What or who first drew you to Country Music

[oil_spill_bill]

My Ex-wife saw Garth Brooks with our daughter and came home raving about what a good show it was. She talked me into watching the free concert he did in NY. I was a hard rock, alternative, classic rock guy but I sat there and I was so impressed with his show that I started listening to the songs. I really liked them. So I became a hard rock, alternative, classic rock, Garth Brooks guy.

When we got divorced, 7 years ago, I was living with my Sister and her husband in S/D and he listens to a lot of country. we were working a lot together so there I was listening to country again. The songs made sense and fit my life better (it's like that Trace Adkins song "Songs About Me"). My girlfriend also listened to country now and then so there was another influence.

I still listen to other stuff but I 'm a country music guy now

That's my story and I'm sticking to it

[Kymery]

I can't remember? Just always was there. I am old school, George Jones, Merle, Straight, Marty Robbins, and the like. I just always loved the twange of a good ole song.

I also went thru my punk/rocka-billy stages thru high school...that also has it's country side to it. I do love Classic, but country is always around me! I could just lay back with an old Hank song on, close my eyes, and just go off into another world.

I love cowboy poetry...Dave Stamey is my fav!! You gotta see this guy, you feel like you are on the range with him, running the fence lines, eating camp cookies food and wrangling steers with the guitar by the campfire at night.

[oil_spill_bill]

Wow Kymery I can hear the Coyotes ahowlin,
Once I started liking country I did grow an appreciation for the older stuff, the stuff I used to make fun of. Now I love all of it.

[Ms.JENN]

I started listening to country at a young age .. I can't remember exactly what but I know GARTH BROOKS was my absolute FAVE!! I also rode horses - participating in gymkhana so it all went hand in hand!

[Lizzy]

I remeber my grandma who raised me always listening to country, Hank Williams, George Jones many more . I think the song that I remember most is Fancy by Reba, I still love the song. I also went through the listening to every other music on the radio while in high school but it is country that I listen to now.

[oil_spill_bill]

I've talked to a lot of hard core country fans that hated Garth because he was too main stream. He has always been one of my faves. My girlfriend took me to one of those concerts he just did in LA. it was only two hours but it was great.

[Rose]

Parents influenced me the most.

Dad's favs...
Elvis
Johnny Cash
Chuck Berry
Kris Kristofferson (his gospel stuff)
The Gatlin Brothers

Mom's favs...
Elvis
Brenda Lee
Bobby Vinton
Lorretta Lynn
Tom Jones/Englebert Humperdink

So my firsts were....
LP - Elvis, Burning Love
45's - purchased 2, Tony Defranco & the Defranco Family - Heartbeat is a lovebeat
Tonya Tuckers's - Delta Dawn
8 track - Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life
Cassette - The Oak Ridge Boys - Y'all Come Back Saloon

and to this day I'm still all over the place. Country mostly being #1

[IheartMillerLite]

My aunt made me listen to George Strait all the time growing up. As I grew up I didn't listen to country at all. Then several years ago the guy I was dating made me listen to it all the time in the car. Driving back and forth from LA to Camp Pendleton on a weekly basis made the music grow on me. Of course, my roomie, KittyLeigh, listened to it a lot and they both converted me. I'm officially a country fan. I said it!

[Kymery]

I've talked to a lot of hard core country fans that hated Garth because he was too main stream. He has always been one of my faves. My girlfriend took me to one of those concerts he just did in LA. it was only two hours but it was great.

I agree..that is why I ONLY like his No Fences album! That is the best...much too young to fee this damn old!

[KittyLeigh]

Yep IHML - you're a total country fan now! You're the ones knowing the artists before I do! ha!

My dad always listened to country growing up. First concert I remember going to was Alabama at "Irvine Meadows" - now the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre. My first celebrity crush I remember having was Johnny Lee - I was going to marry him, and my sister was going to marry Mickey Gilley! haha

Then I discovered boys and wanted "my own" music and was into pop stuff - New Kids on the Block (yes, I've been to their recent tour a few months ago - I'll admit I felt 15 again!) :) I took line dancing classes for the heck of it back in around 2001/2002 and really started listening to country again and have been hooked ever since. Helped get IHML on it, and my mom too!

[honkytonkangel]

So my boyfriend of 6 years had broken my heart and me and the dog had to move in with my parents. And this was THE BREAKUP (those of you who have had it know EXACTLY what I am talking about, and those that haven't, well, I hope you never do) the one that LITERALLY SHATTERS YOUR WORLD.

Anyways, I could not sleep, so I would be flipping through channels and came across across CMT (never watched it before)and they were showing one of Kenny Chesney's concerts, and I thought "damn he is cute but what is this CRAP he is singing??" I saw the title "she thinks my tractor's sexy" and couldn't believe it. How RIDICULOUS?!?! So I listened. And watched the rest of the concert. And I watched the concert in its entirety the next few nights in a row. And before I knew it I knew the words and went out and bought my first country CD, Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits! LOL!! And never looked back.

I mean there I was at the lowest of lows, broken hearted, living in my parents GUEST BEDROOM, with my DOG, and seriously coming to terms with the fact that my future as I had previously pictured it was going to turn out COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, and that was SCARY. I realized, shit, my LIFE IS a country song!! Haha!

So basically, I found country music at a time in my life where it REALLY SPOKE TO ME, and it has been speaking to me ever since! And it has become such a huge part of who I am.:D

[GeorgeStraitfan1]

HTA get your ass playing my game! lol

[squirmysteph]

I grew up around country music - it's just always been there.

As a kid, I was a huuuuuge George Strait fan (still a huge fan, too). My mom took me to his concert for my 9th birthday at the Bakersfield Convention Center...Pam Tillis was his opener. We were in one of the very last rows and I sang at the top of my lungs through the whole concert. I remember getting so upset at my mom because she wouldn't let me run down to the front and get an autograph with "everyone else". haha

I'll listen to anything and enjoy a lot of it, but I loooove country music.

[ValinVegas]

Hi everyone incase i havent introduced myself to you..my names Val and i am quite new to the country scene, i never hated it but just didnt care for it. i was also going through an extremely hard break up & was so sick of listening to pop/hiphop/alternative music that reminded me of "the ex" that i just switched it to our local country station and just felt such a connection..corny i know but thats how i felt! i fell in love instantly and havent turned yet and wont! i will listen to other types of music occasionally but country music is my newfound love...that was 3 years ago and we are still going strong! I get told ALL the time that i do not look like i would like country music....but my question is always "what am i supposed to look like?!?!" :P

[hodgee5]

The first song I ever actually listened to...... Im gunna miss her - Brad Paisley. I was always against country, my brother said hey eric, actually listen to this song, listen to the lyrics. Then I was hooked. Then came the the thunder rolls and so on. Thats why I think I like Brad so much.

[scarr]

Then came the the thunder rolls and so on. ...

... And then he got in the truck!! :D

[WestCoastLady]

For me, it's been a off-and-on process over the years....

First, I *love* to dance, so when line dancing was the craze in the late 80's ~ I was right there in the thick of it.

Then, I was a Padres fan and Garth was doing Spring Training with them in 1999. We went out to Yuma for a game and Garth tried to kidnap my son (then 8 months old)...."I always wanted a girl" as he walked away across the field holding my BABY!!! That started a love affair with all things Garth for a while ;)

Recently, I have struck up an online romance with a guy on the East Coast. He's a Kenny Chesney/Jo Dee Messina fan and started quoting lyrics to me in our e-mails and online chats. I turned on the radio to hear some of the songs he was talking about and found THAT I LOVE IT!!!!!

Actually, the reason I bought Stagecoach tickets in the first place was to "lure" him out for a visit ;) Logistics are working against us, but I'm still going to Stagecoach!!!

Oh, and as a bonus, I've found the Zac Brown Band. Love them guys!!

[Hankdog]

I can't remember? Just always was there. I am old school, George Jones, Merle, Straight, Marty Robbins, and the like. I just always loved the twange of a good ole song.

I also went thru my punk/rocka-billy stages thru high school...that also has it's country side to it. I do love Classic, but country is always around me! I could just lay back with an old Hank song on, close my eyes, and just go off into another world.

I love cowboy poetry...Dave Stamey is my fav!! You gotta see this guy, you feel like you are on the range with him, running the fence lines, eating camp cookies food and wrangling steers with the guitar by the campfire at night.

Marty Robbins was the man! When I heard that guy, I went out and bought all the oldies; Hank, Cash, George, Lefty Frizell, Buck etc.

[SACRAMENTO!!!]

... And then he got in the truck!! :D

Classic!

Hey Hodgee!!! Get in the TRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!

[SACRAMENTO!!!]

I have always listened to country. I grew up in the boondocks so it was either one of the three country stations or the "greatest hits of the 70's 80's and today" station. I think the other four radio stations only played music in Spanish. Yeah.

[hodgee5]

haha hey sac...... GET IN THE TRRRRRUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKKK!!!!

[witchylde13]

My Mom and Dad were big time country fans. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Elvis & Reba to name a few. I loved them when I was growing up (especially "A Boy Named Sue" and "Ring of Fire"). But as I got into junior high I got into hard rock and stayed with that until about 10 years ago. A friend of mine came over one day playing Shania Twain in his car, and that drew me back in, a little bit. It was Sugarland that brought me all the way back about 3 yrs ago. And I haven't looked back since. I still have a love for old rock, but country is now my number one fave!!!

[oil_spill_bill]

There are some great stories in these posts.. Is it me or does everyone hear Trace Adkins "Songs about me" playing in you head when reading some of these posts..

[festivalfan]

ha ha... ya!...stories about scars, cars, broken hearts..loving, lying and cheatin' hearts...!!