Country Nights
This November Radio 2 and BBC Four delves into the rich history of country music and explores its current revival. Settle in for some wholesome ‘County Nights’
The season will feature original contributions from the likes of Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris and Kacey Musgraves, as well as rare archive performances from Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks.
Radio 2 will be in Nashville for the 48th annual CMA Awards, the biggest night in the country music calendar, with Patrick Kielty broadcasting live in the run-up to the ceremony (2pm, 5 November - Radio 2) and Bob Harris presenting a round-up of highlights from the awards (6pm, 8 November - Radio 2)
On 6 November, live from the Radio Theatre in London, Bob Harris will host 'An Evening with Brad Paisley' on Radio 2 (7pm). In this unique performance this country superstar will perform stripped back acoustic versions of his hits with the songwriters who worked on them with him.
BBC Four Highlights
The Heart Of Country - How Nashville Became Music City USA, a historical biography of the glittering hub of Country Music that reveals the dynamic relationship between commerce and art that has defined Nashville since 1925 (9pm, 7 November - BBC Four)
Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table chronicling Kenny’s remarkable rise to the top of his game and the golden era of country music he ushered in (21 November - BBC Four)
Bob Harris: My Nashville in which ‘Whispering’ Bob journeys to Music City USA to find out how music has shaped Nashville and why today it’s a place of pilgrimage for musicians from all over the world (14 November - BBC Four)
Johnny Cash – The Man, His World, His Music, a rare chance to see Robert Elfstrom’s 1969 classic film that captures the Man in Black at his peak, the first of many in a looming roller-coaster career (14 November, BBC Four)
The season will also include two compilation programmes:
Country Kings At The BBC will feature classic male country singers from the BBC vaults, journeying from the Everly Brothers and Jerry Lee Lewis to Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson and featuring classic songs and performances by Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, George Hamilton IV, Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, Johnny Cash, Eric Church and more.
Meanwhile Country Queens At The BBC classic female country stars in action on a variety of BBC studio shows and feature Bobbie Gentry, Anne Murray, Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette, Billie Jo Spears, Crystal Gayle, Taylor Swift, Lucinda Williams with Mary Chapin-Carpenter and more. (10.30pm, 7 November - BBC Four)
Highlights on Radio 2
The Mother Church of Country Music - The Ryman Auditorium: Bob Harris takes a guided tour through this iconic building which is now seen as an integral character in country music's story.
Harold Bradley – The World’s Biggest Unknown Guitarist: Musician and writer Sid Griffin presents this celebration of Harold Bradley, who since 1946 has been playing three sessions a day - five, six or seven days a week - with an average of three songs a session (10pm, 4 November - Radio 2)
Nashville UK: Originally broadcast as part of Radio 2’s coverage of the second C2C (Country To Country) Festival at London's O2 Arena, Paul Sexton takes the pulse of country music in the UK with the help of Nashville stars, writers and executives who are frequent visitors to our shores (10pm, 6 November - Radio 2)