John Anderson Weighs In On The Current State Of Country Music: ‘The Style Has Changed Quite A Bit’
Anderson will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 20.
John Anderson, Photo Courtesy of Alysse Gafkjen
John Anderson will officially be inducted into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 20 during the annual Medallion Ceremony. Anderson will be inducted alongside Toby Keith and James Burton and admits that “words can’t really explain for me how important” his induction is to him.
Ahead of his official induction, the Florida native sat down with Rolling Stone to reflect on this high honor. He submitted a self-written letter that found him looking back on his career, the country music icons that supported him along the way and sharing his thoughts on the current state of country music.
Of the present landscape of the genre, Anderson shared, “Today, I’m hearing several young ones and the songs are good. However, the style has changed quite a bit.”
He admitted the future is uncertain.
“It’s hard to say where it goes from here, whether it will revert back to some of the classic country stuff that we did, or whether it’ll just go on continuing to turn in its own direction.”
He later expressed his gratitude for beginning his career when he did and acknowledged a few people who supported him throughout his journey.
“I was so fortunate to come along when I did and get to become friends with people like Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Dickens, Minnie Pearl, and Loretta Lynn. But as surprised as I was to get in the Hall of Fame, on the other hand, I don’t feel that out of place, just on account of the people that I’ve known through the years that I became friends with,” he acknowledged. “And I could almost swear I heard voices when it happened, of Ernest Tubb and Minnie Pearl and Jimmy Dickens saying, ‘You come on in here, boy.’ It was a really warm feeling and I thought about how most of these young folks, for instance Toby, never got a chance to be friends with, say, Ernest Tubb.”
Anderson will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the Veterans Era Artist category on Sunday.
Earlier this year, when he was announced as a member-elect, Anderson delivered a heartfelt speech and confessed that he was still trying to comprehend the idea of becoming a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“I want to say this is probably the greatest honor I could ever receive standing on this stage today,” Anderson said at the time. “I’m still trying to get a grasp on the reality of this happening for me and so very proud and so honored. I want to thank all the fans that have of course supported us through the last nearly 50 years, and all the folks here at the Hall of Fame and the CMA for letting this be possible.”
John Anderson moved to Nashville in the early 1970s after graduating high school and quickly gained attention for his unique blend of country and rock. In 1980, the Apopka, FL native took a major step forward by signing with Warner Bros. Records and releasing his debut self-titled album. Just four years later, he scored his first Top 5 hit with Billy Joe Shaver’s “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday),” followed by his first two No. 1 singles, “Wild and Blue” and “Swingin’.” Within two years, Anderson achieved five Top 5 hits, including three No. 1s.
After a seven-year lull in his career, Anderson made a triumphant comeback with “Straight Tequila Night” under BNA Records. He sustained his resurgence throughout the 1990s with hits like “When It Comes to You,” “Money in the Bank,” and “Seminole Wind.” Over his 40+ year career, Anderson has expanded his discography across multiple record labels and earned numerous accolades.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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