COUNTRY: PORTRAITS OF AN AMERICAN SOUND

Featured artists include: Rosanne Cash, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, Charley Pride, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, The Band Perry, Tanya Tucker, and Keith Urban.

Listen to the Big Blend Radio interview with director Steven Kochones.

COUNTRY: PORTRAITS OF AN AMERICAN SOUND takes audiences on a visual odyssey through the history of country music as captured by renowned photographers who have portrayed the ideals, lifestyle and personalities of country music artists for 90 years. From the Carter Family to Taylor Swift, the film documents country’s rise from innocent beginnings to international phenomenon as immortalized in the evolving image of the country artist, from rhinestone cowboy to pot-smoking outlaw to stadium-filling megastar. The film features imagery and commentary from Grand Ole Opry photographer Les Leverett, iconic music photographers Henry Diltz and Raeanne Rubenstein, celebrity portraitist Leigh Wiener, documentarian Henry Horenstein, and contemporary shooters David McClister and Michael Wilson. Over 20 country music artists also appear, including Rosanne Cash, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, Charley Pride, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, The Band Perry and Keith Urban. The film weaves iconic images, historical footage and famous country songs into a dynamic look at this uniquely American sound.

COUNTRY: PORTRAITS OF AN AMERICAN SOUND includes never-before-seen photographs, footage and unforgettable moments with stars from the country music world including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan, and fashion designer Manuel. Additional interviews include: Bill Anderson, Terri Clark, Brenda Lee, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker and Holly Williams.

COUNTRY: PORTRAITS OF AN AMERICAN SOUND is a presentation of Annenberg Space for Photography Films, produced by Arclight Productions, in association with the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum and Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Directed and produced by Steven Kochones, the documentary was filmed in Nashville, TN; Bakersfield, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Vienna, VA, Tulsa, OK; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; and Portland, OR. The film is also produced by Joe Russo, Janel Tamares, and Erika D. Smith. Wallis Annenberg is executive producer. Cinematography by Luke Geissbühler with editing by James W. Pendorf. The film was shot in 5K resolution using RED Epic cameras. The running time is 88 minutes. Website: www.countryportraitsmovie.com