2019-09-01 Emmy Magazine

TelevisionAcademy.com 91

Thetwopolesareasbasicassinandsalvation,Godandthedevil,

and,asthefilmmakerssay,“SaturdaynightandSundaymorning.”

B

URNS,THEDIRECTORANDAPRODUCEROFTHESERIES,SAYS

THATAFRIENDINDALLAS,BEARINGTHECOWBOY-ESQUENAME

OFCAPPY McGARR,GAVE HIMTHE IDEA.“Country musicis

quintessentiallyAmericantopic,andthat’sallthatwedo.Wepickstorie

aboutAmericanhistory.Actually,asI gotintothis,I wassurprisedthat

didn’tdoit earlier.”

DaytonDuncan,whowrotetheseriesandalsoproducedwithBurn

andJulieDunfey,recalls,“CappyaskedKen,‘Haveyoueverthoughtabou

doing a series on country music?’ And Ken said, ‘Well, I did one on jazz

SATURDAY

NIGHT

SUNDAY

MORNING



The newest Ken Burns opus, Country Music,

explores the duality of a very American genre —

from the rockin’ sounds of the roadhouse to the

righteous tones of church and home.

BY WILL FRIEDWALD

COURTESY OF CARTER FAMILY MUSEUM

The original Carter Family, circa 1930:

A.P., Sara and Maybelle (with guitar)