Country Music - Season 1

"Hillbilly music" reaches new listeners through phonographs and radio, launching the careers of country music's first big stars -- the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

Nashville, Tenn., becomes the center of the country music industry as it grows in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II.

The country stars of post-war America, including Hank Williams, whose songs are inspired by his troubled and tragically short life.

A visit to Memphis, Tenn., during the age of rockabilly with Sun Studios artists Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley; Ray Charles crosses over racial borders by recording a country album; Patsy Cline rises to stardom with a smooth new sound.

Country music artists like Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and Charley Pride reflect a changing America as they appeal to wide audiences.

Country music draws artists to Nashville, Tenn., as the war in Vietnam wages on; Kris Kristofferson sets a lyrical standard; Bob Dylan and The Byrds, among others, come to Nashville, Tenn., to record.

Mainstream crossovers and a new "Outlaw" sound are prevalent in country music during the years 1973-1983.

As the genre takes off, country music artists such as George Strait, Randy Travis and the Judds work to keep country music true to its roots; the rise of Garth Brooks and the return of Johnny Cash.