For a while, mainstream country music seemed to be heading in one direction: pop. Polished production, drum machines, and collaborations with pop stars dominated the airwaves. But a grittier, more authentic sound has been rumbling in the background, ...

For a while, mainstream country music seemed to be heading in one direction: pop. Polished production, drum machines, and collaborations with pop stars dominated the airwaves. But a grittier, more aut...