Country Radio Seminar To Spotlight Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’ Documentary

The upcoming Country Radio Seminar (CRS) will highlight the highly-anticipated documentary Country Music, which will premiere on PBS this fall. Writer/producer Dayton Duncan, part of the team behind the eight-part, 16-hour project, will appear as part of CRS’s 2019 keynote event, to be held Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. during CRS at Omni Hotel in Nashville.

Ken Burns, who directed and co-produced the film with long-time collaborators Duncan and Julie Dunfey, will appear via a taped intro piece, followed by Duncan discussing the film. Attendees will also get an early look at clips with rare footage and interviews conducted over the six years it took to produce the film. CRS Board President, Kurt Johnson will conclude the panel with an overview of how radio can get involved with this landmark event.

Country Music chronicles the highs and lows of country music’s early days, from southern Appalachia’s songs of struggle, heartbreak, and faith to the rollicking Western swing of Texas, California’s honky-tonks and Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. The film follows the evolution of country music throughout the 20th century as it eventually emerges to become “America’s music.”

The film explores crucial questions, “What is country music?” and “Where did it come from?” while focusing on the biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped it — from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in which they lived. More than 100 interviews were conducted in conjunction with this project.

“Ken Burns’ documentary is a monumental celebration of the country music genre,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Trahern. “CMA is actively engaging our members to participate in this landmark series, and we’re delighted to share a sneak peek of the documentary with those attending CRS.”

Country Radio Seminar will be held Feb. 13 through Feb. 15 at Omni Nashville, in Music City.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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