Book Review: Her Country by Marissa R. Moss

When I first picked up Her Country by Marissa R. Moss, I wasn’t sure I was going to be the intended audience for the book. I am not really a follower of country music, and I certainly hadn’t heard of many of the artists mentioned throughout prior to reading it. Country music has always felt largely foreign to me; a world I wasn’t ever really exposed to. Imagine my delight to discover that the central theme of this book transcends the bounds of the genre to explore a much larger, more universal conundrum: how do we affect change within the confines of “the way it’s always been”? 

Following the careers of several prominent women in the country music industry, Her Country illuminates the challenges that women and marginalized groups face while navigating the ups and downs of a genre that is predominately geared towards a Conservative audience. Whether you’re familiar with the artists or not, this book offers a comprehensive and engaging rundown of the ins and outs of what it takes to become a country artist when you don’t fit the “traditional” mould. The trials and tribulations of Kacey Musgraves, Mickey Guyton, Maren Morris, and many other notable country artists who have come before and since will inspire any reader who knows what it feels like to push against archaic expectations in order to stay true to their own voices and experiences. 

What I found especially intriguing about this book was not only the way all the stories were woven together to highlight the similarities of the challenges each artist faced over the last two decades, but that Moss also goes to great lengths to address the differences between the intersectional obstacles they faced based on their gender, race, sexual preferences, and political opinions. 

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. More than ever, this book is an introduction to the ways that change can be possible, and a great conversation starter for how these artists have tried to make it. Read this book if you’re looking to feel inspired by some excellent country artists who have refused to take “no” for an answer. 

Her Country was released May 10, 2022.
Buy it online, or from your local bookstore.