These incredible country songs had a hand in inspiring Americana musicians, as well as the subgenre's boom, in the 1990s.

Today, many genre fans look back on the 1990s as one of the best decades for country music. The era marked the end of the Urban Cowboy sound and the pop-influenced music of the previous decade.

What came first, the chicken or the egg? I often ask myself similar questions but with words or rap music. Do I love words because of rap music or rap music because of the words? I’m 44 and no closer ...

Western pop music has always been influenced by artists and styles from around the world. A new book aims to give those varied influences — all of them — their due. Special correspondent Tom Casciato ...