Music

One Thing You Missed: Country Music and American Christianity

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For months, I’ve been looking forward to the release of Ken Burns’ new film series, “Country Music.” I’m an avid fan of country music, particularly of the artists who pioneered the genre. But even if you don’t enjoy it, I think country music is important because it’s one of those uniquely American genres that helps explain not only America, but American Christianity. We filmed this episode right outside of the famous Ryman Auditorium, “The Mother Church of Country Music,” in downtown Nashville. In the video, I talk about the ways that country music reflects the tensions, contradictions, and truths of Christianity in the Bible Belt and beyond.

OTYM outside the Ryman Auditorium

See more episodes of One Thing You Missed on YouTube.

Only when we see how lost we are, we can find our way again. Only when we bury what’s dead can we experience life again. Only when we lose our religion can we be amazed by grace again.

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About Russell Moore

Russell Moore is Editor in Chief of Christianity Today and is the author of the forthcoming book Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America (Penguin Random House).

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