Classic Country is a radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.

This genre generally follows one of two formats:

• Those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden Age (including Hank Williams, George Jones and Johnny Cash).
• Those focusing on hits from the 1960s (including the above-mentioned performers), some pre-1960 music, latter-day Golden Age stars and innovators such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard) to newer recurrent hits from current-day artists such as George Strait, Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson.

It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931), is an American country music artist known for his distinctive voice and phrasing that frequently evoke the raw emotions caused by grief, unhappy love, and emotional hardship. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Waylon Jennings in the 1960s. ... Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (nicknamed The Hag; born April 6, 1937 in Bakersfield, CA) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... George Harvey Strait, (born May 18, 1952), is an American country music singer. ... Tim McGraw (born Samuel Timothy McGraw on May 1, 1967, in Delhi, Louisiana) is an American country music singer who has achieved many number one hits on the country singles and album charts, with total sales in excess of 25 million units. ... Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter, who became one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s. ...

Dividing line

With a few exceptions, the classic country genre has struggled as a radio format (unlike mainstream country stations). While it has a fiercely loyal audience, classic country stations often struggle to find advertisers. While advertisers are primarily interested in the 18 to 49-year-old demographic age group, classic country usually attracts an older audience. For perhaps that reason, country music fans are often (stereotypically) divided into two camps:

• The younger country music fan, especially if he or she is younger than 30 years old. Many of them have zero – if not less – interest in music from such artists as Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams; sometimes, they are former rock and pop music fans.
• The classic country fan who is at least 55 years old and -- with a few exceptions -- often dislikes country music produced after 1990, around the time Garth Brooks rose to fame. A frequent criticism is that much post-1990 country music is inferior to that of classic country artists and that the newer music is little more than repackaged pop and rock music, particularly the music of artists such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Both stereotypes are often unfair. Many younger people have purchased music from and are self-proclaimed fans of classic country artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. Many older listeners to country music do indeed enjoy newer music from artists like Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson as well as the classics. Loretta Lynn (born April 14, 1934) is an American country singer who was the leading country female vocalist during much of the 1960s and 1970s. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Shania Twain, OC (born August 28, 1965, Windsor, Ontario) is a very successful singer and songwriter in the country and pop music genres. ... Audrey Faith Perry McGraw, best known as Faith Hill (born September 21, 1967 in Jackson, Mississippi), is an American country singer, known for her commercial success as well as her marriage to country singer Tim McGraw. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer. ... Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26, 1973 in Pocahontas, Illinois) is a Grammy Award-winning American country music singer. ...

Listen to

• Classic Country AM 1060 Canadian radio station broadcasting 24/7, 365 days a year with a mix of information and classic country music. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 96.3 KSCS Classic Country Saturday Night, 7pm-12 Midnight CT Country classics with "the Trooper," Dallas, Texas.
• Len Brown's Country Roots, Friday mornings on KOOP-FM, Austin
• Heartland Public Radio's Classic Heartland Radio station with classic country legends from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, live from Branson, Missouri.
• RAM Radio Traditional country music from the 1920s to the present.

The RAM Radio logo. ...

External links

• Real Country Online From ABC Radio Networks, a 24-hour satellite-fed format of traditional country music.
• Pure Country Music Forums Discussion of traditional country music.
• Pure Country Music Classic Country Music Store and News Site
• 104.9 The Bull Country classics from Roanoke, Virginia.
• Real Country Lyrics Classic Country/Cowboy/Western Lyrics.