Ken Burns’ Country Music Shores Up Sales

PBS International has notched up a range of deals on Country Music, the critically acclaimed new documentary series from director Ken Burns.

Among those on board to air the doc series are BBC (the U.K.), SBS (Australia), Telefonica (Spain), DR (Denmark), NRK (Norway), RTÉ (Ireland), SVT (Sweden) and Emirates (inflight), with more buyers signing on to broadcast the film following the success of the PBS broadcast in the U.S. Country Music chronicles the history of country music, from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more.

Produced by Burns and his long-time collaborators Dayton Duncan and Julie Dunfey, Country Music chronicles the highs and lows of country music’s early days, from southern Appalachia’s songs of struggle, heartbreak and faith to the Western swing of Texas, California’s honky-tonks and Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. The film follows the evolution of country music over the course of the 20th century as it eventually emerged to become “America’s music.”

“At the heart of every great country music song is a story,” said Burns. “As the songwriter Harlan Howard said, ‘It’s three chords and the truth.’ The common experiences and human emotions speak to each of us about love and loss, about hard times and the chance of redemption. As an art form, country music is also forever revisiting its history, sharing and updating old classics and celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, foundational to our country itself.”

“We discovered that country music isn’t—and never was— one type of music; it actually is many styles,” said Duncan. “It sprang from diverse roots, and it sprouted many branches. What unites them all is the way the music connects personal stories and elemental experiences with universal themes that every person can relate to. And as it evolved, from the bottom up, it created a special bond between the artists and fans that is unique among all other musical genres.”

“You don’t have to love country music to love this series,” said Tom Koch, VP of PBS International. “Ken and Dayton take us on an entertaining journey through history with an intimate look at so many incredible people from Dolly Parton to Johnny Cash and even Elvis. The stories in this series will speak to viewers around the world from different backgrounds and experiences.”