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:
Crossroads, 2002–present, limited-run program on CMT that features country musicians playing music sets with non-country singers, usually rock musicians
Don Messer's Jubilee, 1957–1973,
CBC and syndicated program responsible for popularizing folk and country music in Canada
Glór Tíre (Country Voice) reality TV from Galway, Ireland on
TG4, 2003–2009
Grand Ole Opry, simulcast of the radio program, has aired on ABC (1955–56), PBS (1978–81), TNN (1985–2001), CMT (2001–03), and GAC (2003–09).
Hannah Montana, from
Disney Channel, features
Billy Ray Cyrus as retired country superstar "Robbie Ray Stewart" (an obvious fictional portrayal of Cyrus himself), the father of the titular character, teenager-turned-rock star "Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart" (played by Cyrus's real-life daughter,
Miley Cyrus).
Hee Haw, featuring
Buck Owens and
Roy Clark as co-hosts, although Owens departed the series at the end of the 1986 season; popular for its purposely cornball jokes, shapely women, and country music guest stars; The series ran on network television, 1969–1971, but was picked up in syndication beginning with the '71-'72 season and remained on the air through May 1992.
Lost Highway, a significant
BBC documentary on the history of country music
Midwestern Hayride, on WLW-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio and later carried nationally by NBC and then ABC
Nashville, 2012–present, ABC hourlong drama series about country musicians. The series has released several singles as
tie-ins to the TV show, many of which have reached the lower ends of the
Hot Country Songs charts. (Not to be confused with the
2007 docudrama of the same name that lasted only two episodes.)
Nashville On the Road, syndicated 1976–1983, weekly country music variety series hosted by
Jim Ed Brown and featuring co-stars
Jerry Clower,
Helen Cornelius and
Wendy Holcombe; acts ranged from house vocal groups to current superstars. Brown was replaced by
Jim Stafford in 1981, who hosted the final two seasons.
Ozark Jubilee, 1955–1960, ABC - the first network TV series featuring country music stars. Hosted by
Red Foley and was renamed County Music Jubilee in 1957 and Jubilee USA in 1958.
Pop! Goes the Country, a weekly syndicated country music variety television series, hosted by
Ralph Emery, from 1974 to 1980, and then
Tom T Hall during 1980–1981, and lastly
Jim Varney for a handful of episodes through 1982.
Real Country, Country Music series appearing on the USA network, 2018 to present
Talent Varieties, a country music talent show in 1955 on ABC-TV.
Troubadour, TX, 2011–present, regionally syndicated television series following the lives of various singers and songwriters as they chase their dreams (or, for successful artists, live their dreams) across the state of Texas. The series features performance and documentary elements.
The Tommy Hunter Show, 1965–92, a weekly variety show starring Canadian musician
Tommy Hunter; it replaced Country Hoedown on the CBC lineup and was seen in the United States on TNN from 1983 until 1992.
Village Barn on NBC from 1948 to 50, broadcast from a
New York City nightclub. The first (and first live) country music program on network TV
The Wilburn Brothers Show, long running syndicated country variety television series, hosted by
The Wilburn Brothers, running between 1963 and 1974. Launched the career of Loretta Lynn
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.
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 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.