10 Classic Country Music Television Shows Every Fan Should Remember

When Classic Country Music Ruled the Television Airwaves

There was a time when country music didn’t just live on the radio.

It lived on television.

Across the 1960s, 1970s, and into the early 1980s, country music programs became regular fixtures on American TV schedules. These shows gave audiences a chance not only to hear the music — but to see the artists who created it.

For many fans, those weekly broadcasts were the closest thing to sitting in the audience at the Grand Ole Opry.

Many others throughout the years have been forgotten. That’s where we, here at CCTV, step in and help preserve the stories, history, and legends of country music. Find out more about CCTV here.

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1. Hee Haw (1969–1993)

Few television programs ever represented country music quite like Hee Haw.

Hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the show combined live country performances with rural humor and recurring comedy sketches. But beyond the jokes, the real attraction was the music.

Artists such as Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, and Conway Twitty all appeared on the program. For many viewers, Hee Haw became the place where country music still felt rooted in tradition.

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2. The Johnny Cash Show (1969–1971)

When Johnny Cash launched his television program on ABC in 1969, he created something a little different. The show still featured country music, but Cash welcomed artists from many musical backgrounds. Guests included folk performers, gospel singers, and rising songwriters like Kris Kristofferson.

The program blended storytelling, music, and conversation in a way that made it feel more like an evening with friends than a formal television production.

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3. The Porter Wagoner Show (1960–1981)

Long before Dolly Parton became one of country music’s biggest stars, she was a regular performer on The Porter Wagoner Show. The syndicated program aired across the United States and featured Wagoner alongside a rotating lineup of country performers.

The show introduced audiences to new artists while also showcasing established stars. For many viewers, it became one of the most reliable places to hear traditional country music on television.

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4. The Wilburn Brothers Show (1963–1974)

The Wilburn Brothers were already respected performers when their television program began airing in the early 1960s. What made their show stand out was its steady focus on music. Each episode featured guest appearances by popular country singers of the era, creating a rotating showcase of talent that reflected the Nashville sound of the time.

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5. Pop! Goes the Country (1974–1982)

Hosted by Ralph Emery, Pop! Goes the Country was syndicated across the United States and featured performances and interviews with country stars. The show helped introduce both established performers and younger artists to television audiences. Its simple format — conversation followed by music — gave viewers a relaxed look at the personalities behind the songs.

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6. That Nashville Music (1970–1985)

Produced by the Nashville Network, this program highlighted country performers in straightforward studio settings. Artists often appeared in smaller groups or acoustic-style performances, giving audiences a closer look at the musicianship behind the recordings. The program quietly became one of the longest-running country television shows of its time.

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7. The Grand Ole Opry Television Broadcasts

Various televised versions of the Grand Ole Opry appeared through the decades, allowing viewers around the country to witness performances from Nashville’s most famous stage. These broadcasts brought the traditions of the Opry — fiddles, steel guitars, and classic country voices — into homes far beyond Tennessee.

The True Story Behind the Grand Ole Opry’s Rise to Fame

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8. Ozark Jubilee (1955–1960)

Long before Hee Haw, another program helped prove that country music could succeed on national television. Ozark Jubilee, broadcast from Springfield, Missouri, became one of the first major country music television programs. The show featured performances by Red Foley and a wide range of country stars of the era.

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9. Nashville Now (1983–1993)

Hosted by Ralph Emery on The Nashville Network, Nashville Now blended interviews and live music performances. By the 1980s, country music television had begun to evolve, and this program helped bridge the gap between traditional variety shows and modern country entertainment.

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10. Country Style, U.S.A. (1957–1961)

Produced by the U.S. Army, this unusual television program featured country performers entertaining American military audiences. Despite its government sponsorship, the show became a popular showcase for rising country singers and helped bring country music to audiences overseas.

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Why Television Played Such an Important Role

Country music has always been built around the connection between artists and audiences. Television strengthened that connection. For fans who lived far from Nashville, these programs created a sense of closeness with the performers. The music felt personal. Viewers could see the smiles, the laughter between songs, and the personalities behind the voices they heard on the radio.

And for many artists, television exposure helped transform regional success into national recognition.

Check out our preservation efforts on our website at ClassicCountryTV.com and on our YouTube channel where we devote videos to the legends and the history of traditional country music.

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Why It Still Matters

Today, many of these programs survive only through archival recordings and preserved broadcasts. But their influence remains enormous. They introduced generations of fans to the sound of traditional country music. They documented the performances of legendary artists. And they preserved moments that might otherwise have been lost to time.

Those television stages became part of the history of the music itself. And remembering them helps keep the spirit of classic country alive.

At Classic Country TV, our goal is simple — keep the stories behind the songs alive. We can’t do that without your support and we greatly appreciate all of the fans of this content. You are who will help us keep traditional country music alive and preserved for future generations.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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SOURCES

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Historical archives covering the development of country music television programs.
https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org

Billboard Magazine Archives
Historical industry reporting on country music programming and artists.

Encyclopedia of Country Music – Country Music Hall of Fame
Authoritative reference on major artists and television programs.

PBS – Country Music Documentary Resources
https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music

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