Marissa R. Moss chronicles how three singers – Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton — found ways to circumvent the traditional Nashville Music Row country music industry path and its 'good ol’ boy' mentality to chart successful paths of their own ... As Moss shows, the women in Her Country, have managed to produce some of the most creative, inclusive and successful country music of the moment despite obstacles.
... stunningly crafted ... Moss interlocks her subjects’ stories for a captivating structure, jumping between them to effectively create a cohesive narrative of feminist uprising in 'the good ol’ boys club.' This must read for music fans displays Moss’ extensive knowledge of Nashville’s Music Row scene; she’s been writing on women in country music for years, and she speaks of the genre’s ebbs and flows with an authoritative, assertive voice ... speaks (sings, really) volumes about the rise of female artists in country music, and how far they still have to climb.
Moss unapologetically exposes the genre's baked-in sexism and racism, and highlights the courage and creativity of female singers, songwriters, producers and executives. She argues brilliantly for more diversity on country radio, more women in every part of the industry and more creative control for female artists. Her interview subjects share the grit required to make it in an industry that often shuts them out, and Moss herself celebrates their blatant refusal to 'shut up and sing' ... richly layered history of the last two decades in country music and a clarion call for the genre--and its stakeholders--to do better.
Moss’s clear and accessible writing is a delight, deftly capturing the lyricism of the genre ... A must for anyone interested in country music and how the genre reflects on the United States as a whole.
... a page-turner even if you know how it turns out ... While some of the author’s arguments would have been blunted if she focused on the biggest female stars of the era she chronicles—Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood—the struggles and eventual payoffs she captures are inspiring even for readers who may be unfamiliar with the superstar careers of her book's heroines ... The author’s reporting and storytelling shine as brightly as her subjects.
... an exuberant deep-dive ... Moss also shines a brilliant light on other trailblazing artists who’ve transformed the industry—among them Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, and Shania Twain. This is the unapologetic celebration fans have been waiting for.
