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The Countrypolitan Era (1968–1979)

 

By the late 1960s, the smooth sophistication of the Nashville Sound had evolved into an even more polished and pop-oriented style known as Countrypolitan. Designed to appeal to mainstream audiences, this era featured lush string arrangements, background choruses, and crossover production that blurred the lines between country and adult contemporary pop.

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Spearheaded by producers like Billy Sherrill, Chet Atkins, and Owen Bradley, and popularized by artists such as Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, Lynn Anderson, and Kenny Rogers, Countrypolitan brought country music into living rooms and onto pop charts across America.

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While the style expanded the genre’s commercial reach, it also sparked criticism from traditionalists who felt country’s core identity was being diluted. As the 1970s drew to a close, a new generation of artists began to push back—favoring steel guitars, fiddles, and a return to the genre’s roots. This quiet rebellion would soon ignite the Neotraditionalist movement of the 1980s.

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Not every artist listed below is considered a Countrypolitan artist, but each began or flourished during this era—when country music embraced polish, crossover appeal, and a new kind of sophistication.

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