Why did I listen to Her Country?
Growing up, I was always listening to country music. Honestly, I feel pretty fortunate to have grown up in the era of Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, and Shania Twain. And that is just naming a few artists from that time. We were also lucky to listen to some of the female legends that helped shape the country music industry (Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, etc.). Unfortunately, the amount of air play which female artists have seen over the years has declined. Her Country seemed like it was going to examine the decline and I was very interested to see what it found.
What’s the story here?
Her Country examines the current state of the country music industry for female artists. It evaluated the standards which female artists are held to in comparison to their male counter parts. It discusses the role which “bro country” has played in the industry. Lack of air play is also discussed. All of this is done using the journeys of newer artists such as Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, and Mickey Guyton.
How did like Her Country?
I loved Her Country! It is an intimate look into the country music industry and how women are viewed within the industry. There are personal recollections, personal interviews, and first hand accounts and is very well researched. It does not read like a research book meaning that it is not dense but it is informative. It is such a good look at the genre of country music and the “good ol’ boys” brand that influence which it has on the political climate.
Presently, there are several key female artists who are trying their best to break down the “good ol’ boys” walls of country. There included Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pierce, Ashley McBride, and Mickey Guyton. This is honestly just a peak of the talent that is out there trying to be heard. These women refuse to be used for just their looks and push back hard against the sexism within the industry. They are strong, vibrant, and have voices that need to be heard.
How was the narration?
Her Country is narrated by Kelli Tager. Honestly, I devoured this audiobook listening to it at 1.5x speed. The narrator was strong and the voice ebbed and flower with the topic at hand. I could tell that this was a topic that the the narrator was also passionate about Her voice provides a wonderful to take in this information and had me wanting to support female country artists even more than I already do.
Rating: 4 Stars
*I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
welcome to the zoo! 