Country music studies is a thriving interdisciplinary field. The Oxford Handbook of Country Music draws upon the expertise of leading and emerging scholars to present an introduction into the historiographical narratives and methodological issues that have emerged in country music studies' first half-century and to suggest potential avenues for further research.

Now in its sixth decade, country music studies is a thriving field of inquiry involving scholars working in the fields of American history, folklore, sociology, anthropology, musicology, ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and geography, among many others. Covering issues of historiography and practice as well as the ways in which the genre interacts with media and social concerns such as class, gender, and sexuality, The Oxford Handbook of Country Music interrogates prevailing narratives, explores significant lacunae in the current literature, and provides guidance for future research. More than simply treating issues that have emerged within this subfield, The Oxford Handbook of Country Music works to connect to broader discourses within the various fields that inform country music studies in an effort to strengthen the area's interdisciplinarity. Drawing upon the expertise of leading and emerging scholars, this Handbook presents an introduction into the historiographical narratives and methodological issues that have emerged in country music studies' first half-century.

It might seem surprising that a book on country music is now part of the scholarly 'Oxford Handbooks' series. However, the nature of this book demonstrates that it clearly belongs there. Potential readers might not know what to expect from such a title, but they will find that it provides an informative literature review summarizing the state of research for country music. In his introduction, Stimeling (West Virginia Univ.) states that more thorough research has been done about the early history of country music and that scholarly coverage of its more recent history is marginal compared to that done on rock, pop, and jazz. Stimeling has assembled essays from an impressive group of scholars not only in music but also in fields such as history and folklore. They provide thought-provoking material, much of which has insightful an interdisciplinary perspective. This book is a welcome contribution to serious research on country music.