Country music is considered as one of the most well-loved genres of music in the United States and Australia. Country as a genre of music was actually created a long time ago, and is actually the blending of popular music that started out in the more southern parts of the United States of America. Country music started out from folk music, a very traditional brand of music that was very indigenous and simple. Later on, country music evolved when it was mixed with influences from old-time and gospel music. Country music also traces some of its roots back to traditional Celtic music, especially with bluegrass, where the similarity in the use of instruments is uncanny.
Country music was not originally called country music at that time. Initially, this brand of music was called hillbilly music in some parts of the United States, especially around the 1920s. In the 1940s however, a lot of people felt that the term was degrading and belittling, and so the genre was later re-labeled as country music.
Some of the more famous country music artists these days include Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks is actually known as the best selling male solo artist of all time in the whole of the United States of America. Brooks earned the title after selling more than 128 million albums during his career, a feat that is yet to be surpassed by any other male artist in the country.