Ray himself waded into the topic of immigration in 2023 with Jesus at the Taco Truck, written and performed with Shy Carter, about a man named Jesus with scars on his feet and hands from crossing the Rio Grande.

Did you hear it on the radio? Probably not. That’s because anything considered mainstream in the genre shies away from social commentary that doesn’t pass the sniff test of conservatism.

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[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 70 points 3 days ago (5 children)

the dixie chicks might resent that sentiment

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 48 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

This. Outlaw country has a decades-long tradition, even if rightwing pop country is more popular.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 41 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Willie Nelson ain't no republican

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 20 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yea, but how many of his conservative fans are like conservative RATM fans?

You're not exactly working with the most cognisant group, here...

[–] blitzen@lemmy.ca 15 points 3 days ago

Modern might-wing pop country is just rap for people afraid of black people. And much like their ‘patriotism,’ is superficial and in name only.

[–] natecox@programming.dev 6 points 2 days ago

Well, I’m calling country music “r-pop” from now on for sure.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago

They’re just The Chicks now. They were uncomfortable with the racist implications and confederate associations with the word Dixie.

https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/25/883328370/dixie-chicks-change-band-name-to-the-chicks

[–] blitzen@lemmy.ca 20 points 3 days ago

I liked The Dixie Chicks then, and like them now. Her statement has aged well, and the response to it hasn’t. But their music wasn’t particularly woke or progressive in the way Guthrie’s was or Hellas’ is.

There is something satisfying about critique coming from what conservatives would consider ‘their music.’

[–] redhorsejacket@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

If anyone's curious, they actually wrote a song addressing that whole kerfuffle a few years after the fact called "Not Ready to Make Nice". In so far as pop-country goes, it's pretty good.

Also, "Gaslighter" is a bop, while I'm recommending songs of theirs.

[–] ruuster13@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

In the spirit of Renee Good, pull a switcheroo and give the credit to Beyonce.