Country curious? How this quintessentially American music genre took over the UK

With its Stetsons, pick-up trucks and lyrical sob stories set in lonely bars, country music is one of America’s quintessential genres. But give or take a Shania Twain or a Dolly Parton, it has rarely made a dent in the UK charts. Until recently.

Between 2020 and 2022, streaming of country stars rose by almost 50 per cent in the UK, according to data released by the Country Music Association – and its rise in popularity has continued ever since.

Its upward trajectory is echoed by some of the UK’s biggest artists venturing into the genre, including Ed Sheeran, who released the track Life Goes On with country star Luke Combs last year, and Lana Del Rey (who recently announced a new country-inspired album Lasso). Last year, the country singer Morgan Wallen was Apple Music’s top artist globally.

“I would love to transition into country,” Sheeran told Billboard at the time. “I love the culture of it – I love the songwriting. It’s just like, brilliant songs.”

Now Beyoncé also looks ready to take