The Heart Of Country: How Nashville Became Music City USA

Part of Country Nights on BBC Four and BBC Radio 2, a season of programmes delving into the rich history of country music and exploring its current revival.

This historical biography of the glittering hub of Country Music reveals the dynamic relationship between commerce and art that has defined Nashville since 1925. It explores the conflicts that have confronted Nashville’s artists and music industry down the years; for example, the creative pressures of 'the Nashville sound'; the devastating impact of Elvis and then Bob Dylan; the rise and fall of the Urban Cowboys and the struggle of several Nashville legends to confront their inner demons.

Music City’s Hollywood-style star system has long been a magnet for aspiring performers and songwriters. But Nashville’s true identity is rooted deeper, in its distinctive institutions like the Ryman Auditorium, where the Grand Ole Opry once thrived, in its Southern Baptist churches, and in those downtown bars where the honky-tonk of Hank Williams and Kitty Wells still seems to belong.

The story unfolds through the testimony of musicians, producers, broadcasters and rare archive of the country legends. These include Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson and several hit-making contemporary stars - Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley and Jason Aldean. This cast reveals the unique power of country music to hold up a mirror to its fans and create what Kristofferson calls the ‘white man’s Soul Music’.

Also featured are extensive musical performances by Nashville’s greatest: from Johnny Cash to Loretta Lynn, George Jones to Garth Brooks. And several of Nashville’s younger stars describe their on-going journey from their hometowns in the South to the streets of this city, from the first studio demos and the sawdust of the Broadway bars to the stadiums and promo videos that now define country stardom.

Publicity contact: CD3