Country Music as a Religion

Music is a part of all religions. Whether in a church on a Sunday morning with an organ, or in a synagogue on Shabbat with the cantor’s voice, music often plays a vital role in religious ceremonies because of its sacred characteristics of rhythm, beat, and sentiment. However, have you ever considered music as its own religion in a way? Laderman discusses rave culture, the blues, hip-hop, and rock and roll in his book, however another example of music having religious characteristics is country music. Country music has its roots in Atlanta because members of the Appalachian community went to Atlanta to work in the city, but they brought their music with them and it persisted throughout the Great Depression on the radio when people couldn’t buy records. The music provided an outlet for entertainment for these hard workers. Country musicians used a wide variety of instruments, including fiddles, banjos, guitars, etc. Also, country music, like many religions is associated with a region, primarily in the southern and western areas of America. However, despite starting out in this small area, it has grown and has become a key aspect of America’s identity as a whole. In fact, in 2009, the country music radio channel was the most listened to station on the radio throughout the country. This genre of music has provided Americans with an identity that is fairly unique to America. It started out in America, evolved in America, spread throughout the country, and is now a key part of our mainstream culture. There are many household name country stars, including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and some older ones like Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie.

Country music even has its own culture in some ways. From the clothes that are worn by country musicians and its followers, to the atmosphere at concerts, it is unique and has many dedicated followers. At concerts, thousands of people will gather in order to listen to country music icons. As Laderman states, concerts include “pilgrimage, spirituality, mysticism, shamanism, identity, transformation, unity, sacraments…” (39). Thousands upon thousands of people will attend some of the biggest country concerts in the world in order to experience all of those aspects listed by Laderman, which are often a result of the icon performing. Musicians are examples of icons, some even bordering the line of being idols, because of the way in which they are viewed and treated by members of society. That is another aspect that makes music a religion – the key players and they way that people act towards them.

According to Laderman, “Music intersects with the sacred for millions of Americans who make sense of their lives with a musical soundtrack rather than the written word” (28). It is obvious that the culture, sound, and ritualistic nature of music make it into a sacred aspect of life, and therefore functions religiously in a way for many people.