The Marriage Of Country Music and Drinking Has Never Been Stronger

Drinking and country have gone together since the days of moonshiners, but the marriage of alcohol and music has never been stronger, says an article in the Washington Post. 

The article connects songs about drinking with artists getting in the liquor business. (Quote) "Not only has the genre become known (and sometimes mocked) for its sheer amount of drinking-themed songs, but an increasing number of country acts have created their own brands of booze, including [Kenny] Chesney’s rum, Blake Shelton’s Smithworks vodka, Miranda Lambert’s Red 55 wine and Toby Keith’s Wild Shot mezcal." The article also cites whiskey from Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line and Darius Rucker and tequila from George Strait."

Along with a playlist of 100 songs released since 2010 that concern drinking, the article notes that it no longer carries any negative stigma. College professor Diane Pecknold says, “Alcohol no longer serves as a sign of the distance between country music listeners and the middle class culture but as a sign of the similarity.”

Here's 10 of the songs on the paper's playlist:

• “Count the Beers” Darius Rucker
• “Beer Can” Luke Combs
• “Hemingway’s Whiskey” Kenny Chesney
• “Wine After Whiskey” Carrie Underwood
• “Drunk on a Plane” Dierks Bentley
• “Whiskey's Gone” Zac Brown Band
• “Drink in My Hand” Eric Church
• “Haven’t Had a Drink All Day” Toby Keith
• "Beer Time" Justin Moore
• “Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson