This Is Country Music's Nirvana Moment 

Sometimes its hard to recognize when we are "in a moment" in culture. But you nailed it 🙌

I think Colter Wall helped a huge amount. I rarely listened to country, but when his first couple albums came out, I remember wishing that more country artists sounded like him. I've since found acts like Charley Crockett, Tyler Childers, The Local Honeys and even started looking back at great artists like John Prine, Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard.

I absolutely cannot believe how popular country music is right now. And not just pop country. I never thought I'd see something like this.

Honestly I'm just amazed and grateful that Kacey Musgraves FINALLY got a number 1 single.

Grady, don’t underestimate your influence in all of this

Childers introduced this sound to the masses. Zach became the face of it. And tiktok is what’s gonna keep it going

Well hopefully it doesn't end like the nirvana era

At the end of the day, I'm not exactly a country fan, I've always been more of a rock and metal fan myself. But no matter what you like, this is just a damn good video. I think it gives an interesting look into not just country, but the music industry as a whole and the way it evolves over time. It also gives a little peak into how we ourselves evolve over time, which I also really enjoy. I love stuff like this that gets you thinking about the state of music and what the future could hold. Great job with the video, and keep doing what you're doing!

I had no idea you were the one who created that “every country song” vid back in like 2013! Anyhow, I’m super glad this is is happening in country music.

A world in which Jason Isbell could conceivably have a hit is a wild one, and I'm here for it.

I think Tik Tok has done so much for country music in the past few years. It has allowed good music to grow organically without the meddling hands of the industry trying to steer it.

I’ve been begging for a new Nirvana moment in the music industry for a few years now. Never in my life did I think it be a Country version. Regional Mexican music is also exploding this year. I’d love to see some Country, Regional Mexican collabs soon. Luke Combs with Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma with Morgan Wallen. It could work and bring even more people to both genres that are having a big moment in 2023

On a side note. Kentucky and Texas doesn't care what Nashville says or the mainstream. Both states have had a vibrant underground roots and country music for a very long time.

The best thing about this is that YOU, Mr. Smith, brought me back to Country Music with your 'Stop The Snaps' video and the artists you showcased as an alternative to what mainstream country was. I was already into Jason Isbell, but I found Tyler Childers, Luke Combs, and Sturgill Simpson because of you. I hadn't listened to country is almost 25 years, but this group brought me back. I'm SUPER happy to see this stuff popular. And as so many others said here - Don't sell your own influence in this short :)

I love "I Remember Everything" by Zach and Kacey, one of the best songs of 2023

This gives me hope about a rock comeback sometime in the future.

Move away homework that I’ve been putting off since yesterday, its Grady time

You articulated your thoughts so well in this video and made me better understand what I have been thinking. This may be Grady's magnum opus.

Zach Bryan is insanely good. I've listened to his new album probably 50x already. East Side of Sorrow and Overtime are incredible.

Not a huge post 90’s country fan, but got into Colter Wall, Billy Strings and Sierra Ferrell a while back and really hoped they would become the main stream because of how badly country music needs this. This is going to be revolutionary for the mind set of country music fans, this music is going to make people think.

Spot on.. I'm a rocker from the twentieth century who is diving headlong into this new country stuff. Not since the nineties have I felt true energy behind a genre. Especially the Appalachian artists, though Colter Wall is my favorite today. Thanks for helping me sort these folks out. for the first time in YEARS I am excited about new music again. I think this movement is going to bring some much needed healing and balance to what we as Americans are enduring culturally right now.

Please pray for Zach Bryan! He's under a lot of pressure to maintain people's expectations. Let's not lose this guy the way we lost Kobain! Also, big thanks to Grady for introducing me to so much good music

This is a very insightful video. I feel like Country Music had its first Nirvana moment in 1986 when Randy Travis released "On The Other Hand." Nashville had no choice but to accept traditional country again, and three years later we had the Class of '89. Garth Brooks credits Randy for helping him get out of Oklahoma. It will be fun to watch a similar movement in 2024 and beyond.

I was in my late teens when the Nirvana moment happened. To go through it (and at that time I was big into that kind of music) was incredible, and those albums will always have a place in my listening collection. Things like Nevermind, Pearl Jam's Ten, BadMotorFinger. These were albums that were groundbreaking but STILL are relevant today and are incredibly listenable. I think the same will happen with the Zach Bryans, the Tyler Childers' and others who are in the midst of this moment. The heart of the matter is it is music that matters to people. It expresses real emotion, regardless of the production. The last several years of tailgates and all that other bullshit was just so much vapid waste. I'm incredibly grateful for outlets BEYOND "country" radio stations these days. Because those stations, especially where I am located it seems, are STILL playing tripe like Luke Bryan, FGL ... jesus, one of them plays "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins DAILY. Who the EFF listens to that these days??? It's an amazing time to be a true country music fan, because we can collectively raise the middle finger to Nashville and corporate radio and listen to our own music, when we want, where we want.

I remember the past couple of years ago, I would tell people all of my favorite bands, and they never heard of them, now guess who they are listening to?😂

Big time in country music, and we have the perfect guy to cover it :) Thank for all your hard work man!

Proud to say I've listened to Zach since late 2019. I'm glad people are seeing this music in the mainstream.

It's a decade old, but I recommend giving John Moreland's album In the Throes a listen. Too bad it came out when bro country was hitting big. His song "Gospel" became one of my favorite country tunes after just a few listens.

If we conclude that country will follow the trend that grunge to post-grunge followed, that implies there will be a post-country version of Nickleback in a few years.

Grady I wouldn’t have found ZB if you hadn’t mentioned him years ago. Love your ability to bring me info on music I may have never heard on the radio. Thank you for that.

I think you’re spot on, this is an interesting time for country music, and music in general. I’m not sure what other genres will spring from this that haven’t already, but it’s exiting to see and to hear your predictions. Amongst all the corniness there will be some truly gifted and great artist that will make some timeless art. I guess we will see where the pendulum will swing next, but for now, country is on top.

By the time Nirvana broke through to the mainstream, that scene had been going for YEARS. The Seattle grunge scene, mostly bands on the Sub-Pop label, had been going since the mid-late 1980s - Mudhoney, Tad, Mother Love Bone, so many others, plus early grrrl punk like Bikini Kill. But the scene was national! Southwest bands (Giant Sand), Boston (Dinosaur Jr), NYC (Sonic Youth), rural midwest (Uncle Tupelo), Oklahoma (Flaming Lips)… and Iowa City, where I lived, was full of amazing post-punk bands that would be called “grunge” today (my friends in Horny Genius got signed to Sub-Pop and toured Europe). Everyone was touring the same tiny clubs, seeing each others’ bands. It was fantastic. And in coffeeshops and restaurants like the one I worked in, the kitchen boomboxes blasted the latest cassettes from these bands - not whatever crappy hair metal the major labels were pushing that week. Then suddenly Smells Like Teen Spirit was a hit, and all us cool kids were like “Where were YOU the past few years?” to everyone thinking it was new. And I suspect exactly the same thing is happening here. You’re having a Nirvana moment in country now because the cool kids have been developing this scene underground for years.

I’m really happy about the moment country music is having. As I’ve been becoming a fan of it over that last few years, it’s cool to see the success of these different artists right now.

The best country music anymore is not heard on country radio. It’s amazing what these guys and gals are doin

Talk about perfect timing for this to drop

I was not expecting a Zach Bryan/Kacey Musgraves duet to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it wasn't on my country music bingo card. It's cool to see a variety of artists experiencing the country wave.

This vid showed up in my recommended and sent me down a country rabbit hole starting with Zach Bryan. Thanks mate, love you

I'm guessing this is also going to be a renaissance for older/legendary country music and its artists as well.

I think your analysis is exactly correct in what's going on in country music. Nice to see those new country artists with the organic sounds and videos in a world of AI technology making its way into music. I like that quote regarding Brooks when it's said to let the audience come to you. Real artists trust their instincts and the audience will catch up in my opinion.

So, In real country there’s no twerking , no Luke Bryan , this new country tht Nashville is putting out, is pitiful..

If you plugged my ears and muted the volume I still wouldn't press play on country

I'm old enough to be the first generation of original Metallica fans and in the 80's they totally had the authentic, DIY vibe going on that Zach has. And then they released the Black album with Motley Crew's producer and PFFT! I quit all that and got into bluegrass, country blues, and all the stuff that built up to this moment. The most amazing thing to me is that Zach Bryan did it without sacrificing the DIY thing that make old punk rock and then underground bands like Metallica was in the 80's so big. In fact that seems to be a big part of what really drives the fandom.

Did I just watch this entire video without hearing any mention of Chris Stapleton? Sorry, but none of this exists without him.

Zach just hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

I’ve always loved country music. It’s what I grew up on. But I always listened to old country. Even in the 90s. I grew up playing the classics. In my lifetime, growing up in the 90s, the country music industry has always felt like a place where I didn’t belong. I didn’t connect with it. Today the alt country scene feels like a place I can reside finally. This is what I’ve been waiting for

Bro cannot go one video without using a twerking Luke clip

I love where country music is heading these days. I think you have a lot to do with that, Grady!

Artists like Childers and Zach Bryan brought my interest back to country music. I was so over the cookie cutter pop country.

The thing that is annoying is that everyone that for the past 10 years have been defending bro country will jump ship and start hating it now. Bs fr fr

Florida Georgia Line got me into country music in 2012/13. Without the group, i would not have explored and loved this whole breadth of country music. FGL will always stay in my heart, i have heard them over and over again.

Growing up the only music I knew was country music. I remember asking neighborhood kids what there favorite song by Kenny Chesney or Alan Jackson was and they never knew who they were. I never even knew of other music genres until my sister started using TikTok and I thought and still think that music is horrible. I am glad country music is growing in popularity again and hope it stays that way for a while.

It's such a trip going from being made fun of for loving country, to my friends sending me country albums when they drop. Been following you for years and appreciate what you've contributed to the ecosystem of country music!

They ain’t getting nothing done without Gavin Adcock in there

Honestly, it's a fitting metaphor. And while I'm not a Zach Bryan fan as a singer, his song writing is truly brilliant and I think it's opened up a brand new chapter of country music. Even some of the bro-est artists like Morgan Wallen are going a little more traditional with songs like "Everything I Love". Like you, I don't see this alternative country lasting super long (and honestly, I'm OK with that as it's not exactly my cup of tea), but I do hope the impact of it continues on. More creative song writing, more traditional sounds, the willingness to try something new. There is A TON of good country music out there right now, and what's cool is there's something for everybody.

So cool, and a moment I've been waiting for! I had to check out Zach Bryans latest album after watching this, as he until now hasn't been that much my fav. But after listening only once I really understand why you label this as country musics Nirvana moment. I simply had to write about it on my own blog, so my readers here in Norway also first hand gets informed of what's happening on the other side of the Pond. And I of course linked to this video. I've been waiting for this for many years now, the moment when a alt. country singer blows the mainstreamers off the field commercially too. Simply love it! And BTW, I'm now a Zach Bryan fan!

One of my most viewed tiktoks on bluffcitysound is about Sturgill Simpson. The man won a Grammy but didn’t get an invite to the CMAs.

Alt country has always been super nostalgic for me. It takes me back to a time right after high school when I was exploring music outside of punk and I discovered Drive-By Truckers and Uncle Tupelo, listening to them at night alone in my college dorm. It also reminds me of that brief but glorious half-a-year maybe like a decade ago when the mainstream spotlight shone on the Country/Soul/Blues music of artists like Nathaniel Rateliff, Shakey Graves, and Alabama Shakes. I never realized that alt country was not only back, but actually in the midst of taking the US charts by storm. I LOVE this, and I hope it goes on strong for years to come.

The dude on American Idol at 8:33 is a high school friend of mine. Grady you gave me a jump scare waking home to have him appear in your video. I love Colten. He’s a good dude. Really rooting for him and proud of him

Muscadine Bloodline has been doing the DIY thing since their beginning.

I got into country this last year because of this new sound. My favorite music before was "anything but country" but I always enjoyed a couple songs here and there. The songs I enjoyed then are the songs that are now really popular. Watching this video is me learning that these songs I like are popular lol. One of my most listened to Playlists right now on Spotify is "country music I don't hate"

Genuine music will never go out of style.

I’d love for you to do a video on the rise of country in Europe in the last five years, Grady. I’ve seen really interesting stats on the rise of its popularity in the UK in particular and would love to hear your take on why and hear your research into it.

I am a 19 year old in the Netherlands. zach bryan and tyler childers are one of my favorite artists right now. I have a 33 hour country list. I also listen a bit of metal while exercising but mostly country

Digging giddy, optimistic Grady, telling sad boi Grady to go away for a while. 🤣 Good video, man.

Great Video Grady! Probably one of my favourites of yours since I’ve been following for over a few years. I’m not much of a ZB fan (his music just doesn’t bring a ring to my ear) But I’m happy he’s bringing so many kids into the genre, and not from snap tracks. Cheers buddy keep up the great content!

A more apt comparison would be the underground Hip Hop boom in the 2000s. Just like all movements though, the major players end up crossing over into the mainstream and fall for the money trap. A lot of really great music was created that wasn't like mainstream Rap. For the "Nirvana Moment" thing... I would say Sturgill would be Soundgarden and Childers would be Cobain. However, there's no one in Alt Country with the cultural impact of Nirvana. Honestly this stuff just comes in waves. The seeds were truly planted with Whiskeytown, Jayhawks, Gillian Welch, Calexico or Drive-By Truckers. My real "ahha moment" would be the Fleet Foxes. That debut album wasn't country, but it brought a lot of attention to indie-folk. It's not a 1 to 1 comparison though just based on sales, but to me Zach Bryan is more Green Day. Zach (Greenday) is driving on a road that Childers (Nirvana) paved. Though I will agree that this has been bubbling for awhile. Nashville has been bending to Simpson and Childers for a bit now and Zach Bryan is the result of that. Zach Bryan is not Nirvana in this story. If anyone is it's Childers.

this is the first video i’ve seen from this guy and his VOCABULARY is delicious

I would love to see you talk more about the female country music evolution that’s taking place. Growing up in the 2000s, I remember hearing a lot of The Wreckers and the chicks. I think both groups were insanely talented but their PR image at the time seemed to cater to the same crowd as the 2013 male country artists. They had The tan skin, mostly fast upbeat songs, and their most popular songs were about romantic relationships instead of anything deeper about the world. now I see people like Sierra Ferrell and Bella white creeping into the spotlight, knocking on the door reminding us of early Dolly and Reba. In my opinion, a lot of female country artists have typically been able to keep singing songs with deep lyrics that were often hidden behind blue jean shorts, extra thick eyeliner and leathery skin for the sake of marketing. I didn’t see a lot of “she thinks my tractors sexy” from the female performers, they still sang songs about how they watched the world industrialize growing up and how isolating everything seemed to become. I would give anything to see a modern day female country music trio that’s reminiscent of Dolly Parton, Linda ronstadt, and Emmy Lou Harris.

Yep. I recently got a message from some mainstream investment group wanting to buy my RU-vid channel. This genre is in rn, big time.

I’m 28, and spent my whole life in Texas listening to a ton of Texas Country and Red Dirt Country, praying for the day that this alternative/outlaw country becomes the dominant sound over Bro Country pop shit. Seeing this style along with the Appalachian Country really taking over has been absolutely incredible. I feel like it’s cool to create music with substance and meaning again.

Gems on VHS has been putting in work for years for this

Spot on. I’m excited to see where this music will go. I’ve been a Red Dirt/Texas music fan since the Great Divide. I was at their second concert ever which was a Bday party in Oklahoma. Then I followed them thru the Bars. This Appellation Mountain music is promising. Simple and authentic. Not over produced!

I think you were a big part of this revolution man! It's like what you were preaching for such a long time, finally coming to fruition haha

Normally country music makes my brain hurt unless it's from the 50s and 60s. But my curiosity got the best of me and I listened to a couple of Zach Bryan tunes. I'm impressed! Very back to basics. Country music really needed this. Hope this trend continues for years to come

Knocked it out of the park Grady !!

The first time I heard Rich Men North of Richmond i just KNEW it was gonna blow up. Such a powerful song. There's a ton of super talented country musicians making fantastic music right now

Wait - you hadn't heard of RATT before researching this video?! Dang, I'm old.

I say this as a registered democrat, Los Angeles resident but I wanna thank you for not turning this into a lazy, political "culture wars" piece. It's not. Americans are simply thirsty for genuine, poetic beautiful music rooted in tradition. It's a very exciting moment. I hope the beautiful tradition of country music can be a positive and unifying force for all its fans, and that it might call back it it's origins of dignifying the vulnerable and celebrating the gorgeous interior of this country. Respect.

This is a great observation. Country music is starting to feel “real” and authentic again.

Love that you cut open a vein here on how exciting this is. I came up on Garth...fell into bro and boyfriend country, and now here I am so joyfully obsessed with all of this good music thanks you sir for giving me and others the road map to find such unsung talent out there. Thanks grady!

So glad to see Zach Bryan getting popular af, was listening to that dude for years.

8:00 Its wild too because there are artists in the 90s too that could almost be said to be alternative country I don't think he was ever billed as such but Chris Whitley had a sort of grunge country hybrid sound (and an incredible guitar player as well) Livin' With The Law is still one of my all time favorite albums and even a little later in the 2000s with Hank Williams III, to be honest even 90s bands that were strictly alternative rock could have a subtle country tone (dare I say) even Days of the New [yellow album] mostly all acoustic songs it has such an earthy sound and almost country but in my opinion Chris Whitley really doesn't get enough credit and is criminally underrated. But all in all, great take!

Agreed on all fronts. Long post alert ⚠️ My Dad witnessed the demise of our beloved hair metal, and I grew up loving Poison, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and KISS, and really not liking Nirvana or many other examples of genuine grunge music. To this day, I don't find it that pleasant or impressive to listen to. And now here I am, at 30 years of age as a committed country music fan, and it's all happening again. I'm obsessively clinging to Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Brantley Gilbert and various other examples of fun and upbeat country music that may or may not fit the "bro country" mould, whilst everyone around me is listening to low-production sad boy stuff with all the fun taken out of it. Zach Bryan is the figurehead for it, and I simply don't rate him at all. Just as I never rated Kurt Cobain much back then, either. I'm sorry if that sounds inflammatory, and people don't like that, but I'm really finding this entire situation hard to swallow. Even Luke Combs seems to be softening and saddening his approach with "Growing Old." I really don't like this at all 😢

I’m so glad country is blowing up now

I just want clothing brands to see this and bring back those colorful and awesome patterns to pear snaps. and high waisted jeans

Zach is country's modern version of Jim Croce, James Taylor, and John Denver. His songwriting, his emotion, his authenticity, his [tame] yet powerful musicianship, he's a literal God-send for the genre. I cannot wait to see what he has up next in this already promising career.

I grew up with country music (26) but the last 10+ years have made me hate country music. Zach has brought me back into it.

I feel like a lot of Zach's newer music has kind of morphed into its own thing where it's more like folk/indie than country. Songs like "I Remember Everything" and "Dawns" are very different that a lot of the tracks that I personally liked on American Heartbreak like "Oklahoma City" and "Open the Gate". I know he's always had this connection but it hasn't been at the forefront until more recently. Zach's almost undergoing a genre shift.

As someone who never liked country music I have been listening to Zach Bryan nonstop since it released

Grady is the reason I started listening to country music, and I’m sure it’s the same for thousands of others. I never looked back and now it’s my favorite genre, thank you so much for the dedication to this channel!

POV Zach just got arrested😮

The thing about country music is, it’s relatable and some people have an attached memory to certain music. Country music has moved with the times. We can all agree that it was way more positive back in 2013, 2015, etc. I love watching your videos, because despite your opinions, you never attack anyone. You have valid reasons for disliking certain music, despite its clear popularity.

i have always had a country inspired voice but fought really hard for years to make it "alternative" enough to be cool, with this resurgence in respect for country i have been truly able to find my voice and unlocked like a whole new part of it because i was able to be comfortable in my natural ability instead of fighting to have a different ability. it makes sense now as to why people have been reacting SO much better to my live performances the past year and some change..... im super stoked on this. alternative country!!! i can say it!! i make that and i can just say it now!!!!

My only complaint of this era is that it didn't happen back when I was picking a topic for my Master's dissertation 😤😤 thanks for putting my thoughts in one video so I no longer have to explain it poorly to my friends 💚

I don’t know if I’ll get as into country as I did into rock, pop, house, and trance, but I’m enjoying this country revolution happening. I suspect I’ll gravitate toward the oddballs who get less attention, that just tends to be how I operate. I just recently discovered Stephen Wilson Jr, and I really like his music a lot, especially when he gets into borderline metal territory. Speaking of the grunge metaphor, he cited Nirvana as an influence.

I don’t listen to country music, but this video is great. Loved the historical narrative of it all. 🎉

I like the analogy. I've said since 2014 that we're having our "outlaw moment" and we're blessed to be living through it.

It's so weird, several of my friends who were almost exclusively R&B, rap, trap, or pop fans have switched to country and treating it with the same pride and appreciation they seemingly had for the formerly mentioned genres. A ton of people, especially younger people on my campus, are suddenly super into county. I don't know what is happening but I am here for it! Newer artists like Zach Bryan, Turnpike Troubadours, Midland, Mike & The Moonpies, Colter Wall, etc. are worth the hype. They've brought back country music to what it is.

I’ve always compared bro country to hair metal.

at first when i saw the title i was like “hmm? what is grady doing this time?😂” but now that i watched it, i totally agree! the comparisons make so much sense and i think it truly does show the nature of what is seen as “cool” and “new” ends up fading away and becoming a joke after 10 years or so. i loved the video and definitely made me think :DD