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.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

October 18, 2024

at

1:53 pm

Share on:

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.” 

John Anderson; Photo by Alysse Gafkjen
John Anderson; Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

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.”

YouTube video

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.

YouTube video
Share on:

Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.