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List of country television and radio shows

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The following lists American TV and radio shows of note that were either predominantly related to country music or had a significant impact on the country music genre:

Shows

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Listed alphabetically:

Radio

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Listed chronologically by date of first airing:

  • National Barn Dance, the original country music radio show. (1924–1960)
  • Grand Ole Opry, the most famous country music radio program, broadcasting on WSM from Nashville. (1925–present)
  • Jamboree U-S-A, airing from WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. Spun off a popular music festival, the Jamboree in the Hills. (1933–2007). A "Wheeling Jamboree" on rival station WKKX (2010–2014) and WWOV-LP (since 2014) claims this series (but not the Jamboree in the Hills, which spun off as a separate company) as part of its history.
  • Renfro Valley Barn Dance, 1939–1957, stage show continues to bear the name
  • Renfro Valley Gatherin', Sunday morning country music program airing nationally from Renfro Valley, Kentucky. (1943–present)
  • Korn’s-A-Krackin’, from KWTO in Springfield, Missouri and carried by the Mutual Broadcasting System (1946-195?).
  • Old Dominion Barn Dance, from WRVA in Richmond, Virginia. (1946–1957)
  • Big D Jamboree, from KRLD in Dallas, Texas. (1947–1960s)
  • Midnite Jamboree, from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville. (1947–present)
  • Louisiana Hayride, featured Hank Williams and Elvis Presley in their early years. (1948–1960)
  • The Red Foley Show, 1954–1961 on NBC.
  • Ozark Jubilee, 1954–1961, from KWTO-AM. Helped launch the careers of Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee and other country and rockabilly stars. Aired on ABC Radio from 1954 to 1960, and on NBC Radio from 1960 to 1961.
  • U.S. 1 Trucking Show/Midnight Cowboy Radio Network, overnight country music and talk show based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, targeted toward truck drivers, hosted by Bill Mack (1969–2003). Mack continues a show on satellite radio, while the original show itself is now the Midnight Radio Network, a talk-only program hosted by Eric Harley.
  • American Country Countdown, 1973–present. Spinoff of American Top 40 hosted by Don Bowman (1973–1978), Bob Kingsley (1978–2005), and Kix Brooks (2006–present). Features the top 30 country songs of the week based on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Originally distributed by ABC Radio Networks, today sent via Cumulus Media Network's Best Country Today.
  • The Silver Eagle Cross Country Radio Show (later American Eagle ...), 1981-late 1980s, featuring live performances of current and up-and-coming stars along with interviews, via ABC Radio Networks.
  • Live From Gilley's, 1980-late 1980s, featuring live performances of current and up-and-coming country performers, originating from Gilley's Club in Pasadena, Texas.
  • The Weekly Country Music Countdown, 1981-c. 2009, via United Stations Programming Network (predecessor of the United Stations Radio Network) and later Westwood One, hosted by Chris Charles and produced by Ed Salamon. Three-hour weekly program featuring the top 30 songs of the past week (according to Radio & Records), along with interviews from a featured artist of the week, a countdown of the top 5 hits from a week in the past and a calendar feature.[1]
  • Country Six Pack, 1982-unknown, series of specials airing on the six major holidays (or holiday weekends) throughout the year, produced by Ed Salamon and distributed by United Stations Programming Network (later Westwood One). Specials focused on various topics or themes (such as a family theme for Thanksgiving, or a salute to American locations for the Fourth of July), Country Music Association award winners, and salutes to artists observing anniversary milestones (usually at least 10 years, then 20 and 25 and every five years thereafter). The Christmas special was called "Christmas In the Country," with artist interviews and their songs often played in blocks, while starting in 1994 came a year-in-review program. Unofficially tied to the specials were one-off Valentine's Day-themed shows, those featuring love ballads.
  • On a Country Road, 1982–1992, hosted by Lee Arnold and via the Mutual Broadcasting Network, later Westwood One. Featured spotlight artists, mini-features, trivia Nashville news and more.
  • Solid Gold Country, 1983–1993, via United Stations Programming Network (predecessor of the United Stations Radio Network) produced by Ed Salamon. Originally presented as a three-hour weekly show, reformatted in 1985 as a daily one-hour magazine-type series (with the option for affiliates to air the program in a five-hour block, such as on the weekends) with artist salutes, top hits of a past year from the currently-airing week (e.g., "this week in 1987"), gold records from a month gone by, monthly calendar previews, producer and songwriter profiles, awards program (saluting past winners) and festival previews, and other themes on virtually every conceivable topic. Interview clips were also included. Chart data was via Radio & Records (for 1973-later songs).[2] Hosts were Stan Martin (1983-1985), Joel Sebastian (1985) Mike Fitzgerald (1985-1990) and Charlie Cook (1990–1993).
  • Country Music's Top Ten, 1983–1992. One-hour program presenting the week's top 10 country hits per Radio & Records, along with a feature artist interview, a top 10 song from that week a year earlier, and a "pick hit" (a song that, in the judgement of the hosts and producers, would become a future top 10 hit). Originally hosted by industry executive Charlie Cook (currently an executive with Cumulus Media) and Los Angeles radio personality Janine Wolf (from 1983 to 1987), later by a series of hosts after the show was reformatted.
  • The Truckin' Bozo, overnight country music and talk show targeted toward truck drivers, hosted by Dale Sommers. (1984–2003, continued as a talk-only program on satellite radio until Sommers's death in 2012)
  • Crook & Chase, hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase (1986–present). Longtime countdown program featuring the top 30 songs of the week (via Mediabase), with interviews of artists by the hosts.
  • Country Countdown USA, radio countdown hosted by Lon Helton. (1992–present) Helton and a co-host – always a current star – count down the top 30 country songs of the week based on the Country Aircheck chart (originally Radio & Records and later Mediabase). Initially included reports from affiliates’ program directors on hot-breaking new hits.
  • Country Gold, classic country request program hosted at various times in its history by Mike Fitzgerald (1992–99), Big John Howell (1999 – 2006), and Josh "Rowdy Yates" Holstead (2006–12). A split in the ownership of the show in 2012 led to two shows bearing the name: one hosted by Holstead, and another by Randy Owen (2012–2016) and currently Terri Clark
  • After Midnite, nationally syndicated overnight country music program hosted by Blair Garner (1993–2013), Cody Alan (2014–2021), Granger Smith now Hosts After Midnite Garner now hosts America's Morning Show.
  • The Lia Show, nationally syndicated evening country music and interview program hosted by Lia Knight. (mid-1990s to present)
  • Country Music Greats Radio Show, hosted by Jim Ed Brown (2003–2015) Bill Cody (2015–present)
  • Country Top 40, hosted by Bob Kingsley (2006-2019) and Fitz (2020-present); guest hosts filled in from October through December 2019 upon Kingsley's departure (due to health issues and subsequent death). Chart information is based on Mediabase (originally Radio & Records). Show began after Kingsley's departure from American Country Countdown, which he had hosted from 1978 to 2005.
  • American Country Gold, syndicated one hour weekly US & Canada, recorded country hits 50's-60's plus interviews and commentary, hosted by Freddy Carr 2008–2016. 416 shows were produced and solely owned by Freddy Carr. In 2016 full ownership of all master recordings of the show was acquired by a U. K. broadcast syndication group for re-run scheduling throughout Western Europe. Included in the purchase was 416 shows and syndication contracts with 517 independent radio stations.
  • Country Crossroads, 1969-at least mid-2000s, 30-minute program hosted by Bill Mack and Jerry Clower, along with a guest artist each week, with songs and themes focusing on the Christian faith. Each program also included a brief sermonette and/or other positive, uplifting message. At its peak, the show – which ran for at least 30 years and was aired by many stations on Sundays – was syndicated to more than 800 stations across the country, and a similar cable television was show aired on FamilyNet.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Helton, Lon, "A Tale Of Two Countdowns," Radio & Records, page 66-68. Accessed March 16, 2022. [1]
  2. ^ Program Suppliers Guide, Radio & Records, Program Suppliers Guide '88. Accessed March 16, 2022. [2]
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