One genre that is not often considered “dance music” in most popular definitions of the term, is country music, specifically the genre of country written for line dancing. Strictly defined, however, line dancing music is music made specifically for dancing, hence “dance music”. It rose to its peak of popularity in American culture in the early 1990s, with the greatest part of the rise occurring in 1992.

 

• The first major line dancing hit, the one that brought the genre out of the Texas honky tonks and into the national limelight as a legitimate fad, was Boot Scootin’ Boogie by country superstar duo, Brooks and Dunn. This happened in 1992 and would be the very beginning of a massive trend that would send America back to its country roots and send cultural ripples throughout the world. Country went from being niche genre to being for many people from any cultures. The song was originally recorded by another country act, Asleep at the Wheel, before becoming Brooks and Dunn’s fourth straight number one hit.

 

• That same year the single most influential line dancing song was released. It was the song that defined the genre for many and to this day is the one that most identified with it. Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus was not only the singer’s most successful song, it was one that most helped the line dancing genre to achieve critical mass in 1992. It is a cover of a song by the Marcy Brothers from 1991.

 

• Another song that is strongly identified with the genre from that time is Travis Tritt’s T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Like the two songs above, it too was a cover of a song recorded in 1975 by Jerry Chesnut and originally sung by Elvis Presley.