Is Nashville Cribbing From Teenpop's Rule Book?

Modern country has a reputation for taking outmoded rock sounds and turning them into fresh new pop. But now, an article in the Kansas City Star argues, Nashville may be cribbing instead from teenpop. The charts are dominated by "young blond women," many of whom got their start on TV, with American Idol and Nashville Star serving as this generation's Mickey Mouse Club: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Kristy Lee Cook, etc. But is it really the same thing? “It reminds me of that period in the late 1990s when Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore and Willa Ford all broke out at once in pop music,” said Kurt Patat, country music editor at music.aol.com. “I guess now it’s country music’s turn.” (Maura: "Willa Ford?") Now, this paints country's pop shift as a bad thing, as does the... [read full story]