NARRATOR: COUNTRY MUSIC ROSE FROM THE BOTTOM UP, FROM THE SONGS AMERICANS SANG TO THEMSELVES IN FARM FIELDS AND RAILROAD YARDS TO EASE THEM THROUGH THEIR LABORS AND SONGS THEY SANG TO EACH OTHER ON THE PORCHES AND IN THE PARLORS OF THEIR HOMES WHEN THE DAY'S WORK WAS DONE. IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING TO LOOK AT BECAUSE IT'S THE- IT'S THE CLOSEST THING, VISUALLY, REALLY, TO WHAT COUNTRY MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE.

SO IT SHOWS THE BARN DANCES, IT SHOWS THE RAILROAD, RIVERBOATS, THE GOSPEL CHOIRS, THE LAP DULCIMERS, AND THE FIDDLES.ĪND IT SHOWS THE COWBOYS AND THE BANJO COMING FROM AFRICA AND THE SLAVES, AND HOW ALL OF THIS CAME TOGETHER. LOOKING AT THIS PAINTING IS LIKE LOOKING AT AN OLD FRIEND FOR ME. WE HAD THIS PAINTING IN THE MUSEUM CALLED 'THE SOURCES OF COUNTRY MUSIC,' THE LAST PAINTING OF THOMAS HART BENTON. I WAS TOO YOUNG TO WAIT TABLES, SO I GOT A JOB AS A TOUR GUIDE AT THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.ĪND IT TURNED OUT TO BE SUCH A BLESSING BECAUSE I GOT- I GOT TO LISTEN TO SO MUCH MUSIC.ĪLL DAY, EVERY DAY, I GOT TO- IT WAS MY JOB TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF COUNTRY MUSIC. WOMAN: WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO NASHVILLE, I WAS 19. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS. Dawson, Senator Bill and Tracy Frist, Susan and David Kreisman, Rocco and Debby Landesman, Lillian Lovelace, John and Leslie McQuown, Mindy's Hope Foundation, the Segal Family Foundation, Michelle Smith. Berdell Foundation, David Bonderman, Deborah P. Bass, Fred and Donna Seigel, Gilchrist and Amy Berg, James R. Walter and by members of ‘The Better Angels Society,’ including: The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, the Pfeil Foundation, Diane and Hal Brierley, John and Catherine Debs, the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund, the Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation, Jay Alix and Una Jackman, Mercedes T. Funding for Country Music was provided by Bank of America, the Annenberg Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Belmont University, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville … Moreįunding for Country Music was provided by Bank of America, the Annenberg Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Belmont University, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Rosalind P.

Narrator pbs country music documentary