In modern times country music has become an important aspect of culture. It is prevalent in a wide range of media.

Films

  • Walk The Line

Joaquin Phoenix stars in this biopic of Johnny Cash. It deals with the early parts of his life up until his romance with singer June Carter. Throughout the film, Phoenix performs some of Cash’s greatest hits. This includes Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Ring Of Fire and It Ain’t Me Babe. The movie helped to revitalise interest in Cash as an artist and introduced a new generation to his work.

  • Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart also focuses on a country singer, but the man in this film is a fictional character. Jeff Bridges plays Otis Blake, a musician whose glory days have passed him. He spends his days drinking alcohol and feeling depressed. However, when he meets a young journalist, she helps to revitalise both his personal life and career. The film contains a selection of original tracks sung by Bridges. The Weary Kind received the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

  • Deliverance

At the start of this thriller, a man plays a fast-paced country tune with a local boy. The song called Duelling Banjos is now recognised as one of the most iconic pieces of music in movie history. Artists continue to cover it as it shows off their skills.

Video Games

  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

This open-world game is set in a fictionalised depiction of LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas. When players drive around in vehicles, they can listen to different radio stations. One of these is called K-Rose and features a variety of country artists. This includes Hank Williams, The Statler Brothers, Merle Haggard and Juice Newton.

The game also allows players to participate in gambling such as horse racing and table games. The difference between this and real sports odds betting is that the money in the game is not real. Thanks to the regular country radio broadcasts, it is possible to listen to classic songs in this genre while placing wagers.

  • Red Dead Redemption

Players control a cowboy who travels across the wide-open spaces of the old west. Throughout the story, there are occasional original country songs that can be heard in the background. They help to reinforce the mood of each section. The music will change depending on the situation the character find themselves in. For instance, it will become more intense when combat starts. There are also tracks that feature vocals such as Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie and Dead Man’s Gun.

Talent Contests

Weekend television has seen a rise in the number of talent contests. This includes popular shows like The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent. When amateur singers show off their skills, they sometimes choose to perform country songs. This is, even more, the case for American talent shows. In fact, some of the biggest modern country stars get their break on these programmes. A good example of this is Carrie Underwood, who won American Idol in 2005.