Ken Burns presents ‘Country Music’

Step back in time and journey through the compelling history of a truly American art form in “Country Music,” a new eight-part film directed by Ken Burns, and produced by Burns and his long-time collaborators Dayton Duncan and Julie Dunfey.

The new documentary premieres Sunday, Sept. 15, through Wednesday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 22, through Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. each night. PBS Passport members will be able to stream the entire series for a period of six months beginning Sunday, September 15.

The documentary, written by Duncan, who also wrote the illustrated companion book, chronicles country music’s early days. From southern Appalachia’s songs of struggle, heartbreak and faith, viewers will follow the story to the rollicking Western swing of Texas, California’s honky-tonks and Nashville’s “Grand Ole Opry.” Over more than 16 hours, the film traces the evolution of country music over the course of the 20th century as it eventually emerges to become “America’s music.”

MORE: One week before the documentary arrives, enjoy an evening of performances by some of country music’s biggest stars, hosted by Ken Burns.

“Country Music” explores fundamental questions like “What is country music?” and “Where did it come from?” while also focusing the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped it. Over the course of 16 hours, the film follows the stories of musicians from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in which they lived. Much like the music itself, “Country Music” tells unforgettable stories of hardships and joys shared by everyday people.


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“Country Music” digs deep to uncover the roots of the music, including ballads, minstrel music, hymns and the blues. Discover how country was recorded for the first time in the 1920s, when it was called “hillbilly music,” and played across the airwaves on radio station barn dances. See how Hollywood B movies instituted the fad of singing cowboys like Gene Autry and how the rise of juke joints after World War II changed the musical style by bringing electric and pedal steel guitars to the forefront.


As Burns and Duncan weave together the musical stories, they connect the history of country music to the larger story of America, exploring how artists and songwriting reflected periods of depression, war and cultural upheaval, and how radio and later television impacted the art form. The series also tells the story of how Nashville came to be not only the epicenter of the country music industry, but Music City USA.

At the film’s heart are the stories of unforgettable songs and the artists who created them: their emergence from humble beginnings, their musical influences and their breakthrough moments. The film explores the extraordinary connection between country music artists and fans and notes the enduring influence of particular songs and musicians across generations. The narrative ends in the mid-1990s as a young Garth Brooks emerges from a small venue in Nashville to achieve phenomenal success, bringing country music to an entirely new level of popularity, and yet shows up to sign autographs for more than 20 hours at the Country Music Association’s Fan Fair.


Photo above:

The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, c.1960. Photograph by Les Leverett

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