Many artists have made the transition to country music. The attraction to Nashville brought many rockers, pop stars, and rappers to Music City. While it’s not such a dramatic leap for some artists, others have made a huge impact on listeners by deciding to go country. Check out these three artists below.
3 artists who unexpectedly turned to country music
1. Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr recently broke into the country music world. While he and his former bandmates routinely drew inspiration from American roots music, the change in genre still feels a little strange to him. Nevertheless, the star makes it seem as if she was made for country music. If you need proof of his credentials, check out the track below.
time is on handLesson learnedi already forgot about herThat bridge is burnt
time is on hand
Lesson learned
i already forgot about her
That bridge is burnt
(Related: Ringo Starr reveals details of new country album ‘Look Up’, announces special performance in Nashville, listen to first single now)
2. Darius Rucker
Although Hootie and the Blowfish’s sound was targeted much more toward a rock audience, Darius Rucker found great success in the country world during his solo career. Rucker has been a fan of country music since the beginning of his career, but it took him until he moved to Nashville to realize his dream of making Southern-inspired music. “Right now I’m in heaven,” Rucker once said. “So I can go into the studio and sing country music. That’s pretty amazing.”
Head to the southern pine countryWe’re well on our way to North Carolina.I stare at the road and pray to God, I see the headlights.
It took 17 hours to get down the coast.
Pick me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I’m waiting for Rory, I’ll see my baby tonight
3. Kid Rock
When you see Kid Rock’s name alone, you immediately think of a different genre. Once upon a time, the controversial singer was both a rocker and a rapper, but in the early 2000s, Rock decided to go country. It turned out to be exactly the right move for Locke. Today, it’s hard to imagine the Michigan native in any other context.
live life in slow hell
Different girl every night at the hotel
I haven’t seen the sun for three days now.
Fueled by cocaine and whiskey
I wish I had a good girl who missed me
Lord, will I ever change my ways?
Ringo Starr (Photo: Scott Robert Ritchie)
