Biggest Oversights in the Ken Burns Country Music Documentary
The Ken Burns Country Music documentary that aired on PBS in mid September was a supreme gift to true country music fans and those who would become one over the 8 episodes, and 16 1/2 hours of the film. But understandably with an undertaking so vast as trying to tackle an entire genre of music, there were multiple artists that were not highlighted that arguably should have been.
Country fans who are up in arms over their favorite artists being “snubbed” need to appreciate that it would be difficult to impossible to highlight every entertainer, and even if the film had included 20 more artist profiles, there would be 20 more artists people would complain got overlooked. In hindsight, perhaps it would have taken 10 episodes instead of 8 to do the subject matter justice, but you can’t include everything, and you have to make sure what you produce is compelling to the audience. As Ken Burns and screenwriter Dayton Duncan have said, it was one of their biggest concerns that not enough stuff was highlighted, but they wanted to make sure the film came across not as a dry history work, but as something that tells the overarching story of country music, which they accomplished with flying colors.
Also worth noting is the final episode was meant to be more of a summation as opposed to a deep dive into the 80’s era. Just like Ken Burns did with his baseball film, the Country Music documentary was made opened ended, meaning it could be added to in the future. It is a living work, just like the story of country music itself. So for those disappointed artists like George Strait didn’t get more air time, or that the current era wasn’t included, that may be forthcoming in future installments, and is not entirely fair to get hung up over, at least not yet. It’s also important to not just dwell on who was forgotten, but who was included. The Maddox Brothers & Rose, Emmloyou Harris, and others that had major contributions to country, but sometimes get left out of top tier consideration in country history, were given their proper due.
But artists not featured from earlier eras are unlikely to receive more attention in the future. So not as a rebuke of the work of the documentary, but as an addendum for those who watched and might want to dig deeper into the history of country through some of its more important personalities not represented well in the film, here are some of the Country Music film’s biggest oversights.
Jim Reeves
The story of the tragic plane crash that killed country star Patsy Cline, along with Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Cowboy Copas on March 5th, 1963 was one of the centerpieces of the Ken Burns documentary, as was her career that was very significant to country as Patsy became one of the first artists to cross over to pop, and help define the early “Nashville Sound” era.
But as country music historians will argue, at the time, Jim Reeves was just as significant, as was his plane crash that occurred just over a year later in 1964, ending his career tragically. The Country Music Hall of Famer’s career track was eerily similar to Patsy’s, where he was known for a more polished sound, and died right as his career was taking off. Unlike Patsy, many recordings from Reeves were still in the vault when he died, resulting in Jim having a robust career after his passing, resulting in four #1’s, and eleven Top 10’s. Jim Reeves was still charting Top 20 singles a decade after his death, including “I’d Fight The World” which came in at #13 in 1973.
The Jim Reeves plane crash was mentioned briefly in the documentary, but his life and career wasn’t, even though the Patsy Cline story gave it the perfect opening, and they were inexorably linked in the minds of many country fans at the time. In 1982, a compilation album called Remembering Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves was released, and was Certified Gold.
Don Williams
Don Williams was another Country Music Hall of Famer that didn’t even get a mention, though a brief shot of what appeared to be him from behind on stage entered the frame early in Episode 7. Don Williams played a huge role in country music, not just as a successful artist commercially, but as the guy many country fans will cite as being one of the most dear to their hearts. The “Gentle Giant” had seventeen #1 hits, 45 Top 10 hits, was the 1978 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, and only had three singles from late 1974 into 1991 not make it into the Top 10.
Don Williams was not about promoting himself, and didn’t fit snugly into any specific sound or era. He wasn’t a flamboyant presence on or off the stage. He just sang his songs. This is probably one of the reasons the film passed him over, but this is also one of the reasons he was one of the most universally-beloved performers in country history. The warmth that accompanied his music was unparalleled. It was comfort music.
Glen Campbell
It’s somewhat understandable why the legacies of some artists got overlooked in the Ken Burns Country Music documentary. Some artist’s legacies get lost over time. Others don’t have living advocates or champions helping to keep their contributions alive in the public consciousness. But during the production of the Ken Burns film, Glen Campbell was going through a farewell tour, and a high profile battle with Alzheimer’s. There was a compilation album, and tribute concerts. The Band Perry won a Grammy for re-recording his hit “Gentle On My Mind” written by John Hartford (who also didn’t get a mention in the film).
Similar to Jim Reeves, Glen Campbell was not a died-in-the-wool honky tonk crooner, he was a crossover star known just as much for pop as country. But his “Glen Campbell Show” (which got a quick mention, and was the only reference to the “Wichita Lineman” singer) was huge in spreading the appeal for country music, and was a big boost for the personalities who appeared on it. The Country Hall of Famer sold 45 million records worldwide, including twelve gold albums, four platinum albums, and a double-platinum album. He won five Grammy Awards, and ten ACM Awards. And before he became a country music superstar, he was a guitarist in the famed “Wrecking Crew” of studio musicians in Los Angeles who played on many on the biggest hits of the era.
Above and beyond his contributions and accomplishments, Glen Campbell defined what country music was for many people. Songs like “Gentle On My Mind” embodied the restlessness of the time. Not seeing Glen Campbell featured was almost like seeing someone in your family forgotten.
Conway Twitty
Many names have been offered up as artists overlooked in the series, but arguably the biggest one was Conway Twitty. And not just because the Country Music Hall of Famer was the most accomplished country artist to not receive a profile, or even that he was completely ignored. It’s that the film referenced Conway in passing, and twice, but both times only as a former rockabilly star turned country artist, not a guy with 44 #1 singles, let alone his career with Loretta Lynn as a duet partner.
To play Devil’s Advocate, the legacy of Conway Twitty is a spotty one. He was more of a commercial force in country rather than a creative one. His songs like “Never Been This Far Before” and “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” are retroactively creepy to some audiences. His persona was the inspiration for country comedy star Unknown Hinson, and fights between his kids and wife around his estate, and specifically “Twitty City” which was sold off to evangelists as opposed to being the shrine to his legacy it was meant to be, have put Conway on the wrong side of history.
But Conway Twitty is a Top 5 country music artist of all time from a statistical standpoint. Even if the film mixed the good with the bad in a retroactive on his career, Conway deserved more than a passing reference for his time in rockabilly. To many, Conway Twitty is country music.
Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton wasn’t especially prolific, and just like Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves, he died tragically in an accident when a car he was riding in with Tommy Tomlinson and Tillman Franks hit a truck head on in 1960 in Milam Country, Texas, and he passed away on the way to the hospital. But songs like “North To Alaska” and “Honky Tonk Man” were massively influential in country, and “Battle of New Orleans” has been considered one of the most significant songs of the last century by the Grammy Awards and other institutions. Though his career and life was short, Johnny Horton was beloved by his fellow performers. Johnny Cash attended his funeral.
Another interesting part of Johnny’s story that would have been perfect for the film is that at the time of his death, he was married to Billie Jean Horton—the same woman Hank Williams was married to when he died. Billie Jean is another personality (though never a performer) who seemed to be missing in the documentary. Billie Jean did a lot to keep the legacy of Johnny alive after his death.
Johnny Horton has also been mistaken for being a proprietor of racism over the years, which may have put him on the outside of being included in the documentary. His song “Johnny Reb” is considered more of a historical work, similar to “The Battle of New Orleans.” But a white supremacist singer named “Johnny Rebel” often is mistaken with both the song, and Johnny Horton.
Hank Snow
Aside from getting some face time singing his big hit “I’ve Been Everywhere,” it’s hard to say Hank Snow received his due, not only from the documentary, but many complaining about who got snubbed. The Canadian and Country Music Hall of Famer logged seven #1 hits, and 33 Top 10 songs during his heyday, and was a huge force in country music for decades. Similar to Don Williams, and unlike many other country stars, Hank Snow wasn’t all about marketing himself, which can make his impact blend into the background. But he had a big impact nonetheless, including opening up the appeal for country music in the Canadian market.
Hank Snow also holds a very historical distinction with his song “I’m Moving On,” which before the modern era and Billboard’s chart changes in 2012, held the record for the longest-charting #1 in country history at 21 weeks. Now that pop crossover spins are incorporated into country charts, Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad,” and Bebe Rexha’s “Meant To Be” have hypothetically eclipsed that record. But if all things are equal, that record rightfully belongs to Hank Snow.
Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe
If you’re a fan of Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe, you have a right to be disappointed they weren’t even mentioned, but you also can’t be surprised. With their spotty pasts and the controversy that could have brewed from showing them in a positive light, it’s understandable why Ken Burns and writer Dayton Duncan just avoided the whole anthill. Still, both played significant roles in country, and it’s strange Paycheck couldn’t at least get a mention as being a side player behind numerous performers who were profiled, and the whole story behind “Take This Job and Shove It” seems perfect for a feature in the film, and a tie-in to country’s working class roots.
And if you wanted to see these guys in the documentary, you may have an unlikely ally. Some folks have criticized the film for whitewashing country history, and not including sketchy personalities like Coe and Paycheck. Remember, the point of the film is not to promote personalities, but to give an acculturate portrayal of country music from a historical perspective. If this is your goal, these two probably should be included.
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Sun Studios era was covered in depth in the documentary via Johnny Cash, the Million Dollar Quartet was referenced, of which Jerry Lee Lewis was a part of, yet he didn’t get his due for the second wind in his career when the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer arguably put together a Country Music Hall of Fame-caliber career.
Once again, personal behavior may have cause the filmmakers to shy away from giving Jerry Lee Lewis too much attention, but all the tie-ins and openings were there.
Jerry Jeff Walker, Doug Sahm, Michael Martin Murphy
You can be disappointed, but not particularly surprised that Doug Sahm didn’t make it into the documentary. His contributions to country music were mostly regional, and with such a premium on time, some people were going to get squeezed. Nonetheless, just mentioning his name in reference to Austin and the Armadillo World Headquarters would have gone a long way with Doug’s friends and family, and was warranted.
If it wasn’t for Jerry Jeff Walker, there arguably wouldn’t have been any music scene in Austin for Willie Nelson and others to come home to, or to rise from. He took his success with “Mr. Bojangles,” and along with songwriter Michael Martin Murphy, helped establish Austin as a country music epicenter. Of course Walker never saw similar success as he did in his folk days, but his support of Guy Clark (who was profiled), and other Texas songwriters deserved mention.
Bluegrass and Newgrass – John Hartford, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss, Jimmy Martin, et al.
The Ken Burns Country Music documentary did an excellent job making sure bluegrass didn’t play second fiddle to country in the film, and though there could have been more names and players mentioned, it did a valiant job representing this important portion of the music. However the legacy of Jimmy Martin, who was the self-professed “King of Bluegrass” got overlooked once more, just as Bill Monroe would have wanted.
Though it’s understandable that you can’t mention every artist, and John Hartford, Sam Bush, and Alison Krauss didn’t get mentioned (though Bush was pictured a couple of times behind other performers), perhaps a segment on more contemporary bluegrass, or “Newgrass” was warranted. Alison Krauss is the most awarded female in Grammy Awards history with 27, and has another 42 nominations, making her the third most in history among everyone.
The good news is if the documentary is ever added to, you can be assured that the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack released in 2000 will play a big role, and many bluegrass artists overlooked the first time will receive their due.
OTHER OVERSIGHTS:
Tanya Tucker – Even before her recent career resurgence, Tanya Tucker could be considered a Top 5 female artist in country music all time in regards to sales and radio support. She is likely to be a Country Music Hall of Fame contender in the coming years.
Linda Ronstadt – Though she converted to rock and pop early in her career, her work as an ambassador for country music rivals that of Gram Parsons, and if nothing else, her efforts with the “Trio” of Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris was worth mentioning.
Eddie Rabbitt – Though considered part of the “pop” problem in country by some, it’s hard to find songs more infectious than “Driving My Life Away” and “I Love A Rainy Night.” Eddie Rabbit was another who died young so his legacy was never properly cemented in country music. But it could have been with even a quick mention in the documentary.
Vern Gosdin – “The Voice” had a significant impact on country, and is considered a favorite artist by many. He was one of the casualties of the film’s quick pass through the mid 80’s that will hopefully be rectified if there are future installments.
Keith Whitley – Whitley was mentioned in reference to Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” but as the favorite artist of many, could have received a deeper dive into his career and tragic passing.
Marty Robbins – Marty was mentioned numerous times throughout the film, but probably deserved his own profile from the impact he had on the music.
Who did you think could have received more screen time? Give your opinion below.
Marianna Raymond
September 30, 2019 @ 11:12 pm
Singer/songwriter Cindy Walker wrote hundreds of Western swing songs, many of which were recorded by Bob Wills.
Clarence White brought guitar picking to a high art and made it an important solo instrument. He is highly regarded by all bluegrass and country musicians. Doc Watson and his son Merle were very influential guitarists.
David Grisman and the Grateful Dead.
John Hartford wrote and performed memorable songs.
Tony Rice is a fabulous guitar player, and his band Tony Rice Unit with Sam Bush and Mark O’Connor, is about as good as it gets (bluegrass.) They’ve been around for decades.I enjoyed Ken Burns’ documentary, but feel it didn’t give enough attention to the musicians and arrangements. It was more about the singers.
I agree that, although Cash and George Jones were great singers, the film spent a bit too much time on them.
Jack Williams
October 1, 2019 @ 7:23 am
I personally would have enjoyed more in the way of bluegrass/old timey/newgrass myself, as that’s the first type of country music I fell in love with. Love Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Sam Bush and have seen each of them live at least a few times (Sam Bush more than that). And back when Tony was still able to sing. Also, love the stuff David Grisman and Jerry Garcia did together. Oh, and the stuff Tony Rice and Norman Blake did together. Tim O’Brien is a great one, too.
Jack Williams
October 1, 2019 @ 7:27 am
Or something on the Old and In the Way project. We could have heard from Peter Rowan, which would have been fun.
Nick Sartori
October 1, 2019 @ 2:04 pm
Not an oversight of the singer, but an oversight of the song by Lacy J Dalton, “Sixteenth Avenue”, which would have made excellent background during Segment # 4 when “Music Row” was being described.
Jack Baker
October 2, 2019 @ 2:09 pm
You are absolutely right on! The song and lyrics uniquely fit the Nashville story.
If I hadn’t seen your post, I would have originated one myself.
Darnce Ritchey
October 2, 2019 @ 11:56 am
Burns thought the story of baseball was a chronology of the plight of the American negro. He thought Vietnam was 100% about campus ultra liberalism. No wonder he thinks country music is 90% about artists that strayed toward destroying the genre. No more Burns. Ever.
Don Cook
October 3, 2019 @ 1:48 pm
It was obvious during the recent 16 hrs. that the legal rights problems must have been huge.Doc Watson and John Denver were hardly there, nor were Woody Guthrie or Arlo, we saw the back of Pete Seeger. Jack Elliot, Jean Ritchie, John Prine, Tom Paxton and other non Nashville musicians were left out.
If you ever get the legal rights to the usic we would be happy to watch another 2 hrs.
Johnie Rains
October 6, 2019 @ 2:31 am
ETC,Earl Thomas Conley- great singer, great songs. I haven’t watched it yet, but it seems there’s no mention of groups. Alabama, Bellamy Brothers, Brooks n Dunn, Restless Heart, etc
Alana
October 8, 2019 @ 11:43 am
Right Johnie! ETC was missing entirely! Sooooo bummed!
Michael
October 20, 2019 @ 9:58 pm
Though not profiled, Alabama was mentioned and shown more than in passing during the whirlwind tour through the 1980s and 1990s. It really seemed like they just ran out of time at the end to cover everything post 1980 or so as well as they could have.
Sarcastic Jack
October 6, 2019 @ 11:09 pm
….but they did not include Old Town Road which is my favorite Country Song ever!!
James McCormick
October 9, 2019 @ 7:45 pm
Tim O’Brien and Hot Rize, and Tony Rice. Hopefully there will be add ons which might include them as well as a number of outstanding young ‘Americana’/bluegrass performers like Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Hull etc. Also an ‘Episode 9’ could include Kacey Musgraves and the like.
Mark Wilson
October 10, 2019 @ 5:49 pm
John Prine, arguably one of the greatest song writers of any era, not even mentioned. I saw him in in the background of one scene. Huge oversight.
MARYELLEN BROWN
October 13, 2019 @ 7:47 am
OMG, Mark, i thought of John Prine as well. Guess Mr. Burns never heard
“There’s a Hole In Daddy’s Arm” when he covered the VietNam charade.
Eric Swan
October 17, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
Mark, I completely agree! First thing I said to my friend as last episode ended was “How could Burns leave out John Prine?”
Marietta Johnson
October 11, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
Kitty wells open the door for female singers. How he could have missed her is unbelievable. She was far more important to country music than several that was mentioned.
Diane
October 15, 2019 @ 9:46 pm
I was disappointed to see that living legends such as Barbara Mandrel and Kenny Chesney were left off. Also disappointing that there was no mention of bluegrass artists Allison Kraus, Rhonda Vincent, Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and superstars like Kenny Chesney. Kenny Chesney has been literally selling millions with his stadium shows and records. His Sirius station “No Shoes Nation” is my favorite, even over Garth’s. To overlook Kenny is truly a shame. He sings and plays with everyone, including Willie Nelson, George, Alan, etc.What a shame!
LDeBoFo
October 27, 2019 @ 12:50 pm
Barbara Mandrell was mentioned, both as the prodigy playing the steel and sax and later as one of the women who took charge in the 70s-80s. So maybe the last three episodes?
She was adorable as a kid – the photo sparkled with all that happy charisma she has as an adult.
Mike Britton
October 20, 2019 @ 4:52 pm
I don’t believe there was any mention of Jimmy Dean. Not only was he an established country hitmaker,Dean was a real personality. In addition to his hit records,he started in a successful TV variety show which showcased many of his country contemparies. He also was among the 1st Nashville stars to play the showrooms of Vegas. He also was a villian in a James Bond movie and of course is still the namesake of a major sausage company. A real shame he didn’t get anytime in the movie.
Frank
October 26, 2019 @ 9:07 am
I loved this series, though I was surprised that Billy Joe Shaver did not a mention, particularly as he is the author of Waylon Jennings’ Honky Tonk Heroes, possibly the great country music album ever produced.
bill martin
October 27, 2019 @ 5:08 pm
THE STATLER BROTHERS !!!!!!
Tom Holt
October 28, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
Two:
The Statler Brothers, and I don’t know how he managed to close out without even mentioning Alabama, top of the charts throughout the 1980s.
Greg Brown
October 29, 2019 @ 9:42 am
Why doesn’t anyone remember the talented Jerry Reed? He was a great singer, songwriter and performer on the level of Glenn Campbell. His innovative guitar style influenced guitarists such as Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Thom Bresh, and Eric Johnson. His use of double stops, counter point, open string licks, alternate tunings and arrangements on the guitar in the style of Ray Charles (Hallelujah I Just Love Her So) and banjo players (Swarmin’) were unparalleled at the time. He had more taste and feeling in his playing than most of his contemporaries. He was truly an original. The fact that he gets no recognition from most people is mind boggling!
Barry Worent
October 29, 2019 @ 7:21 pm
I liked the documentary as a whole however I thought way too much time was spent on Johnny Cash as important as he was to country music there were many others who were excluded from getting their just due for their contributions to country music. Ken Burns definitely has a Johnny Cash bias.
Glen Campbell barely got a mention even though he was one of the first country artists to crossover and bring country music to the mainstream.
Not to mention the fact that Glen was an extremely influential guitarist in various genres of music from his days as a session guitarist from the famed Wrecking Crew.
One of the biggest ensemble of elite musicians ever assembled.
Glen Campbell sold 45 million records. Had numerous number one hits. He had his own television show which advanced the cause of country music.
He is generally regarded as one of the most influential country music artists of all time and yet barely got a mention.
He is in both The Musicians Hall Of Fame and Country Music Hall Of Fame.
He deserved more than a 30 second mention.
Shame on you Ken Burns!!
Janie Denno
March 21, 2020 @ 5:03 pm
I will never understand how you can talk about Bakersfield in the 50s and fail to mention Spade Cooley?
Bill Hilly
October 1, 2019 @ 12:57 am
Maybe a much better accounting for country music, by someone more in tune with the genre.
Ken Burns is fine for parks and such, not country music.
Jack Williams
October 1, 2019 @ 7:03 am
Yet Ken Burns is the one who actually stepped up to the plate and did it. And with great care and reverence, I would say. I think that should be acknowledged by more people.
Nancy Buckingham
October 26, 2019 @ 10:16 am
Such as? Ken Burns didn’t do this in a vacuum. Many currently in country music were consultants. Music of any genre doesn’t happen by the notes and words themselves. It is totally influenced by what’s going on in the country at the time. Burns’ ability to supply the historic and cultural context is beyond compare.
Wayne Marshall
October 1, 2019 @ 1:11 am
This was a very bold passionate project to undertake. One easily skewed from one’s upbringing, education, political view or love of Artist, musical genre or mood.{Depending on time of day or night} Ken Burns made only one minor mistake. The title should be Country Music 101. And as such required Viewing for the subject. Before any serious discusion or study of Country Music . And as such it is the best collection of information on it! Yes it desserves to be built on not, torn down. Awaiting the next Chapter.
Dave
October 1, 2019 @ 6:27 am
I won’t bother seeing this as it omits so much of country music history. It sounds like a hack job from someone who doesn’t know anything about the subject.
Trigger
October 1, 2019 @ 7:11 am
I would definitely see it. Don’t mistake the passion some country fans have for their favorite artists not being included as a rebuke of the entire work. It’s a very good film.
LDeBoFo
October 27, 2019 @ 12:47 pm
It is a very good source document and part of its brilliance is how it’s woven into the story of America. Country music is America’s soundtrack.
Any film is going to suffer the bias of a filmmaker, even an instructional video on how to make widgets. A project of this scope required so much collaboration that the bias is softened.
I’m overwhelmed at everything that WAS included. Holy cow, just getting the rights cleared for everything in the film would take an army of one million.
Personally, I think the film should be part of every American History class in every high school for everything it teaches about race, gender, business, creativity, and how artistry gets into the mainstream. In that sense, it’s not just the story of country music, it’s the story of anyone who ever had a dream or had a spark of inspiration and had to overcome the odds to get it into the world.
Granted, the comment prompt was “What did they miss?” so the comments will skew negative, but there’s no need, there’s a lot of value in the film. Miss that kind of cultural dessert at your own peril, y’all.
Dutchtwang
October 1, 2019 @ 7:30 am
Spade Cooley?
Luckyoldsun
October 3, 2019 @ 9:53 pm
Well, Ken Burns omitted him but Toby Keith gave him a shout-out.
Doug
October 5, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
The Cocaine and Rhinestones episode on Spade tells the story of his disastrous personal life pretty thoroughly. https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/page/3
Matt Murphy
October 1, 2019 @ 9:24 am
Last night the DJs at KHYI The Range in Dallas were ranting about “some country music blogger” complaining about Burns’ omissions. It was many of the same musicians from this post, so I guess they were talking about Trigger. They said everybody should be grateful for the fact that the doc was made at all, so they were pretty much making exactly the same point that Trigger made here. I guess a little ginned-up controversy is always good for radio.
Jack Williams
October 1, 2019 @ 11:23 am
Yep. It’s pretty much right there in the first sentence of the article.
Looks like a good station based on their playlist.
Michelle
October 1, 2019 @ 9:50 am
Johnny Cash (kidding!)
Really, as much as Don Rich contributed to Buck Owens’ success, it would have been nice to recognize the part he played in advancing the Bakersfield Sound.
stogie5150
October 2, 2019 @ 1:53 pm
This, this, a THOUSAND TIMES THIS!
Mike Studer
October 1, 2019 @ 10:08 am
Brooks and Dunn? Kenney Chessney, Tobin Keith
Jack Erle
October 1, 2019 @ 2:47 pm
oh please NO
BJones
October 6, 2019 @ 5:44 pm
Jesus Christ
Jon Flower
October 1, 2019 @ 12:34 pm
Billy Joe Shaver
Matt Schuler
October 1, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
Barbara Mandrell was a professional musician from age 11, toured with Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline at age 13 as “Sweetheart of the Steel”, played the Far East during the Vietnam War as a teenager with her family band, was the first woman to have a hit cheatin’ song from HER perspective, got Roy Acuff to allow horns on the Opry stage and to allow a woman to actually HOST an Opry show, was the first person to ever win the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award twice, had the last successful primetime variety show on network television, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. While she did not write her own music, her track record of talent in other areas speaks for itself. She is regularly cited as an influence for showmanship by the likes of Reba McEntire. She got one mention as the documentary glossed over (and basically ignored) everything that happened from 1978 to 1983, aside from Dolly Parton. She was only a featured interview once through all eight episodes. She was THERE during so much of this history. Barbara absolutely deserved more time to share her story and share her memories of some of these other greats.
Dianne Ard
October 13, 2019 @ 5:54 pm
Amen!! I was so mad when she was barely talked about! She deserves it more than Garth Brooks that’s for sure! Alabama was glossed over as well and that is just crazy!
Dave Tietz
October 1, 2019 @ 1:58 pm
Where was Chrystal Gayle?? Multi-award winner, little sis to Loretta Lynn, a beautiful voice, and beautiful lady. Seem like something could have been said…
Suzies
October 11, 2019 @ 9:57 pm
Agree about Barbara Mandrell. So talented. I was country when country wasn’t cool definetly should have been played!!
Robert Erickson
October 1, 2019 @ 4:39 pm
Jerry Reed why were his contributions to both music and entertainment overlooked? His guitar virtuosity and songwriting are important. Unmentioned and only visible on once photo.
Steve Martin
October 1, 2019 @ 5:46 pm
Definitely Miss Jeanne Seeley. So many greats without mentioning..Wilbur Brothers, Bobby Bare, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells. So many more.
Jim West
October 1, 2019 @ 6:40 pm
I enjoyed Ken Burns profile on COUNTRY MUSIC. While I can agree with most of this story of who was left out? I got to say BLUEGRASS music was a little over-kill in the documentary. I love bluegrass but it seemed like they kept coming back to it therefore leaving out other deserving artists. I’m a 42 year country radio veteran and overall loved the series.
ernest l ratliff
October 1, 2019 @ 7:23 pm
I have just finished watching this series.I have only word Mr. Burns.
BRAVO!
Nina Walker
October 1, 2019 @ 7:53 pm
The series is quite good, and I now know why my Daddy always mentioned Mother Maybelle and the Carter family; grew up in the ’60’s and ’70’s, and there was very little mention of Glen Campbell, Mac Davis, Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty – Campbell, Davis and Rogers were superstars in the ’70’s, as was Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Bros; oh well, perhaps since he has left it open ended, he can go back to the ’70’s era and begin the new series starting w/superstars that were on TV and brought Country music into everyone’s homes, just my personal opinion!!!!!
Brett M
October 1, 2019 @ 8:26 pm
I wish there had been a 9th episode that brought the story into the present, and could trace the resurgence of country influences in punk and indie rock. Start in the 80s with groups like X, Jason and the Scorchers and Lone Justice, and move into the 90s with Uncle Tupelo, Old 97s, the Jayhawks and Whiskeytown (Ryan Adams… speaking of not shying away from sketchy characters). Then finish with current artists at the forefront of pushing country’s boundaries like the Avett Brothers, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson (who we saw a flash of in a “future of country” photo montage towards the end of the last episode), and more under-the-radar artists like Lydia Loveless, Trampled By Turtles and Margo Price. And then a 10th episode devoted entirely to the magnificence of Marty Stuart’s hair.
Robert Erickson
October 3, 2019 @ 5:22 pm
Agreed, as if country music stopped in the 90’s — 20+years ago!
The early 80s merge of punk and country is a very important manifestation in terms of two almost polar cultures coming together. Same with the Americana / Southern Gothic /etc.
Burns ran outta gas on this one.
Kevin E
October 8, 2019 @ 11:03 pm
I would argue that avoiding the present is entirely appropriate for a history of country music. The present is too close, and a few years of development are really necessary to draw out the story. History of the present just doesn’t work – sometimes you are too close to really see the themes and where they are going.
The other issue is that I’m sure even Ken Burns doesn’t have carte blanche from PBS. He has a limit on number of episodes, and hour count. Tack on more people and more topics, and he necessarily has to cut other subjects. You can’t cram everyone and every song into the documentary. Paying for rights to songs is another issue with music – more songs means spiraling costs.
Kevin E
October 8, 2019 @ 11:08 pm
I suspect it’s not about running out of gas, it’s about having to cap things due to space limitations and money. He may have been limited to 8 episodes by PBS. Moreover, more time means more songs means more rights fees. The budget may have been an issue.
Eric T. Walker
October 1, 2019 @ 11:58 pm
This series was fully comparable to the incredibly high standard of other Burns projects (fair disclosure: I still consider “The Civil War” to be the single finest and most informative production ever made for a television audience — which, BTW, was almost entirely comprised of still tintypes & glass negatives). It’s been a long while since I’ve seen and heard so many visceral reactions and interactions over a series (almost all positive), from young to old, hipsters to senior citizens, liberal Democrats to conservative Republicans, that has given something for people from all walks of life to discuss/critique/bond over….OMG, in these days and times, that’s such an incredible blessing! Once again, it’s a reminder that the things that make American truly great are forged in our COLLECTIVE consciousness — at many times incredibly uplifting, and at time, very disheartening — but ALL of which are uniquely American.
Yeah, I would have liked to see a bit more on Milton Brown, Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves (tho I don’t care much for his recordings, he was a huge influence in mainstreaming country music), Twitty & Jerry Lee (the reformed rockabillies), Steve Earle, etc. etc. But the Carter Family? Jimmie Rodgers? Hank Williams? Patsy? “No-Show”? Merle? Johnny Cash? C’mon, no arguments there, I’d hope!
Interesting: the three people that seemed to have bridged the old days to the current era were Willie, Ralph Emery, and (somewhat surprisingly) Brenda Lee. That sort of continuum is exactly what brings the whole circle together. Having Mother Maybelle and Roy Acuff on the “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” album is probably the primary case in point (though I definitely didn’t fully appreciate that when I bought it when I was 18).
Final note: OK, this series was not made for the super hard-core fan that has a deep appreciation of Country music. Minor quibbles aside, it really was a damn good narrative that, on several nights, kept me from going to the restroom until it was completely done….which is about the highest praise indeed 🙂
Marietta Johnson
October 12, 2019 @ 8:17 am
Kitty wells open the door for female singers. How he could have missed her is unbelievable. She was far more important to country music than several that was mentioned.
Sam Sanchez
October 2, 2019 @ 8:15 am
I’m not seeing any mention of Terry Allen, the “Lubbock on Everything” album was influential on a lot of artists with the distinct Lubbock-sound. But like it was mentioned before, this series was left open-ended, perhaps in the future we’ll see more of the artists that were under-reported or not mentioned. Fingers-crossed!
George Hill
October 2, 2019 @ 8:39 am
Alabama! Enough said
Tom R.
October 2, 2019 @ 9:54 am
I agree with all the above mentioned snubs but also shamefully overlooked were Sonny James (who had more number ones than anyone for decades), Lynn Anderson (for many years second only to Loretta and Tammy among the country female vocalists and the first of the young glamour girl blonde female vocalists, dozens of whom have followed her path ever since), Vernon Dalhart (one of the great pioneering acts), Skeeter Davis, Stonewall Jackson, etc. I think there should have been room for any artist who was on the charts for twenty years or more (probably 25-40 stars who were ignored) even if it was just a few minutes, after all this show ran 16 hours.
Lisa
October 3, 2019 @ 5:10 am
Lynn Anderson 🌹
Tim W.
October 4, 2019 @ 3:01 pm
As we are discussing this @ home I asked ‘so who would you have cut out and who would replaced those with? The show was a primer and it should be noted record sales of many of those old artist shot up the next week,
Peri Jetton
May 9, 2020 @ 12:09 pm
God my mama would just swoon over Sonny James🥰
Darla Hershey
October 2, 2019 @ 10:48 am
Are all these updates in the book or not ?
Trigger
October 2, 2019 @ 11:12 am
No, they are not. But the book does have more information than the film. There is also a Director’s Cut available on DVD that apparently has even more footage.
Dora Kay Bryant
October 2, 2019 @ 1:06 pm
Conway Twitty had 55 number ones, not 44 and Hello Darlin is like a national anthem to me. And I have never heard anyone say Tight Fittin Jeans was creepy,
Jack Baker
October 2, 2019 @ 2:27 pm
There is no possibility that many artists would be missed, overlooked, or shorted. Just as some were over done.
Having said this, the very best MISSED song 16th Avenue by Lacy J Dalton cannot be forgiven. This song very effectively covers the artist’s Nashville experience.
I challenge anyone to listen to this song and disagree!
Country Music history would require a 1000 episode series to get close to nearing “perfection”
Dan Weimer
October 2, 2019 @ 8:43 pm
What about Hee Haw? It ran for like 27 years and brought country music to homes from L.A. to NYC! I realize the film was centered on individuals but Hee Haw was country music’s ambassador.
Trigger
October 2, 2019 @ 8:46 pm
Hee-Haw received it’s own segment in the film. Some felt it could have been a little longer, but it was definitely there.
Duffy
October 5, 2019 @ 12:10 am
Episode 6 or 7 does Hee Haw justice.
BJones
October 6, 2019 @ 5:49 pm
Did you watch the film
Leo Mallard
October 3, 2019 @ 2:42 am
I thought it inconceivable that Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary would devote just one sentence to the great Alan Jackson, who is generally recognized as the heir to the traditional music of country legends Hank Williams and George Jones. This was a lost opportunity to emphasize the continuity of country music, and how it always returns to its roots compared to the less traditional style of performers like Garth Brooks.
Most country music fans are familiar with Alan Jackson’s rise from his humble Georgia upbringing in a small house built around his grandfather’s old tool shed to legendary status as one of the best selling music artists of all time (75 million records sold!). He’s had 35 #1 hit singles, nine albums certified multi-platinum, two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA awards, and 17 ACM Awards. In addition, he’s been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame (2017) and the Nashville Song Writers Hall of Fame (2018). An obviously ill and weak Loretta Lynn presented him for Hall of Fame induction stated that she had predicted that he would become one of the greatest singers in country music, and that he was the only one she would have come out for in her condition.
Alan Jackson’ idol was Hank Williams. His song “Midnight in Montgomery” was a tribute to Hank. No one can perform Hank Williams songs as perfectly as Alan Jackson does. Just check him out on YouTube! Marty Stewart told Alan that two of Hank’s original band members ( Don Helm and Jerry Rivers) had told him that Alan Jackson would have been Hank’s favorite singer.
Alan also idolized George Jones. At the 1999 CMA Awards, Alan protested the disrespect shown to George Jones when the CMA trimmed his performance to just 90 seconds. Their mutual respect and affection is obvious in their duet on the studio performance of ” A Good Year for the Roses,” as seen on YouTube. Alan Jackson was also chosen to perform “He stopped loving her today” at George Jones’ funeral tribute.
There are so many significant milestones in Alan Jackson’s career. Here are just a few:
– Alan and George Strait singing “Murder on Music Row” as a duet at CMA Awards to protest the critical state of country music.
– His debut of “Where were you?” at the 2001 CMA Awards as a tribute to 9/11 victims.
– His performance of “The Blues Man” with Hank Williams Jr.
– His performance of “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” with Jimmy Buffett broke musical boundaries.
Despite all of his achievements, Alan Jackson has remained humble, respectful, and has always stood for tradition and musical integrity. It’s just hard to justify the lack of acknowledgement in the Ken Burns documentary compared to some relative nonentities, who received too much acknowledgement for insignificant careers.
Ken Burns is a national treasure, and his work as a documentarian is unparalleled; however, this documentary is flawed and sadly incomplete without greater coverage of Alan Jackson’s magnificent career.
Linda r
October 13, 2019 @ 5:33 pm
Giving Alan Jackson a one liner was a slap in face of real country music. Instead showing Garth Brooks flying thru air. How far from country can that be?? Garth is good singer. But Alan really carries on real country music. His awards speak volumes. Ken Burns you snubbed Alan and many other fine true blue country artists
Thad P
February 21, 2020 @ 9:38 pm
I agree with Leo. The special was very enjoyable, but just showing one picture of Alan Jackson was very disappointing. It made the special feel incomplete to me. It would be like doing a special on Classic Westerns and leaving off True Grit. Alan deserved a little more recognition than that for his contributions. I’m sure it’s tough to include everyone but I kinda felt like he spent too much time on a few and overlooked a lot of greats. I’m a big Ken Burns fan, but I wish he’d of recognized some more legends of Country Music like Alan Jackson.
Sam
October 3, 2019 @ 6:11 am
Great article and coverage of this fantastic series, Trigger.
I’d say the greatest oversight is George Jones. He appears in a photo next to Patsy Cline in episode 4, yet isn’t even mentioned. His childhood, rise on the Louisiana Hayride, and early hits like “White Lightning” aren’t covered. He finally appears in episode 5 as Tammy Wynette’s duet partner.
Most would agree that the Mount Rushmore of country music singers would include Hank, Merle, Willie, and Jones. The top 5 might be rounded out by Jennings or Buck, but no one can argue Jones isn’t in the top 5, yet his early years aren’t covered in this series, unlike the others.
Lissa Hattersley
October 3, 2019 @ 1:51 pm
You must have missed the episode, because there was a whole section on George Jones!
Mama L
October 6, 2019 @ 5:16 pm
I think George was covered a little too long if anything
Michael Cosner
October 3, 2019 @ 7:05 am
Trigger, maybe i missed it, but I don’t remember seeing anything about Gilley’s or the Urban Cowboy craze. Like it or not, that was a big deal in the early 80’s.
Mickey Gilley was another omission, but I guess if they’re not gonna talk about Jerry Lee, they’re not gonna talk about Gilley.
Trigger
October 3, 2019 @ 8:05 am
Urban Cowboy and a shot of John Travolta briefly appeared, But not a lot. No mention of Gilley’s officially.
Melanie Admire
October 3, 2019 @ 8:44 am
Neal McCoy!!!! He has been around for years! He is a great, great Country Music Entertainer!
He is a Great American Patriot, he says the Pledge of Allegiance LIVE feed video from his Facebook page daily Consecutively (over three year) No matter where is on his tours.
He has a HUGE fan base.
He loves music, he helps and encourages others music entertainers. He has a great band,stagecrew,bus driver. I have only known of him cancelling his show ONE time . And if I am not mistaken I think it was actually the venue that canceled the show out of respect that Neal’s Dad had just passed away. So that Neal could get back home to his family and make funeral plans for his Dad.
Neal and his beautiful wife Melinda just celebrated their 25th Anniversary of the nonprofit Organization that they founded East Texas Angel Network (ETAN) for children who are struggling with life threatening illnesses, they help the children and their families.
Neal put playground equipment in one of the city parks in Longview, Texas where he and his wife live and raised their children.
NEAL is a great example of what the Country Music industry stands for. God, family, country and great country music!
Brocephus
October 3, 2019 @ 9:32 am
Ken Burns is great at at two things: 1) taking a largely settled-upon history of people and things long deceased and diving deeply into it; and 2) fitting every piece of this history he can into a simple narrative arc. That leaves, by implication, two things he is really bad at: 1) approaching the history that has been made by living people and contemporary events, and that which is being currently made, and by extension, identifying the controversies and inconsistencies in them; and 2) dealing with how anyone or anything contradicts the narrative he has forced everything into, which in my opinion is what makes any narrative more interesting.
With regards to not understanding living history, he glosses over the profound influence Gram Parsons had on the biggest rock acts of the day, The Rolling Stones, whose most creatively fertile period was a direct result of his friendship with Keith Richards, and The Eagles, who basically copied his musical style in a pop-oriented format they knew would sell better. In this era, characterized by the emergence of singer-songwriters who did not write country music per se, but wrote songs with a country sensibility, they gloss over the fact that part of what made outlaw country possible was the new development of songwriters who not only did not grow up rural and destitute, but actually were raised in families with great wealth and status, particularly Townes Van Zandt, Gram Parsons, and Kris Kristofferson, who had private school and (at least partial) prestigious college educations, and therefore had something of intrinsic value to fall back on if music did not work out, allowing them to break rules without concern for consequences. In this period, they never once mentioned John Prine, which is a major omission, as he brought a great amount of humor into songwriting, and has remained highly influential for almost 50 years. With respect to outlaw country, there was not a single mention of Johnny Paycheck or David Allan Coe, who both embraced their controversial personalities and their histories as actual outlaws and transgressors. Finally, there was no mention of the role that hang-out and jam sessions in small Texas towns with people like Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver had in the genesis of the outlaw sound, and culminated in the first (in my opinion most) artistically important album of the period, Honky-Tonk Heroes. The importance of Lubbock )on everything) is also a glaring omission.
With regards to the narrative of the show, there are two main arcs: 1) the borrowing by country music from so many different traditions and styles, and hence its constant reinvention through cross-cultural contact, especially with historically black music; and 2) the common thread of all country music being its authenticity. 1) The constant paeans to black music, and the inclusion of black artists in the narration (Rhiannon Giddens and Darius Rucker), completely gloss over the racially, culturally, and politically reactionary strain in country music. Hence there is no mention of the appropriation of confederate and racist symbols, etc. in the music and personae of acts from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels and David Allan Coe, all the way to the modern day with Kid Rock, or with the Dukes of Hazzard TV show with Waylon Jennings as the narrator and theme singer. Maybe this was beyond the timeline of the show, but there is also no mention of the Dixie Chicks and their blackballing from country radio. 2) In a show that keeps coming back to authenticity, there is a lot of focus on what has been commercially successful at the expense of what is artistically influential. Most of the Nashville Sound and countrypolitan music of the 60’s through the 70’s really hasn’t held up well, even though it was hugely popular because the Nashville power structure wanted it to be. Similarly, there is very little authenticity in the hat acts of the ’80’s, and on through to the 2000’s with radio-friendly “bro” country, where artists with largely suburban and middle class upbringings aped the style of performance and dress of George Strait and Reba McIntyre, who had been legitimate rodeo cowboys, or more recently follow the hip hop trend of name-checking brands and labels, associated with being a redneck rather than with luxury and money.
Dean J Augustin
October 3, 2019 @ 11:23 am
Marshall Tucker Band, Amazing Rhythm Aces, The Band, The Birds,
Richard
October 3, 2019 @ 11:59 am
I enjoyed the series, and I understand that you can’t cover everything. I can also get past the fact that the documentary seems to stop in the mid-1990’s. I can even forgive leaving out John Prine, but just barely.
That said, if you asked me to name the two greatest guitar players in country music history, it would be Merle Travis and Doc Watson. Those two should have had a segment.
Nick Sartori
October 3, 2019 @ 12:17 pm
I must admit that I was not familiar with Merle’s “Holding Things Together”, until Dwight Yokam choked up while singing part of it. I You Tubed the whole song three consecutive times after that. Powerful statement about a subject that is seldom brought to light. The husbands aren’t always the the bad guys.
Don Cook
October 3, 2019 @ 1:50 pm
It was obvious during the recent 16 hrs. that the legal rights problems must have been huge.Doc Watson and John Denver were hardly there, nor were Woody Guthrie or Arlo, we saw the back of Pete Seeger. Jack Elliot, Jean Ritchie, John Prine, Tom Paxton and other non Nashville musicians were left out.
If you ever get the legal rights to the music we would be happy to watch another 2 hrs.
Carol
October 3, 2019 @ 4:07 pm
I enjoyed the series but also agree with the above comments regarding omissions. One area I feel should have been covered in greater depth is the European (and African) origin of the music. The original settlers brought their music from Scotland and England and other places(?). I don’t know much about this and would have appreciated some insight regarding how this evolved into the music performed by the Carters and other early performers.
Dave Roberts
October 3, 2019 @ 5:03 pm
No Alan Jackson—are you kidding me??
Leo Mallard
October 3, 2019 @ 6:20 pm
I thought it inconceivable that Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary would devote just one sentence to the great Alan Jackson, who is generally recognized as the heir to the traditional music of country legends Hank Williams and George Jones. This was a lost opportunity to emphasize the continuity of country music, and how it always returns to its roots compared to the less traditional style of performers like Garth Brooks.
Most country music fans are familiar with Alan Jackson’s rise from his humble Georgia upbringing in a small house built around his grandfather’s old tool shed to legendary status as one of the best selling music artists of all time (75 million records sold!). He’s had 35 #1 hit singles, nine albums certified multi-platinum, two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA awards, and 17 ACM Awards. In addition, he’s been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame (2017) and the Nashville Song Writers Hall of Fame (2018). An obviously ill and weak Loretta Lynn presented him for Hall of Fame induction. She stated that she had predicted that he would become one of the greatest singers in country music, and that he was the only one she would have come out for in her condition.
Alan Jackson’s idol was Hank Williams. His song “Midnight in Montgomery” was a tribute to Hank. No one can perform Hank Williams songs as perfectly as Alan Jackson does. Just check him out on YouTube! Marty Stewart told Alan that two of Hank’s original band members (Don Helm and Jerry Rivers) had told him that Alan Jackson would have been Hank’s favorite singer.
Alan also idolized George Jones. At the 1999 CMA Awards, Alan protested the disrespect shown to George Jones when the CMA trimmed his performance to just 90 seconds. Their mutual respect and affection is obvious in their duet on the live studio performance of ” A Good Year for the Roses,” as seen on YouTube. Alan Jackson was also chosen to perform “He stopped loving her today” at George Jones’ funeral tribute.
There are so many significant milestones in Alan Jackson’s career. Here are just a few:
– Alan and George Strait singing “Murder on Music Row” as a duet at CMA Awards to protest the critical state of country music. George and Alan are both traditionalists, who share this concern.
– His debut of “Where were you?” at the 2001 CMA Awards as a tribute to 9/11 victims.
– His performance of “The Blues Man” with Hank Williams Jr. was the closest thing to singing with his idol, Hank Sr.
– His performance of “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” with Jimmy Buffett broke musical boundaries.
Despite all of his achievements, Alan Jackson has remained humble, respectful, and has always stood for tradition and musical integrity. It’s just hard to justify the lack of acknowledgement in the Ken Burns documentary compared to some relative nonentities, who received too much acknowledgement for insignificant careers.
Ken Burns is a national treasure, and his work as a documentarian is unparalleled; however, this documentary is flawed and sadly incomplete without greater coverage of Alan Jackson’s magnificent career.
Leon Duhamel
October 3, 2019 @ 6:45 pm
I am absolutely amazed that EVERYONE has forgotten the one and only country music artist that we are reminded of every time we go to the grocery store to buy breakfast sausage.
Ryan Brown
October 3, 2019 @ 11:05 pm
I thought the show was pretty good for the most part, with interesting stories from the artists and musicians. But I did think there was some glaring omissions, and I didn’t really understand why they left them out. I thought they didn’t talk about old time music enough, musicians like the Skillet Lickers, Clayton McMichen, Clarence Ashley etc, and talked too much about recent artists. Also, the Western Swing episode wasn’t that great either. They didn’t even mention Merle Travis, Spade Cooley, or any of the other musicians in that genre. But some people I’m sure wanted more about the newer artists, which I can understand since it makes it more entertaining, But the one thing that frustrated me more than anything, was the whole Bluegrass parts in the doc. They talked about it a lot but really just a couple of artists. No mention of Newgrass and the 70s, with John Hartford or Tony Rice or Vassar Clements. It was kind of weird that they talked about Bluegrass so much, but not really mentioning anybody that really define the genre. Not sure why. Also, needed more about Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, Barbara mandrel, Jim Reeves, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker. But maybe I’m just nitpicking because I enjoyed the show overall, more just miffed at the whole Bluegrass thing. Oh well that’s just my two sense.
Jackie Sutt
October 4, 2019 @ 9:29 am
I watched with my husband, who is 13 years my senior. He was raised in the Ozarks of Missouri, as was my mother. Knew I was raised to the tunes of country music. Never realized how ingrained it is in my mind! Singing along with songs from far before my being a twinkle in my dad’s eyes.
I’ll not complain about omissions, or too much time given to one style or another. For me it was a beautiful, mind soothing trip through music memories. Recalling faces of long gone family members who picked and sang locally. The occasional opportunity to see a “star!” Mr. Burns, thank you. The history was great, but the songs and picking were wonderful.
Martha Maddux
October 4, 2019 @ 11:13 am
I feel that Jimmy Dean should have been mentioned and given some time. He did so much to have country music cross over to mainstream. He was not even mentioned. I think far too much time was given to June Carter and Johnny Cash. Do not get me wrong, I really like them, but it seemed every episode was filled with Carter and Cash to the exclusion of others.
Richard
October 8, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
Martha I agree.
ROBIN D MAGOVERN
October 4, 2019 @ 12:38 pm
You’ve GOT to be kidding: 20 seconds (Ep. 7 @ 2:02-hr mark) on Kenny Rogers!!!?
100+ million records sold; Country Music Hall of Fame…I effin couldn’t believe his omission, no matter all the excuses given. Grammies + 1986 favorite singer. Sheesh…
Barry Bozeman
October 4, 2019 @ 4:09 pm
Jimmie Rodgers’s mother was Eliza Bozeman making us cousins and I applaud Burns for his coverage of the importance of Jimmie as “the Father of Country Music”. Merle Haggard first and many other later country music artists have acknowledged their debt to Jimmie & the Carter Family and Hank Williams.
The first 4 episodes and 8 hours delved into the history as Burns does so well. When he gets to episodes 6 and 7 to cover the 60’s & 70’s, Burns has to make choices between many deserving artists. His decision to theme Episode 7 around Emmylou and Dolly to emphasize the range from folk artists like Emmylou to mainstream superstars like Dolly was impressive I think, and moving from Emmylou to Gram Parsons – Sweetheart of the Rodeo Byrds & Flying Burrito Bros. and then introducing the Outlaws through Willie and Waylon and the Highwaymen tying it all together with Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, and Townes Van Zandt was inspired.
He still had to give significant time to Tammy & George plus the move of the Opry from the Ryman to Opryland using Marty Stuart and Bill Anderson linking it all together with the Carter’s WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN as a theme.
There were only 140 minutes available in his format to cover a decade with way too much – so striking a balance with more detail on a representative group vs short mentions of many was always going to disappoint many viewers. I choose to appreciate what we were given. It was excellent.
Burns left a lot uncovered while he covered a lot giving those who have different preferences the room to do what they may with what is left. I for one am very appreciative for what Burns provided – Episode 7 moved me to tears throughout as vivid memories of that time – providing tour sound for Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker, and the Oak Ridge Boys – and loving every opportunity to hear Emmylou, Wille, Waylon, and Knoxville TN neighbor Dolly along with George, Tammy, Loretta, and Conway.
I worked with Jesse Winchester and helped put together the Amazing Rhythm Aces and loved John Prine, Steve Goodman, and David Allen Coe along with Paycheck, Buffet, and Chesney – but I can only praise Burns for the amazing work he gave us!
Jenifer Palmer-Lacy
October 28, 2019 @ 11:05 am
Jesse Winchester was not only totally omitted from Country but rarely heard on Sirius Outlaw Country radio, altho Emmeylou Harris covered several if his song. He was a draft resister and A true outlaw.
Carol
October 4, 2019 @ 5:28 pm
Definitely missed the boat by excluding Glen Campbell, Alison Krause, and Linda Ronstadt …
Mindy Thompson
October 4, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” John Denver.
CN
October 4, 2019 @ 7:09 pm
Yes, a little upset about lack of coverage of George Strait. I’m hoping another episode will delve into the music of George, Kenny, Alan and Barbara. Overall, I truly enjoyed the documentary.
Duffy
October 4, 2019 @ 11:57 pm
Did I miss the portion that discussed the band Alabama? They barely got a mention, but they scored dozens of number one hits and many platinum albums and received numerous awards.
Joe G
October 5, 2019 @ 9:24 am
I loved it, but would have loved it more if they would have mentioned John Anderson. As true a country star as there ever was.
Doug
October 5, 2019 @ 2:38 pm
Yes, thank you! John Anderson, writer, co-writer or performer of some of my favorite songs, (Seminole Wind, Swingin’, I Wish I Could Have Been There, Throw Away the Stone, Straight Tequila Night). His performance of Bobby Braddock’s song about country singers who missed the brass ring in Nashville — Nashville Tears — resonates with the topic of this post from Trigger — artists who didn’t get the attention they deserved.
Ally
October 5, 2019 @ 2:24 pm
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duo in the 80’s. KT Oslin, the 80s lady herself. They were a huge part of defining country music in the 80’s.
Gregory Freeman
October 5, 2019 @ 2:33 pm
I really believe Allison Krauss’ omission was just terrible save for one photo. Jimmy dean was a big star in the1960s and he had a very popular national TV show that featured many artists seen in the documentary as well as getting a chance to see the musicians who created the Nashville sound such as Floyd Cramer, Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph and others on the show. But there was NO mention of him at all.
TL
October 6, 2019 @ 2:29 am
I don’t get the way Tom T. Hall was handled. Hard to call it a “snub” – as he was included as an occasional talking head, and was mentioned a few times. But to the extent that his actual career was cited, you’d think that all he’d ever done was write a Harper Valley PTA for Jeannie C. Riley and bring Johnny Rodriguez to Nashville (both of whom got mini-profiles along the way).
I don’t know how you talk about Country in the late 60s and early 70s without at least discussing Hall’s influence as a songwriter and performer.
Johnie Rains
October 6, 2019 @ 2:37 am
Earl Thomas Conley, Restless Heart
Rose McCormick
October 6, 2019 @ 11:41 am
Overall, I enjoyed the series, BUT, raised with the sounds of country music from Jimmie Rodgers all the way up to George Strait, I still felt the lack of, and in many instances, complete omission of some amazing country artists. I’m most upset about Conway Twitty. He was more than a rockabilly singer turned country! He was one of the GREATEST country singers EVER! And, I didn’t feel that enough time was spent on Willie and Waylon and outlaw country, in genera which is some of the greatest music of any genre, period! And George Jones! I felt that while his partnership/marriage to Tammy Wynette is important to the history of country music, it’s certainly not as central to it as is George’s music as a singles artist. I felt that his importance to country music was almost completely boiled down to his duets with Tammy. Then there’s Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Alison Krauss—one of the LAST TRUE COUNTRY musicians we have (along with, The Old Crow Medicine Show, who, by today’s low standards, aren’t exactly strictly country, though they ARE CLOSER to country music than anything you’ll hear on country radio today!), George Strait, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Vern Gosdin, John Denver, The Band, John Mellencamp and SO MANY others that have been named here already by other commentators! I think that today’s country music is in a bad way, having veered off course, without any direction, completely lacking the purity of true country music. With the exception of a very, very few, today’s “country music” is NOT country music! Garth Brooks is a caricature of a country singer, Taylor Swift used it as a springboard into pop music, which, sadly, most country music IS today—watered down, all essence gone! I was personally happy that Ken Burns stopped with the mid-90’s history of country music, though it was spotty, with huge oversights, like the great Keith Whitley. True, I didn’t like that he seemed to completely ignore the ‘80’s, overall, while greatly disappointed in some areas, I enjoyed hearing music that I grew up with and loved and I appreciated the memories it brought me of my parents and the way they passed their love of this beautiful music down to me.
Sandy
October 6, 2019 @ 1:58 pm
Realize there was limited time but way too much Johnny Cash . I believe he was featured 3 different episodes. Alot of time spent on him could have covered Tompall and his brothers, Tanya Tucker and a few more. Could have done without Kathy Mattea’ segment.
Rosemary Stubbendeck
October 6, 2019 @ 2:29 pm
No mention of Ray Price, one of my favorites.
BJones
October 6, 2019 @ 5:29 pm
Just finished. Billy Joe Shaver most inexcusable snub. One photo when talking about Waylon without a mention by name. Robert Earl Keen right behind him. Coe for sure.
Talking over sing me back home is a capital offense. Either don’t play it or let play all the way through. But don’t talk over it.
Webb Pierce didn’t get enough in my view. John Prine may not be 100% country but come on. No Blaze Foley in 16 hours, even for a 20 second spot is highly questionable.
Jeff
October 7, 2019 @ 1:52 am
Really enjoyed the series, would have liked 10 more episodes. I am a bit puzzled how Marty Stuart came to be so prominently featured throughout the series.
Cufford Marvin Leonnas Johnson
October 7, 2019 @ 10:57 am
Why would you leave out 2 legends of country music like Neal McCoy and Earl Thomas Conley cause they both loved the people that come to see them or were they just better than some of the singers in this story about country music
Eric Cooley
October 7, 2019 @ 6:36 pm
Mike Nesmith and the First National Band. He was arguably the first to form what would ultimately become the early ‘70s country rock genre. (True, he beat the Eagles and the Byrds to it.)
But, it’s hard to overlook — and probably didn’t help his inclusion — that he sued PBS for $47m back in the late ‘90s.
Bill
October 7, 2019 @ 9:31 pm
What about Don Gibson?
Alana
October 8, 2019 @ 11:41 am
I get that he couldn’t cover everyone, but he spent a ton of time on Bluegrass and although I also get that close relationship to and symbiosis with country music, some of that time could have been spent on true country artists. The author of this article pretty much nails it with the listed omissions, but what about Earl Thomas Conley? Eighteen number one hits in the 80’s. How is that not worthy in any documentary of country music? Don Williams was a huge oversight. I loved the episodes, but was very disappointed in the omissions. At the end, they showed pictures of current stars like Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t catch a glimpse of Blake Shelton.
Mark
October 8, 2019 @ 1:43 pm
Ronnie Milsap, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers…
Mark
October 8, 2019 @ 1:46 pm
Ronnie Milsap, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers
Bet
October 8, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
I will admit I’m a little biased because I’m a huge fan, but I dont see why Alan Jackson wasn’t covered except that one sentence. All the “class of 89” coverage went to garth, which I get it he was huge, but Alan is know for the traditional connections. Also, I dont understand why there’s no mention of Brooks & Dunn.
Stac
October 8, 2019 @ 8:52 pm
My issue is more with e time periods covers in each episode, which is probably why so many were left out. How the 60’s warranted two episodes to cover and still missed so many is beyond me. Alabama and The Oak Ridge boys were some of the artists in the later 70’s and early 80’s that I still enjoy listening to today. My parent were ‘city folk’ who didn’t listen to country. And I agree with many here, that Alan Jackson is much more ‘country’ that Garth. I actually think Garth is the reason we have to put up with this ‘pop’ country that Nashville is putting out. The good thing is that we live in an incredible era where we don’t have to listen to any of the crap Nashville releases; we have the benefit of seeking out independent artists.
Veneta Raymer
October 9, 2019 @ 2:32 pm
I am from Kentucky and growing up this music was a staple in our house and community. I couldn’t wait to get away from it. Then the very artists that I listened to and admired, primarily Dylan, led me back to the “high lonesome” sound. Truly, the circle is unbroken. Ken Burns did an amazing job in enlightening anyone who cares and wants to know about this authentic and underappreciated sound. My only gripe with the series (and I understand Burns could not possibly cover everyone of importance) is he did not even mention John Prine. I know Prine is hard to categorize, but he was right there with Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. To not even mention the man, who Bob Dylan called one of his favorite songwriters and who many young artists today name as an influence, was a HUGE mistake and an omittance that, in my mind, left the series incomplete. Come on Ken! Do another one!
Jeff Mach
October 9, 2019 @ 3:21 pm
I’ve got to agree with the comments concerning the omission of many individual artists I enjoy, including John Prine, John Hartford, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Among others. However, what I missed most was virtually any mention of the role and influence of cajun and zydeco music and all of those artists, who are as country as any of the other genres under the tent.
Michelle Davis
October 10, 2019 @ 1:15 pm
The excuse for not profiling George Strait doesn’t work….current artists not covered? Why so much time on Garth Brooks? He was the same era of George.
I loved the documentary but was disappointed with the lack of discussion on or with George Strait.
Michael Johnson
October 11, 2019 @ 2:35 pm
Didn’t watch the Burns series yet, but would be surprised if Don Gibson got much mention. Chet Atkins said it best–Don’s biggest mistake was he didn’t die young. Those late ’50’s, early ’60’s Gibson recordings at RCA –with Chet producing, and often playing on, are as good as anything Country ever had. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” “Sweet Dreams”, “Oh Lonesome Me”, all Gibson originals. Still, he never had the star power of Johnny Cash, Merle, Wilie,etc. It’s apples and oranges, I know, but it reminds me of pro golf in the same time period–everyone talks of Palmer, Nicklaus, Player… but the guy who won just as many times…who remembers Billy Casper? Star power is hard to explain., and in Don Gibson’s case, he battled stage fright and shyness his whole life. So, instead of watching the documentary, I might just crank up “Don’t Tell Me your Troubles”, or “Just One Time”, and enjoy all over again the songs of Don Gibson.
Scotty Valentine
October 13, 2019 @ 9:09 am
It’s been mentioned before but not giving anytime to Johnny Paycheck, David Allen Coe, Kitty Wells, and Don Gibson was a surprise. Tammy Wynette should of been a big part. Anyways enjoyed the doc except for some glaring omissions.
Kelly Neff
October 13, 2019 @ 5:33 pm
No one has mentioned the snub of Sonny James.
Manassa Jack
October 14, 2019 @ 3:00 pm
I was surprised that the documentary barely mentioned either Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger and didn’t mention either Dottie West or Linda Ronstadt at all. I suppose Burns considers Guthrie & Seeger to be “folk” and Ronstadt to be “pop,” but Dottie West was surely a significant figure in the history of country music.
Dawn L Black
October 14, 2019 @ 5:14 pm
GENE WATSON and VERN GOSDIN!
Galen hunsucker
October 15, 2019 @ 1:34 pm
Jerry Reed,Jerry Reed and Jerry Reed
Not to mention that Chet thought he was the best….My gosh the contractions he made…He changed the face of guitar, especially country guitar… forever..Then of course there’s the songwriting alcolades
then the founder of funky style country which have nothing to do about the films and TV stuff…. lisaandgalen.com
John Craig
October 15, 2019 @ 8:34 pm
What about Melba Montgomery? Or the high cost of stardom (Gary Stewart and Mel Street)?
Pretty Miss Norma Jean? But I feel the biggest overlook was Vern Gosdin!
Barbra DeCapua
October 16, 2019 @ 12:39 pm
Country music is so large starting in the 60s it’s hard to tell WHOLE story without leaving so many great influences out. Gary Stewart, Mel Street, Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley, Gene Watson, David Allan Coe and so on. And currently, Texas/Red Dirt music is somewhat being overlooked now.
I would love for another documentary to follow up on all the greats that were not mentioned. Starting in the 70s, there were quite a few off-shots of country and regional music such as southern country-rock, Honky-Tonk, traditional country, Texas country and newer more modern country.
So much more country history to be told…..
Sonny Butterman
October 17, 2019 @ 3:15 pm
Suggs Mudderly and Flatbush Bill Billiams, along with The Washtub Sutherland Trio (featuring Patsy Mills) were ignored, as was Douglas Hazzard and Wilson Phlamingo Stone, who together with Eddy Hot Rod Carp kicked off “Vegastonk” in the mid seventies.
Martha
October 18, 2019 @ 6:33 am
People who didn’t watch or watch carefully should not comment.
Phil
October 18, 2019 @ 11:46 am
The film Nashville wasn’t even mentioned. For goodness’ sake, I’m Easy won an Oscar.
Bob-Nebraska
October 20, 2019 @ 8:24 am
Loved the show! Would have included The Highway Men-Willie Waylon Johnny Kris. How they got started etc.
Mikey.albany
October 20, 2019 @ 10:20 am
If Ken Burns had mention everyone that should have been mentioned, we would be watching the show for another 45 years
Larry Jordan
October 20, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
As I mentioned, a Ken Burns consultant was the Michael Streissguth, who has written THREE books on Johnny Cash and one book on Roseanne. Really? Roseanne? I didn’t know she was so important. Meanwhile, he wrote a grotesquely inaccurate book on Jim Reeves, so much so that after 33 years of knowing Jim’s widow, Mary, I was so outraged by Streissguth’s treatment of Reeves that I spent 13 years writing a book to set the record straight. So I think it’s logical to conclude where the emphasis on Johnny Cash came from. It was excessive and absurd.
John Galt
October 22, 2019 @ 5:55 pm
Well tell him to do that – I’d watch for 45 years except I’m 72 so how about 5 years
Pam Tillis
Desert Rose Band
Paul Overstreet
Gene Watson
Suzy Bogguss
Alan Jackson got 30 seconds – Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton got 4 hours? Are you kidding me.
Marc Derden
October 22, 2019 @ 1:08 am
Thought Joe Ely and John Anderson deserved a mention
Peter O.
October 25, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
You got my vote for Joe Ely.
Marie Kleinfeld
October 23, 2019 @ 10:57 am
I was very surprised that no mention was made of the “group” era – Statler Bros, Alabama, and Oak Ridge Boys. And only a brief mention of Barbara Mandrell.
Judd
October 24, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
For all who complain about artists who are left out there is but one answer. There are few, if any other documentarians of the caliber of Ken Burns doing what Ken Burns does on the level that Ken Burns does it. Who else does 16 hour documentaries one one subject? I can’t think of any that take on that epic task. Burns spends multiple years of his life diving into a subject so that he can do some proper research and really get to know the material. He knows he won’t get it all and he has to choose what will and won’t make the end product. He even left the product open ended so that it could be added to later if needed. You have to watch this particular documentary with an open mind because the story isn’t over and it is ever evolving. Ken Burns has done a magnificent job and I am amazed at the body of work he put forth in this series alone.
Emmanuel James
June 9, 2020 @ 11:42 pm
Hello Cannot agree with you. I cannot believe he barely mentioned the name Jim Reeves. Jim wad responsible for the Nashville sound, which helped make country music popular. Ken Burn needs to explain to true country fans how is it possible to overlook a name like Jim Reeves. Jim is inducted in the country hall of fame. Named country artist of the year in 1953. He has a award named after him to CMA. Not only that no artist in the history of music had so many hits after his death than Jim Reeves. He was responsible for making country music acceptable to fans aroubd the world, in my view coubtry music would have diwd if Jim Reeves was not around. Like you said he can still add on and he needs to fix this inaccuracies to reflex the value Jim Reeves made to coubtry music, maybe them we will respect Ken Burb work..
Diana
October 24, 2019 @ 5:50 pm
Two artists who were hardly mentioned: Jerry Lee Lewis and Waylon Jennings. These two talented musicians did country/ cross over the way they wanted, not the slick sound Nashville pushes on everyone. Just like R & R today, easy listening pop or country is not a genre but a hybrid that sounds bad, and influences no one–boring.
Lynda Devoe
October 24, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
It was a wonderful and very interesting story on country music. I hope a second season will be made on the ones that were overlooked. I would love to have heard about Eddy Arnold.
Diana
October 24, 2019 @ 10:13 pm
What a disappointment that Jerry Lee Lewis was not featured in the documentary. He was one of the artists that changed the direction of country and Rock and Roll. His honky Tonk piano playing was/ is as as pure country as is Hank Williams or Merle Haggard’s.
Check out Jerry Lee on: Another Time, Another Place. What a beautiful voice on this recording. It might make you cry. He also has a great life story that should have been told. His troubles were no worse then any of the other artists featured, and would have brought back so many great memories to many of us.
Gary Johnson
October 25, 2019 @ 7:43 am
As a life long fan, raised on hillbilly music, it was an awesome tribute but could have been named the life of Johhny Cash (and I would have still loved it). Stonewall Jackson was yet another missed opportunity. Best program on TV in years!
Peter O.
October 25, 2019 @ 9:45 pm
The documentary made mention of how rockabilly developed as an offshoot of country, so I was disappointed that there was no real mention of the rockabilly revival in the late 70’s, early 80’s. The closest it came to it was a mention of Dwight Yoakim opening for The Blasters. When I was interning at WHN in my senior year in college, they had in their rotation Robert Gordon’s rendition of Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make “Believe” and other acts like the Stray Cats & Shakin’Stevens were also making their mark on the music scene. I didn’t expect to see much on it, but I think a nod to it was deserving.
Herb Roush Jr
October 26, 2019 @ 7:10 am
Theres Alot Of Singers That Weren’t Mentioned. Yes Theres Too Many To Try To Put Into This. But When You Mention Country Music You Have To Mention And Have A Segiment On Some Of The Greatest Voices Ever In Country Music Like, Don Williams, Vern Gosden, Keith Whitley, And One Of The Most Underated, Overlooked Singers In Country Music, Not Only For His Music, Personality, But He Was The Torchbearer Of Traditional Country Music For Years, Up To His Death. DARRELL SINGLETARY…
TIFFINI BOSTIC
October 26, 2019 @ 7:26 pm
How could you not mention Hank Williams Jr he had 5 albums on the chart at one time. He might have been mentioned with his Daddy Hank Williams but he changed country music for the better in the early 80’s. Hank Jr. has and will continue to never get the credit he truly deserves and it is very sad!! Bocephus fan for life!!
Kirk
October 28, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
How about the pop stoneman in the stoneman family. Pop son Scotty stoneman was one of the best fiddlers ever. Daughter Ronnie Stone play the banjo and was on hee Haw. Donna was a great mandolin player. I don’t remember one word about the stoneman family, shame for shame!
David Smith
October 28, 2019 @ 8:28 pm
Eddie Arnold (most records sold all time)
Crystal Gayle
Ray Price (huge oversite)
Glenn Campbell (double huge oversight)
Stu Millersongwriters
October 28, 2019 @ 9:34 pm
songwriters like John Prine and Steve Goodman also overlooked…
AB
October 29, 2019 @ 7:04 pm
Enjoyed the documentary and purchased it. Missed John Prine, Old and in the Way and some others.
Joe mancuso
October 29, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
Jimmie Dale Gilmore!
Hempstead Countian
October 31, 2019 @ 9:11 am
Burn’s documentary started very well and pieced together the early history through the 1950’s in a fun and interesting way. Then, it lost focus and insight. Going on and on about the Dirt Band and the Vietnam War after only briefly mentioning Glen Campbell turned what had been an excellent show into a disappointment. Glen’s is a great story. Burns missed completely on that. But by all means, let Mary Stuart babble on some more.
Liz Perilloux
October 31, 2019 @ 1:24 pm
Even with the omissions it was a great presentations. I looked at it as presenting some of the major artists through bluegrass/country evolved into what is today.
Robert
October 31, 2019 @ 7:51 pm
I learned so much from this documentary and thoroughly enjoyed it, though I came away wondering why there was no mention of John Prine.