Running almost the entire length of Eastern Kentucky, Country Music Highway is a Byway devoted to the rich heritage and history of the region. You will be immersed in the traditions of Eastern Kentucky mountain music since this Byway has been home to over a dozen well-known country music stars, including Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless. In addition to these performers, the National Heritage Fellowship recipient Morgan Sexton, Lee Sexton, Roscoe Halcomb, and Jeanne Ritchie all hail from areas along the Country Music Highway.
You will get the chance to hear the sounds of Appalachian music at venues all along the Byway. Most notably is the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, which is home to the Kentucky Opry. Other venues which host musical events are the historic and beautiful Paramount Theatre in Ashland, or Appalshop, which is an award winning film and music documentary and preservation organization in Whitesburg. Country Music Highway communities are never at a loss for hosting smaller shows, or festivals, such as the Seedtime Festival in Whitesburg, or the Apple Festival at the Mountain Home Place in Paintsville.
The Country Music Highway is not only the history of country music, but the Byway travels through areas which are rich in the history of Native Americans, pioneers, the Civil War, and the mining industry. The story of Eastern Kentucky has been influenced by those who, early on in the nation's history, began searching for land west of the Appalachian mountains. Not long thereafter, as a result of being a border state between the North and South, sections of the area became battlegrounds for the Civil War. As the area began to develop and grow, mining became an essential chapter in the history of Eastern Kentucky. The conflict between the miners of the region and outside influences is most notable in the Hatfield-McCoy feud, which would became a nationally known event.
While on the trail of feuders, pioneers, or miners, the area along Country Music Highway is full of natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Preeminent in the area is Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, situated on beautiful Dewey Lake. Come and enjoy the opportunities for golfing, hiking, or watching a movie at a summer outdoor theater. Additional parks such as Yatesville Lake State Park, Paintsville Lake State Park, or the Lilley Cornett Woods are adventures in discovering old growth forests, wildlife, and inspiring scenic views.
Listen to the Music of the Country Music Highway
Y'all Ready for Some Country?