Country dancing requires both rhythm and enjoyment to learn properly, which you can accomplish either online through videos or in an actual country bar near you.
Country music and dance have long been inextricably linked, from barn dances in the 1930s to 1950s sock hops. Additionally, this genre has built bridges to contemporary dance through crossover artists like Maren Morris and Zedd.
Alabama
Alabama’s music has long been shaped by its history. From European powers vying for control of the New World and American slaves seeking freedom to African-Americans fighting for civil rights – Alabama’s music today reflects these rich cultural traditions with country and blues songs being popular across its borders.
Alabama hosts numerous musical festivals and events to commemorate its musical legacy, the most prominent being Hangout Music Festival which takes place over three days on Gulf Shores beaches each May and features artists like Lana del Ray and Megan Thee Stallion.
Cullman Jazz and Blues Festival is another annual event in Alabama’s Cullman town, often described as the “biggest party of the South.” At this festival you can find food, moon pies, live performances from local and national artists as well as spectacular entertainment!
Alabama is well known for its Dixieland Jazz music, an aesthetic most associated with New Orleans but widely played across Alabama as well. Two renowned Alabama Dixieland jazz bands – Excelsior Band and Bay City Brass – can often be found performing during parades and special events across Alabama.
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson has left an indelible mark on country music. Her infectious debut single, “Redneck Woman,” propelled her career forward into superstar status. Subsequent albums included Here for the Party and All Jacked Up; Wilson even received numerous awards including CMA Horizon Awards! Her latest release Stacy came out in 2018.
Wilson was raised by her single mother who worked as a bartender to make ends meet. At nine grade, Wilson quit high school to pursue musical dreams by moving to Nashville and working local clubs as she earned an income there.
Redneck Woman, written with Big & Rich’s John Rich and later adopted as her signature tune by Faith Hill as its main inspiration, pays a fitting ode to her roots and upbringing.
Gretchen is known for creating viral dance videos. Her most viewed one, “Stacy,” has been watched by over 30 million viewers on YouTube and features her and several men dancing a country-style number to the song playing – it was incredible to watch! These dance videos can get people moving while having lots of fun at the same time!
Don’t You Wanna Stay
No matter your purpose for moving the crowd or just want to shake it out yourself, this Jason Aldean track is guaranteed to get everyone moving and will surely remain stuck in your head for weeks after listening to it! It features fun lyrics with catchy tunes.
This Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson duet is an excellent example of how different genres can work together to produce an unforgettable country music track. Clarkson’s pop and country rock vocals mixed with Aldean’s more traditional country sound resulted in a double platinum hit that has since been performed many times by both stars on American Idol 10 as well as at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
Country dance songs don’t all have to be about partying hard; some can also be quite sentimental and heartfelt, such as country love songs like Lost In This Moment from Rascal Flatts with its gorgeous vocals and slow tempo that will help get your partner dancing on the floor.
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts has become one of the most acclaimed country music groups in America since they formed in 1999. Composed of lead vocalist Gary LeVox, bass player Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney who are second cousins with long histories together; Rascal Flatts have released ten studio albums since then as well as won various awards.
The group has sold over 23.4 million albums and earned seventeen number-one singles on country charts, appearing three times on Dancing with the Stars across seasons six, eight, and fourteen as well as featuring in movies including Hannah Montana: The Movie and CSI.
In 2010, the band released their inaugural live album called Nothing Like This, featuring hit singles Stand, These Days, and Bless the Broken Road; it debuted at number three on US Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Three years later they issued another live album entitled Life Is a Highway that reached number three in its own chart.
This album includes some of the band’s biggest hits and was recorded in Nashville. There are eleven tracks total, making this their inaugural release with Big Machine Records and featuring guest appearances by various artists. After nearly twenty years on tour and performing over one hundred concerts to build up their fortune, they have amassed an immense fortune as well as amassing an enormous fan following.
George Strait
George Strait has long been one of the most revered artists in country music, earning various honors such as CMA Entertainer of the Year two times and ACM Entertainer of the Year once. Additionally, he has won multiple other industry awards and been inducted into Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame; selling over 57 million albums to date puts him into history books!
George Strait hails from a pioneer family who settled Poteet, Texas in 1850. As a youth on his family ranch in Poteet, he rode horses and roped cattle before enrolling at Southwest Texas State University before enlisting in the Army in 1971 – during this time in Hawaii he auditioned and won lead singer position of an Army band where his passion for country music blossomed – particularly through listening to Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Bob Wills’ sound among other musical influences.
Strait relocated to Nashville following his military service, signing with MCA Records in 1981 and starting to rise within the industry thanks to Urban Cowboy. Soon thereafter he released his debut honky tonk single “Unwound,” which rose to #6 on the country charts and increased hardcore airplay. Through the 1990s and beyond, Strait experienced much commercial success through hits like “Write This Down,” as well as albums like 1995’s Strait Out of the Box and 2005’s Somewhere Down in Texas.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain has long been one of the top selling country female artists ever, making her an icon among her many fans. But while most can hum a few bars of her hits, this cross-over artist has an interesting life journey full of both joyous milestones such as her massively successful debut album release and heartbreaking challenges like divorce proceedings.
Twain began singing at local bars when she was eight, to help pay the bills and quickly discovered she had an affinity for music. Although she disliked crowds and loud music, she made the best of it by viewing it as performing arts school.
Twain went on to release two more albums before debuting her best-selling work with 1998’s Come on Over, which reached #1 on Billboard 200 and saw Twain make the transition from traditional country singer to sexy rock goddess complete with top hat and finger-wagging vamp persona who demanded men, action, dancing, and control over her career.
Twain took an extended hiatus from performing, but has recently made her comeback with 2017’s Now and an impressive two-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Additionally, her single Giddy Up! features people of all backgrounds busting a move in diners, laundromats and honky tonks.