One thing I have always respected about Country Music is its respect for what came before that is instilled in those doing it now. Also there respect for their own award shows, and things like the Grand Opry. But i think more than that, over the last two decades this genre has had the best crafted songs, its odd how back in the days of Lionel Richie and the great song smiths, they were POP artists getting the play now you dont have that with well structured songs. Also for just about or even longer the place to go to is Nashville to record. But everytime someone says they are recording in Nashville people go "oh you do country now" such a huge stereotype that has been used for a long time. In remember in the middle 90's Richard Marx had finished his deal with Capitol/EMI and wanted to break, so he was first and foremost always a songwriter or his own work, but people forget one of the first hits he had was writing for others, a big hit "What About Me" for Kenny Rogers, James Ingram and Kim Carnes, David Foster was co writer with him. But he went to Nashville to work with others, one being Alison Krauss also Sara Evans and a few others and also to record independtly his "Days In Avalon" album, and he found this new world he felt of songwriters and people that he could work more with, not necessarily doing "country" music but just crafting good solid songs which he has done for alot since in all genres.