Modern Country Is Everywhere – Should It Be in Your Wedding Set?
Country music is everywhere right now. Artists who would once have been confined to country radio stations and specialist playlists are appearing in mainstream charts, selling out arenas and finding audiences thousands of miles from Nashville.
But how did a style of music with its roots in rural America become one of the biggest sounds in popular music today? To understand that, we need to go back to where it all started.
Where Did Country Music Begin?
Country music began developing in the southern United States during the early 20th century, drawing influence from Appalachian folk music, blues, gospel and the musical traditions of both European immigrants and Black Americans.
At its heart was something incredibly simple: storytelling.
Early country songs often used acoustic guitar, fiddle and banjo to tell stories about love, heartbreak, family, home, work and everyday life. The production might have been simple, but the lyrics and melodies connected with people.
Radio helped take the music beyond rural communities, with Nashville's Grand Ole Opry becoming hugely influential from the 1920s onwards. Nashville eventually became the centre of the country music industry and produced generations of stars.
Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers were among the artists who helped country reach much larger audiences while keeping storytelling firmly at the centre of the music.
When Country Started Travelling
For decades, country remained far more culturally dominant in North America than elsewhere. There were certainly internationally recognised stars, but in places such as the UK, country was still generally seen as a distinctly American genre.
That started to change significantly during the 1990s.
Artists such as Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes began blurring the lines between country and pop.
You're Still The One, Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, How Do I Live and Can't Fight The Moonlight became huge international hits. You didn't have to consider yourself a country fan to know the songs.
Artists including Faith Hill, The Chicks, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood continued that crossover, bringing elements of country into an increasingly mainstream sound.
Then came Taylor Swift.
Beginning her career firmly in country music with songs such as Tim McGraw and Teardrops on My Guitar, she gradually crossed into mainstream pop and became one of the world's biggest artists. In the process, an entire generation grew up listening to country-influenced songwriting without necessarily thinking of themselves as country fans.
The New Country Boom
Today, the boundaries have become even harder to define.
Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney and Ella Langley are attracting audiences well beyond traditional country listeners, while the music itself increasingly incorporates elements of pop, rock, folk, soul and R&B.
Country influence is also coming from unexpected places. Post Malone has embraced the genre, while Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter brought country influences into one of the biggest pop releases of recent years.
And importantly, this music is travelling.
Country is no longer something you're only likely to hear in an American honky-tonk or on specialist radio. It's on mainstream playlists, social media, festival stages, in bars and increasingly at weddings and events.
Bringing Country Into a Modern Acoustic Set
This is where country becomes particularly interesting for singers and musicians.
You don't need to suddenly become a country act. Instead, take some of the best songs coming from the genre and make them work alongside the music you already perform.
Country lends itself brilliantly to acoustic arrangements because underneath the production there is usually a strong melody, lyric and chord progression.
A romantic country song can become a beautiful fingerpicked guitar arrangement for an aisle walk or first dance. Modern country-pop works brilliantly with driving acoustic guitar, keys and percussion during a drinks reception, while classics such as Jolene, 9 to 5 and Take Me Home, Country Roads can provide instantly recognisable singalong moments.
And there are plenty of modern artists worth exploring. Songs from Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, Ella Langley and Megan Moroney can sit surprisingly naturally alongside pop, indie and soul in a contemporary acoustic set.
Country songwriting also feels particularly at home at weddings. Love, relationships, family, home and building a life together have been at the centre of the genre for generations.
So, should country be in your wedding set?
We think it's increasingly difficult to ignore.
You don't need an entire country set. Start with a few carefully chosen songs: something romantic, something current, something with a bit of groove and perhaps a classic everyone knows.
Country music may have travelled a long way from its roots in rural America, but the thing that made it connect with people in the first place hasn't really changed.
Great songs, great stories and music people can relate to.
And that's a pretty good recipe for a wedding set too. Here's a list of 10 female and male country songs we think will sound great at a wedding or event.
10 Female Country Songs
- You’re Still The One – Shania Twain — A perfect wedding song with instant recognition; works beautifully stripped back.
- Love Story – Taylor Swift — Country-pop crossover with a huge singalong chorus and an obvious wedding connection.
- Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood — Definitely not one for the ceremony, but brilliant for bringing some attitude and energy to a later set!
- That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain — Fun, familiar and ideal when you want to lift the room.
- Oh, What A World – Kacey Musgraves — Warm, melodic and perfect for a more relaxed wedding or drinks reception.
- You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley & Riley Green — A modern country favourite with loads of character and a great duet option.
- Tennessee Orange – Megan Moroney — Contemporary, melodic country that works naturally in an acoustic setting.
- Jolene – Dolly Parton — An absolute classic that crosses generations and works brilliantly with just guitar and vocal.
- Man! I Feel Like A Woman! – Shania Twain — One for when the acoustic set starts turning into a party.
- Cowboy Take Me Away – The Chicks — A great late-'90s country choice with a lovely acoustic feel and enough familiarity to connect with a wider audience.
10 Male Country Songs
- Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs — Romantic, modern and tailor-made for weddings. You also have both the standard and female-key options at AB&T.
- Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton — Soulful country that gives a strong vocalist plenty to work with.
- Forever After All – Luke Combs — One of the strongest modern-country choices for a first dance or ceremony. Available at AB&T, including a female key.
- Sun To Me – Zach Bryan — Modern, intimate and beautifully suited to a stripped-back guitar arrangement.
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver — The ultimate cross-generational country singalong.
- Better Together – Luke Combs — Warm, romantic and another excellent first-dance option. Your AB&T version already blends acoustic guitar and keys.
- Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker — Familiar, upbeat and ideal for adding some feel-good country energy.
- When It Rains It Pours – Luke Combs — A much more playful option that gives the set some contrast from all the romantic country material.
- Heaven – Kane Brown — Modern romantic country that sits perfectly in a wedding repertoire.
- I Had Some Help – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen — A great example of just how far country has crossed into mainstream pop and ideal for giving the list a very current finish.
