music===
[[File:Jill_Johnson2.jpg|thumb|right|Swedish singer [[Jill Johnson]]]]
Tom Roland, from the [[Country Music Association]] International, explains country music's global popularity: "In this respect, at least, Country Music listeners around the globe have something in common with those in the United States. In Germany, for instance, Rohrbach identifies three general groups that gravitate to the genre: people intrigued with the US cowboy icon, middle-aged fans who seek an alternative to harder rock music and younger listeners drawn to the pop-influenced sound that underscores many current Country hits."<ref name=int/> One of the first US people to perform country music abroad was [[George Hamilton IV]]. He was the first country musician to perform in the [[Soviet Union]]; he also toured in Australia and the Middle East. He was deemed the "International Ambassador of Country Music" for his contributions to the [[globalization]] of country music.<ref>[http://www.lib.unc.edu/spotlight/hamilton_loudermilk.html Lib.unc.edu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729111222/http://www.lib.unc.edu/spotlight/hamilton_loudermilk.html |date=July 29, 2013 }} "Country Music Figures Donate Papers, Give Concert"</ref> Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Keith Urban, and Dwight Yoakam have also made numerous international tours.<ref name="int">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmaworld.com/international/default.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923182808/http://www.cmaworld.com/international/default.asp|url-status=dead|title=CMAworld.com|archive-date=September 23, 2010}}</ref> The [[Country Music Association]] undertakes various initiatives to promote country music internationally.<ref name=int/>

====Middle East====
In [[Iran]], country music has appeared in recent years. According to ''Melody Music Magazine'', the pioneer of country music in Iran is the English-speaking country music band [[Dream Rovers]], whose founder, singer and songwriter is Erfan Rezayatbakhsh (elf).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodymag.com/2012/07/%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%82%DB%8C/|title=گزارشی از فعالیت‌های جدید گروه موسیقی کنتریِ "دریم رووِرز" مجله موسیقی ملودی|access-date=August 14, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728030801/http://www.melodymag.com/2012/07/%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%82%DB%8C/|archive-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> The band was formed in 2007 in [[Tehran]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dreamrovers.com/biography/ |title=Dream Rovers – Biography |access-date=August 14, 2012}}</ref> and during this time they have been trying to introduce and popularize country music in Iran by releasing two studio albums<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodymag.com/2011/08/%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%82%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%88/|title=آلبوم فلاش‌بک از گروه موسیقی دریم روورز مجله موسیقی ملودی|access-date=August 14, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031171934/http://www.melodymag.com/2011/08/%D8%A2%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%82%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%88/|archive-date=October 31, 2012}}</ref> and performing live at concerts, despite the difficulties that the Islamic regime in Iran makes for bands that are active in the western music field.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jadidonline.com/story/25042011/frnk/iran_country_music |title=رؤیانوردان تهران جدید آنلاین |access-date=August 14, 2012}}</ref>

Musician [[Toby Keith]] performed alongside Saudi Arabian folk musician [[Rabeh Sager]] in 2017.<ref name="NPR.org 2017">{{cite web | title=How Did Toby Keith Get To Do A Concert In Saudi Arabia? | website=NPR | date=May 22, 2017 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/05/22/529500923/how-did-toby-keith-get-to-do-a-concert-in-saudi-arabia | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name="France-Presse 2017">{{cite web | agency=Agence France-Presse | title=Women and whisky: country star Toby Keith to sing during Trump Saudi Arabia visit | website=the Guardian | date=May 19, 2017 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/19/women-and-whisky-country-star-toby-keith-to-sing-during-trump-saudi-arabia-visit | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref> This concert was similar to the performances of [[Jazz ambassadors]] that performed distinctively American style music internationally.<ref name="Plis 2017">{{cite web | last=Plis | first=Ivan | title=Sending Toby Keith to Saudi Arabia Is a Genius Move | website=The National Interest | date=May 18, 2017 | url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/sending-toby-keith-saudi-arabia-genius-move-20736 | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref>

====Continental Europe====
[[File:Vanha-Isanta-1974-a.jpg|thumb|left|Vanha Isäntä, a [[Finland|Finnish]] country rock band, performing at the [[Helsinki Festival]]'s open-air concert in [[Kaivopuisto]] in 1974. Seppo Sillanpää (violin) on the left and Olli Haavisto (guitar) on the right.]]
In [[Sweden]], [[Rednex]] rose to stardom combining country music with [[synthpop|electro-pop]] in the 1990s. In 1994, the group had a worldwide hit with their version of the traditional Southern tune "[[Cotton-Eyed Joe]]". Artists popularizing more traditional country music in Sweden have been [[Ann-Louise Hanson]], [[Hasse Andersson]], [[Kikki Danielsson]], [[Elisabeth Andreassen]] and [[Jill Johnson]]. In [[Poland]] an international country music festival, known as [[Piknik Country]], has been organised in [[Mrągowo]] in [[Masuria]] since 1983. The number of country music artists in France has increased. Some of the most important{{according to whom|date=July 2022}} are [[Liane Edwards]], Annabel, Rockie Mountains, Tahiana, and Lili West. French [[rock and roll]] singer [[Eddy Mitchell]] is also inspired by [[Americana (music)|Americana]] and country music.

In the [[Netherlands]] there are many artists producing popular country and Americana music, which is mostly in the English language, as well as Dutch country and country-like music in the Dutch language. The latter is mainly popular on the countrysides in the northern and eastern parts of the Netherlands and is less associated with its US brethren, although it sounds sometimes very similar. Well-known popular artists mainly performing in English are [[Waylon (singer)|Waylon]], [[Danny Vera (singer)|Danny Vera]], [[Ilse DeLange]], [[Douwe Bob]] and [[Henk Wijngaard]].

[[Norway]] had a significant country scene from the late 1970s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forskning.no/hogskolen-i-innlandet-musikk-partner/country-musikken-har-gjort-ei-klassereise-i-noreg/2279937|language=nn|title=Country-musikken har gjort ei klassereise i Noreg|date=November 19, 2023|access-date=December 28, 2023|publisher=[[Forskning.no]]}}</ref> to the late 2000s, with bands and artists including [[Hellbillies]], [[Bjøro Håland]], [[Terje Tysland]], [[Vassendgutane]], [[Øystein Sunde]], and Rotlaus. The scene and its concerts were considered mostly a rural scene, such that most bands sang in dialects, but occasional songs made it to national fame even in the larger cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/arkiv/artikkel/hellbillies-1.5950479|title=Hellbillies|language=nb|date=June 10, 2008|access-date=December 28, 2023|publisher=[[NRK]]}}</ref> The songs occasionally used inspirations from [[rock music]], [[Norwegian folk music]], and [[polka]], but remained recognisable as country music.