Pop! Goes the Country
Encyclopedia
Pop! Goes the Country was a weekly half-hour syndicated variety country music
television series between September 7, 1974 and January 1, 1982 for a total of 234 episodes. Originally hosted by Ralph Emery
, the series was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry
and featured comedy sketches, performances by and interviews with country music singers, both established celebrities and up and coming singers and musicians. In 1980, Tom T. Hall
replaced Emery as the host, and the show was moved from the Opry house to the Gaslight Theater of the Opryland
theme park. In the final year of the series, comedian Jim Varney
hosted the show.
The series' title referenced the influence pop music
was having on country music in the works of era's country music performers such as Barbara Mandrell
, Dolly Parton
, and Anne Murray
, all of whom appeared as guests on the program, although performers with more traditional styles such as Loretta Lynn
and Mel Tillis
were also featured during the show's run .
The pop influence on country music was not without controversy. Although the Statler Brothers made at least one guest appearance , in a possible reference to the high-rated show the group released the song "Nobody Wants To be Country" that contains the opening line:
As of early 2007, the show is being rebroadcast on the cable network RFD TV.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
television series between September 7, 1974 and January 1, 1982 for a total of 234 episodes. Originally hosted by Ralph Emery
Ralph Emery
Walter Ralph Emery is a country music disc jockey and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. He gained national fame hosting the syndicated television music series, Pop! Goes the Country, from 1974 to 1980 and the nightly Nashville Network television program, Nashville Now, from 1983 to 1993...
, the series was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
and featured comedy sketches, performances by and interviews with country music singers, both established celebrities and up and coming singers and musicians. In 1980, Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
replaced Emery as the host, and the show was moved from the Opry house to the Gaslight Theater of the Opryland
Opryland
Opryland may refer to:* Opryland USA - defunct theme park located in Nashville, Tennessee* Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - formerly known as "Opryland Hotel", located in Nashville, Tennessee...
theme park. In the final year of the series, comedian Jim Varney
Jim Varney
James Albert "Jim" Varney, Jr. was an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, writer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Ernest P...
hosted the show.
The series' title referenced the influence pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
was having on country music in the works of era's country music performers such as Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, and Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, all of whom appeared as guests on the program, although performers with more traditional styles such as Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
and Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
were also featured during the show's run .
The pop influence on country music was not without controversy. Although the Statler Brothers made at least one guest appearance , in a possible reference to the high-rated show the group released the song "Nobody Wants To be Country" that contains the opening line:
- Nobody wants to be country;
- Everyone wants to go pop.
- They've traded in the saddle,
- And they all try to straddle,
- The road that'll take 'em to the top.
As of early 2007, the show is being rebroadcast on the cable network RFD TV.
External links
- Pop! Goes the Country in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...