Home > Country Music > Season 1 « TV Series Page Country Music: Season 1 (2019) Want to see Episode List Season 1 Country Music Critics Consensus An expansive -- if not always deep -- history of the genre as seen through Ken Burns' expert eye, Country Music works as both a crash course for new listeners and a refresher for old-timers. 88% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 32 97% Audience Score User Ratings: 32 See score details Rate And Review Submit review Want to see Edit Submit review Super Reviewer Verified Super Reviewer Verified Edit Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit Continue Super Reviewer Step 2 of 2 How did you buy your ticket? Let's get your review verified. Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket. Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit How did you buy your ticket? Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Episodes 1. The Rub (Beginnings - 1933) Air date: Sep 15, 2019 Ken Burns' history of country music begins. First up: How "hillbilly music" reaches new audiences through phonographs and radio, and launches the careers of country music's first big stars, the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. View Details 2. Hard Times (1933-1945) Air date: Sep 16, 2019 Nashville becomes the heart of the country music industry. The genre grows in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II as America falls in love with singing cowboys, Texas Swing and the Grand Ole Opry's Roy Acuff. View Details 3. The Hillbilly Shakespeare (1945-1953) Air date: Sep 17, 2019 How the bluegrass sound spreads in post-war America. Also: honky-tonk star Hank Williams, whose songs of surprising emotional depth are derived from his troubled and tragically short life. View Details 4. I Can't Stop Loving You (1953-1963) Air date: Sep 18, 2019 Travel to Memphis, where Sun Studios artists Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley usher in rockabilly. Ray Charles crosses America's racial divide by recording a country album. Patsy Cline shows off Music City's smooth new Nashville Sound. View Details 5. The Sons and Daughters of America (1964-1968) Air date: Sep 22, 2019 How country music reflects a changing America, with Loretta Lynn speaking to women everywhere, Merle Haggard becoming "The Poet of the Common Man" and audiences looking beyond race to embrace Charley Pride. View Details 6. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (1968-1972) Air date: Sep 23, 2019 How country music responds to a nation divided by the Vietnam War, as Army captain turned songwriter Kris Kristofferson sets a new lyrical standard, and artists like Bob Dylan and the Byrds find a recording home in Nashville. View Details 7. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (1973-1983) Air date: Sep 24, 2019 Witness a vibrant era in country music, with Dolly Parton finding mainstream success; Hank Williams Jr. and Rosanne Cash emerging from their famous fathers' shadows; and Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings launching the "Outlaw" movement. View Details 8. Don't Get Above Your Raisin (1984-1996) Air date: Sep 25, 2019 How "New Traditionalists" like George Strait, Randy Travis and the Judds help country music stay true to its roots. Witness both the rise of superstar Garth Brooks and the return of an aging Johnny Cash to the industry he helped create. The series finale. View Details Country Music: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (16) Tv Season Info Genre: Documentary Network: PBS Premiere Date: Sep 15, 2019 News & Interviews for Country Music: Season 1 Best-Reviewed TV Shows by Genre 2019 Fall 2019 TV Schedule: What to Watch Every Night of the Week 2019 TV Finale Dates Calendar View All Country Music: Season 1 News Episodes 1. The Rub (Beginnings - 1933) Air date: Sep 15, 2019 Ken Burns' history of country music begins. First up: How "hillbilly music" reaches new audiences through phonographs and radio, and launches the careers of country music's first big stars, the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. View Details 2. Hard Times (1933-1945) Air date: Sep 16, 2019 Nashville becomes the heart of the country music industry. The genre grows in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II as America falls in love with singing cowboys, Texas Swing and the Grand Ole Opry's Roy Acuff. View Details 3. The Hillbilly Shakespeare (1945-1953) Air date: Sep 17, 2019 How the bluegrass sound spreads in post-war America. Also: honky-tonk star Hank Williams, whose songs of surprising emotional depth are derived from his troubled and tragically short life. View Details 4. I Can't Stop Loving You (1953-1963) Air date: Sep 18, 2019 Travel to Memphis, where Sun Studios artists Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley usher in rockabilly. Ray Charles crosses America's racial divide by recording a country album. Patsy Cline shows off Music City's smooth new Nashville Sound. View Details 5. The Sons and Daughters of America (1964-1968) Air date: Sep 22, 2019 How country music reflects a changing America, with Loretta Lynn speaking to women everywhere, Merle Haggard becoming "The Poet of the Common Man" and audiences looking beyond race to embrace Charley Pride. View Details 6. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (1968-1972) Air date: Sep 23, 2019 How country music responds to a nation divided by the Vietnam War, as Army captain turned songwriter Kris Kristofferson sets a new lyrical standard, and artists like Bob Dylan and the Byrds find a recording home in Nashville. View Details 7. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (1973-1983) Air date: Sep 24, 2019 Witness a vibrant era in country music, with Dolly Parton finding mainstream success; Hank Williams Jr. and Rosanne Cash emerging from their famous fathers' shadows; and Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings launching the "Outlaw" movement. View Details 8. Don't Get Above Your Raisin (1984-1996) Air date: Sep 25, 2019 How "New Traditionalists" like George Strait, Randy Travis and the Judds help country music stay true to its roots. Witness both the rise of superstar Garth Brooks and the return of an aging Johnny Cash to the industry he helped create. The series finale. View Details Critic Reviews for Country Music Season 1 All Critics (32) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (4) Those with a deep historical knowledge of country music should find Country Music to be familiar but nevertheless enlightening, with its sweet sounds and scrapbook visuals. Those on the fence will certainly have the most to gain. Dec 4, 2019 | Full Review… Andrew Dansby Houston Chronicle Top Critic Whether your idea of country music is "Redneck Woman" or "Stand by Your Man," this latest achievement from Ken Burns and company will cut through. Dec 4, 2019 | Full Review… James Sullivan Boston Globe Top Critic It makes the series' virtues and failings starker that it happens to have debuted in such a contentious year in country. And don't get me wrong: There are virtues to spare. Sep 17, 2019 | Full Review… Carl Wilson Slate Top Critic For its running time, Burns effectively steers this wagon across country music's diverging timelines. Sep 16, 2019 | Rating: B | Full Review… Steve Greene indieWire Top Critic So whatever your thoughts about country music, expect to be immensely entertained, educated and even edified throughout this master course in pickin', grinnin' -- and so very much more. Sep 13, 2019 | Rating: A | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic Like the songs that weave through nearly every moment of its runtime, the grace, simplicity, and sincerity of Country Music have a way of heightening its epic underpinnings. Sep 12, 2019 | Full Review… Allison Shoemaker RogerEbert.com Top Critic We understand it all thanks to, once again, the admirable power of observation and synthesis that Ken Burns has. [Full Review in Spanish] Jun 1, 2020 | Full Review… Marcelo Stiletano La Nación (Argentina) Absorbing every step of the way, Country Music is like a class reunion you don't want to leave. You learn something about the people you thought you knew and you come to appreciate them for the faults you never thought you could excuse. Dec 10, 2019 | Full Review… Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal As ever, Burns knows what he's talking about. Nov 25, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… Jasper Rees The Arts Desk I usually don't have time to watch things like this but I was so engrossed I made time. It was great Oct 3, 2019 | Full Review… Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Country music fan or not this fascinating study is eminently binge-worthy. Sep 20, 2019 | Full Review… Anne Brodie What She Said ...the stars, from a grinning and immortal Merle Haggard on down, will pull you in, and all the lesser-sung heroes who enriched those stars will keep you from falling back out. Sep 18, 2019 | Full Review… Rob Harvilla The Ringer View All Critic Reviews (32) Audience Reviews for Country Music: Season 1 Jan 19, 2020 I am not a die-hard Ken Burns fan. Too often he allows his own polemic get in the way of historical fact. This time, though, he got it absolutely right. The only flaw in this series is that it was too short, not expansive enough, large and wide as it was. It is more than the history of a music category by far; it's a history of twentieth century American culture. This is a must-see. It's funny, sad, striking, often moving emotionally, often provocative, and always entertaining. This one is a winner! Richard R Oct 15, 2019 Detailed and interesting! Mary G Oct 05, 2019 An absolute Ken Burns masterpiece! This film presented an historical presentation of the country music genre with magnificent beautiful cinematography and personal sentiment. We truly enjoyed every episode. Rosie M Sep 29, 2019 An Amazing documentary! Ed M Sep 26, 2019 A spectacular look back at the history of country music and the influence of it in American history. Superb job by Ken Burns, as usual. Rhonda P Sep 26, 2019 Way too much Johnny Cash. Ruined a great potential program. bill m Sep 26, 2019 As a live long native of Nashville, it's no surprise that Ken Burns documentary is spot on. He captures the pure essence of our "big"little town perfectly. Steve B Sep 25, 2019 An expansive history of the genre as seen through Ken Burns' expert eye, Country Music works as both a crash course for new listeners and a refresher for old-timers. Absolutely a tremendous tremendous from Ken Burns.Fantastic educational documentary film by Ken Burns Robbie D Sep 25, 2019 Wonderful. Brought back so many memories of the songs my dad listened to and the cultural underpinnings of the music. Lynn T Sep 24, 2019 I have really enjoyed this show and am glad they made it 8 episodes. Too much to take in at one time, but great that it is so thorough. 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