Country Music Rituals and Stereotypes Analysis

When it comes to country music the ritual that stands out to me is when it comes to performing at the Grand Ole Opry.  The Grand Ole Opry began at the Ryman Auditorium, but when it became too old and small a new Opry was built.  To keep with tradition a 6 foot circle was cut from the stage at the Ryman Auditorium and installed at the new venue.  It’s a long standing ritual that performers stand in that circle when singing at the Opry.  It’s important for the performer to be reminded of all the historical country performers that have stood and performed in that same circle the decades and decades prior.  It’s also tradition to stand in that circle when a performer is invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and most definitely on the night they become a member. 

The first thing that always comes to mind when thinking of stereotypes and country music is that old joke about what you get when you play a country song backwards.  You get your house, your dog, best friend, wife and your truck back.  People seem to think that country music is always about loss.  I think some of this may have come about because the depression and a war was going on during a time when country music was popular on the radio.  Given that country music is written to portray real life, I’m sure loss was a big part of that time period.

Many also think that country music is sung by illiterate drunks that push Christianity.  Many country musicians are conservative and members of the Republican Party, but not all.  Some think most country musicians are drunks because there are a lot of songs that talk about drinking.  Many popular country stars come from the south so they have that twang sound when they speak and sing and a lot of people associate the twang with the uneducated.  The truth is many of these artists have gone to college and have degrees.