Country Music
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Introduction
Documentaries
Lost Highway
The Great BBC Four-Part Series About American Country Music
Lost Highway Part 1 - Down from the Mountain
Until the first recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, the mountain music of Kentucky and Virginia was limited to rural communities. Down From the Mountain traces history of country music from Clinch Mountain to the sophisticated modern bluegrass of Alison Krauss and the resurgence of roots music sparked by the success of the film O Brother Where Art Thou?. (docuwiki.net) (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 2 – The Road to Nashville
The roots of Nashville’s position at the heart of country music lie with the honky tonk heroes who moved from the bars of the Southeast to the Grand Ole Opry. The Road to Nashville moves from the inspired and mournful sound of Hank Williams to the birth of Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley’s smoother “Nashville Sound,” in response to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. (docuwiki.net) (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 3 - Beyond Nashville
With the advent of the Nashville country-pop style, the roostier end of country began to emerge in places as disparate as Bakersfield, California and Austin, Texas. Beyond Nashville examines the rise of these newer stars and their legacy in the contemporary alt country genre. (docuwiki.net) (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 4 - Rodeo Sweethearts
While acts such as Shania Twain or the Dixie Chicks sell millions, it’s easy to forget that women’s dominance in country has been an uphill struggle. Sweethearts of the Rodeo tells the story from the original cowgirl, Patsy Montana, to the outspoken big-haired icons of the ’60s and ’70s and today’s stars, including Gillian Welch. (docuwiki.net) (1 hour)
Country Music Documentaries
Fiddlin' Man - The Life and Times of Bob Wills
Rachel Liebling’s great 1994 film was the first documentary on the genre. The film is based on Bill Monroe’s visit to his long-abandoned and barely standing family home in Rosine, Ky. (1 hour, 30 minutes)
The Hank Williams Story
This is the BBC Four documentary about the great country singer and songwriter, Hank Williams. (1 hour, 15 minutes)
Johnny Cash - The Last Great American
The acclaimed 2004 documentary Johnny Cash: The Last Great American is a comprehensive television retrospective of the country music icon’s life and career. Originally broadcast on BBC One and frequently re-aired on BBC Four, the film features rare archival footage and interviews with family members, including Rosanne Cash and John Carter Cash.
The Tammy Wynette Story
The story of country music icon Tammy Wynette has been explored in several acclaimed BBC Four documentaries. The broadcasts focus on her rise from working as a hairdresser to becoming the “First Lady of Country Music,” her tumultuous personal life, and her iconic, often heart-wrenching songs.
The Joy of Country
The Joy of Country is a 2011 BBC Four documentary celebrating the history and evolution of country music from its 1920s folk roots to stadium pop. Directed by Andy Humphries, the documentary highlights the genre as the soundtrack to working-class American life. It heavily features pioneering musicians like Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, while placing a major emphasis on the massive contributions of female legends like Dolly Parton and Kitty Wells. It traces the genre’s journey through traditional folk and bluegrass to the slick Nashville sound and modern stadium performances.
Glen Campbell - Still on the Line
Glen Campbell: Still on the Line is a 2001 television documentary and concert special that celebrates the life and music of the legendary country and pop singer. The project was directed and produced by Angie Corcetti, featuring both biographical interviews and live performances of Campbell’s greatest hits.
A Way of Lfe
Grammy Award-winning recording engineer and the owner of the legendary Maggard Sound Studios in Big Stone Gap, Virginia talks about the country musicians from the Appalachian who have recorded in his studio, founded by his father in 1964.
For the Love of Music
For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville is a 2013 ABC television documentary directed by Zach Merck. The one-hour film explores Nashville’s evolution into the premier “Music City”, featuring interviews with 30 legendary artists and industry insiders.
Bluegrass Documentaries
High Lonesome - The Story of Bluegrass Music
High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music is a highly acclaimed 1991 documentary directed and written by Rachel Liebling. It explores the history, Appalachian roots, and cultural evolution of bluegrass. (1 hour, 15 minutes)
Bluegrass Bluegrass
“Bluegrass Bluegrass” (1977) was a prominent television performance series produced by Kentucky Educational Television (KET). The program showcased leading bluegrass and mountain music acts of the era, taping live sets in front of an audience at Diner’s Playhouse in Lexington, Kentucky.