Country Music's Changing Patriotic Tune

The New Republic points out that, "Country music prides itself on being the voice of red-state America." The Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson are among the exceptions, but Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" is typical of Country's super-patriotic conservatism. In the aftermath of September 11, Toby Keith came out "loud and proud" with "Courtesy of the Red,White and Blue (the Angry American)," recorded in 2002. Since then, things have changed, according to Michelle Cottle in the latest New Republic.