Just like high-waisted skirts, Michael Kors handbags, and infinity scarves, country music is becoming more and more popular in the tri-state area.

Artists like Cody Johnson, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line all have albums on iTunes top 30’s, and ahead of artists albums such as Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Lana Del Ray, and One Direction.

Country artists are also spreading their music, fame, and talent by being on popular TV shows.  An example is Blake Shelton on The Voice.  Shelton has had 24 hit country singles  while also becoming well-known as a judge on The Voice.  Shelton’s wife, well-known country singer Miranda Lambert will also be helping on The Voice for season six.

On January 11, 2013 radio station WKDN-FM 94.7 was sold and became Nash FM 94.7. This station gave New York City and New Jersey residents a full-time country radio station. The first song played on the Nash FM was How Country Feels by Randy Houser.

This new popularity may be due to a slight change in modern country music: with more electric guitars and a pop twist, the music genre has a more modern feel.  Its fans, once more likely to be found in the South, are now all over the country.  Met Life Stadium has featured sellout country concerts in each of the last two summers.  Another popular venue to see country concerts is the PNC Bank Arts Center, located in Holmdel New Jersey right off the Garden State Parkway.  Many people make a day out of going to a concert here, tailgating and cooking food for their friends and family to enjoy before the concert.

“The best part about going to concerts at PNC is that the tickets are usually affordable, and I love being able to sit on the grass and enjoy a concert,” says VHS senior Mairead Carney.

Clearly, country music has become more and more popular, and can be added to the list of trends embraced by this area in particular.