Country Music

“Hard Times” (1933 – 1945)

Episode 2 | 1h 52m 49s | WETA Passport

Watch as Nashville becomes the heart of the country music industry. The genre grows in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II as America falls in love with singing cowboys, Texas Swing and the Grand Ole Opry’s Roy Acuff.

Aired: 09/15/19 | Expires: 09/16/26 | Rating: TV-14

Funding for Country Music was provided by Bank of America, the Annenberg Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Belmont University, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Rosalind P. Walter and by members of ‘The Better Angels Society,’ including: The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, the Pfeil Foundation, Diane and Hal Brierley, John and Catherine Debs, the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund, the Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation, Jay Alix and Una Jackman, Mercedes T. Bass, Fred and Donna Seigel, Gilchrist and Amy Berg, James R. Berdell Foundation, David Bonderman, Deborah P. and Jonathan T. Dawson, Senator Bill and Tracy Frist, Susan and David Kreisman, Rocco and Debby Landesman, Lillian Lovelace, John and Leslie McQuown, Mindy's Hope Foundation, the Segal Family Foundation, Michelle Smith. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.

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Extras From This Episode

• Betty Johnson: The Johnson Family Singers 1930s

  Clip: Ep2 | 3m 43s

• Episode 2 Preview | “Hard Times”

  Preview: Ep2 | 30s

• “Will the Circle Be Unbroken:” Country Music’s Anthem

  Clip: Ep2 | 3m 26s

More Episodes

• “The Rub” (Beginnings – 1933)

  Ep1 | 1h 51m 29s | WETA Passport

• “Hard Times” (1933 – 1945)

  Ep2 | 1h 52m 49s | WETA Passport

• “The Hillbilly Shakespeare” (1945 – 1953)

  Ep3 | 1h 53m 15s | WETA Passport

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