“Mr. Saturday Night” recently sat down with Absolute Radio Country to give his hot take that is surprisingly… not that hot when you really think about it.
The country music star Jon Pardi, who’s gearing up for the official release of his California Sunrise 10-year anniversary album on June 12, divulged with the UK Number one radio station where he started in on the state of country music in today’s world. For headstrong traditionalists, the idea that country music has become a blanket umbrella for so many sub-genres is an immediate eye roller. However, for the industry as a whole, its growing fan base, and musicians who want to showcase their country roots with an eclectic flair, country music is at its peak.
As Pardi explains on the show to host Baylen Leonard, “country music has always been like Velcro that you just stick, you know, rip and stick whatever styles are cool or you know, ‘I like this, but I’m going to make it like country.'” He adds, “It’s the new rock n’ roll. I mean, it’s the new classic rock.”
And you know what, I can’t say I disagree with him as the genre continues to grow and expand its doors. Country music is probably the only place where you can find as much experimental instrumentation, which Pardi affirms, adding, “Where else do guitar solos shine anymore, besides in country music?”
He gives the example of Pop music, saying there are truly no tracks that feature guitar solos anymore. Long gone are the days of turning on the radio and hearing the alt-pop sounds and mainstream rock ripping a guitar solo on any Hot 100 hits stations.
As for country music, we have artists like Treaty Oak, the newly founded 80 Acres, Ole 60, Koe Wetzel, Dexter and the Moonrocks, all sprinkling in country elements with guitar instrumentals. Heck, even Avery Anna was catching heat for her rockin’ inaugural ACM performance last night of “Blood Runs Thicker” with people online calling it “too heavy.”
That’s the fun of the genre, though, as Pardi affirms, saying, “There’s always somebody ripping a guitar in a country song or a steel or a fiddle like it’s very instrumental. It’s a very diverse genre.” Even mainstream artists over the years, like Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban, have kept this energy alive.
Outside of the rock influence, the “Dirt On My Boots” singer also gives the example of RIAA’s highest certified country artist, Morgan Wallen. There’s a reason the man continues to top charts with his May 2025 album, I’m The Problem, and is able to easily sell out massive stadium tours.
His music has a bit of every influence, offering a sound for every type of listener with an undeniable mass appeal. When it comes to tracks like “Thinkin’ Bout Me” and “Cowgirls” in Pardi’s words, “There’s some Morgan Wallen songs that basically are a rap beat with him singing a country melody and country lyrics. But it’s bad a**, like everybody loves it and he pulls it off like one of the best.”
Hate it or love it, country music is constantly evolving and expanding, but at least it’s still a genre where you can crank up the volume, jam out in the car, and pretend you’re shredding an air guitar.