Her Country

“[Moss] examines the past two decades of country music through the distinct careers of Guyton, Musgraves and Morris—exploring how women, queer people and people of color have charted space for themselves in an industry that was never built for them.”—The Washington Post

“Moss goes deep into the archives and shares the often tumultuous journey of countless women trying to pursue a music career in the male-dominated industry. Her Country is an eye-opening account of the gender bias . . . [and] Moss unpacks each singer’s story with precise detail and often harrowing accounts of sexism and racism.”—Forbes

“Moss traces the history of Guyton’s, Musgraves’ and Maren Morris’ career against the larger dynamic that has defined women in country music . . . [This] is also a story of American politics, Moss argues. It shows how the battle for the soul of country music (and the dollar signs that come with it) mirrors a larger culture war in U.S. politics.”—The 19th

“The book is deeply researched . . . [a] history of the kind of industry—and world—that the white men of country music have always hoped to maintain and the women who wouldn’t let them.”—Pitchfork

“A highly-readable deep dive into the lives and careers of the women of country music . . . a celebration of the persistence and vision of these women and a call for change to the industry they’ve transcended . . . [Her Country] will be an inspiration to young musicians and a forewarning to anyone standing in their way.”—Performer Magazine

“There’s a lot of joy sprinkled in the narrative . . . The stories of support and female friendship within this orbit of songwriters are enough to make a reader cry like Garth Brooks in his Netflix special . . . But maybe most importantly, Her Country doesn’t shy away from the nitty gritty about who gets left out of Music Row and why.”—Chapter 16

“[Moss] deftly makes a case for, among other critical changes, country music’s urgent need to embrace diversity . . . [and examines] the misogyny, inequity and racism embedded with the country music power structure.”—Dallas Observer

“[Her Country is] an indictment of a music industry that has backed itself into a corner, and a celebration of artists who figured out their own shades and colors of the Nashville sound.”—SouthBound, WFAE

“This is an important read for anyone who wants to understand the tenacity it takes to shove back against oppression, especially as an artist trying to break into a genre where you might not be immediately welcomed . . . Read this book if you’re looking to feel inspired by some excellent country artists who have refused to take ‘no’ for an answer.”—Parton and Pearl

“[A] timely treatise on the infuriating gender politics of country music.”—Holler

“Moss tells a story that not only impacts the Nashville music scene, but addresses the country music industry at large.”—Nashville Lifestyles

“If you’re a country music follower . . . Her Country will surely strike the right chord.”—Bristol Herald Courier

“Her Country is a fascinating look at the weird isolationism of contemporary country.”—Literary Hub

“Marissa R. Moss’s Her Country is a serious interrogation of the cultural meaning of contemporary gender and race in country music. It is sharp and fun (at times) and critical in exactly the way we need.”—Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of Thick: And Other Essays

“Her Country should be required reading for every music lover.”—Sarah Arnold, director at Parnassus Books in Nashville, in Garden & Gun

“Marissa Moss delivers a master class on the startling inequities in country music, introducing us to the modern-day pioneers, the rebels, the risk takers, the marginalized and the misfits. This is a story of the women who defied the odds and refused to kick the ladder. Her Country illuminates the path to those artists left behind, and reminds us why we all need our country heroes to look like us.”—Brandi Carlile, Grammy-winning artist and New York Times bestselling author of Broken Horses

“I can’t think of a better person to be leading this much needed conversation than Marissa R. Moss. I'm thankful for how Her Country celebrates the power of women, our artistry, vision and perseverance in this industry.”—LeAnn Rimes

“Country music has always been creative, full of strong folks, and is way more diverse than the often-portrayed stereotype. Marissa R. Moss’s Her Country is an excellent highlight of the incredible women who have paved the way for this genre as well as the women currently pushing it forward.”—Orville Peck

“Her Country shines a light in the dark corners we don’t talk about; it’s equal parts unbelievable and completely believable. These realities are used brilliantly in this book as a tool to illustrate how women are breaking the mold, changing the rules, blurring the lines of genre, and how strong, resilient, inventive, and inclusive these women are.”—Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of Lucius

“Part coming-of-age tale, part hard-hitting documentary of country music’s antagonistic history with women artists, this story is a page-turner even if you know how it turns out . . . The author’s reporting and storytelling shine as brightly as her subjects.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Moss’s stunningly crafted debut book . . . interlocks her subjects’ stories for a captivating structure, jumping between them to effectively create a cohesive narrative of feminist uprising in ‘the good ol’ boys club.’ This must read for music fans displays Moss’s extensive knowledge of Nashville’s Music Row scene . . . and she speaks of the genre’s ebbs and flows with an authoritative, assertive voice . . . Her Country speaks (sings, really) volumes about the rise of female artists in country music, and how far they still have to climb.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Moss illustrates how these artists have carved out spaces for women, including women of color and LGBTQIA+ people, who are even less represented in the country music field. Moss’s clear and accessible writing is a delight, deftly capturing the lyricism of the genre . . . A must for anyone interested in country music and how the genre reflects on the United States as a whole.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Music journalist Moss debuts with an exuberant deep-dive into the careers of three country music stars who ‘opened up a window to a musical world where women are in charge.’ Offering a spirited cultural history of country music over the last 25 years, Moss traces how it . . . [became] a rigged system hell-bent on silencing its women . . . This is the unapologetic celebration fans have been waiting for.”—Publishers Weekly