I agree with Wesley that modern country owes a lot to rock and roll. I also agree with Quokka, that many country tunes fit easily into folk music or owe some roots to folk music. Kathy Mattea's new album focusses on coal mining and includes many tunes most people would call folk. I am not sure we will be able to parse out easily the differences. It falls back to the old "What is Folk Music" question. I have seen folk venues that offer traditional folk offer a group that was singing traditional country like the Osbourne Brothers. For myself, I find that some country music falls easily into my repertoire. Other country music wouldjust as easily fall into the rock and roll.

Listen to what you like. Play what you like. Don't sweat the categories.

Roger in Baltimore