A Proclamation Country music is one of America's unique musical forms. Our immigrant ancestors from Great Britain and Ireland brought their tunes and melodies with them, and those songs were reshaped by life and landscape in our new Nation. In Appalachia, the Piedmonts, the Ozarks, the Mississippi Delta, and the Pine Barrens, those songs and ballads were forged from the spirit of working men and women, farmers and field laborers, miners and railroad workers, and pioneers crossing the Great Plains. They blended with songs of African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Cajuns. Out of this wellspring came Western swing, honky-tonk, blues, gospel, and shape note music, creating a family of many musical cousins.
Country music is about the American story.
It fuses the traditions of many cultures and celebrates what makes us Americans. Country lyrics tell tales of life and love, joy and heartbreak, toil and celebration. In its rhythms and words, we can hear the lonesome sound, as well as the festive spirit, of our beloved land. I urge all Americans to join me in recognizing the role that country music has played in shaping our cultural heritage. Country Music Month is a time to recognize the contributions of singers, songwriters, musicians, and all in the industry who work to bring us the very best of country music and dance.