Ken Burns Films

See how what was first called “hillbilly music” reaches new audiences through phonographs and radio, and launches the careers of country music's first big stars, the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

Watch as Nashville becomes the heart of the country music industry. The genre grows in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II as America falls in love with singing cowboys, Texas Swing and the Grand Ole Opry's Roy Acuff.

See how the bluegrass sound spreads in post-war America, and meet honky-tonk star Hank Williams, whose songs of surprisingly emotional depth are derived from his troubled and tragically short life.

Travel to Memphis, where Sun Studios artists Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley usher in the era of rockabilly. Ray Charles crosses America's racial divide by recording a country album. Patsy Cline shows off Music City's smooth new Nashville Sound.

See how country music reflects a changing America, with Loretta Lynn speaking to women everywhere, Merle Haggard becoming "The Poet of the Common Man" and audiences looking beyond race to embrace Charley Pride.

Learn how country music responds to a nation divided by the Vietnam War, as Army captain turned songwriter Kris Kristofferson sets a new lyrical standard, and artists like Bob Dylan and the Byrds find a recording home in Nashville.

Witness a vibrant era in country music, with Dolly Parton finding mainstream success; Hank Williams, Jr. and Rosanne Cash emerging from their famous fathers' shadows; and Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings launching the “Outlaw” movement.

Learn how “New Traditionalists” like George Strait, Randy Travis and the Judds help country music stay true to its roots. Witness both the rise of superstar Garth Brooks and the return of an aging Johnny Cash to the industry he helped create.

Though no longer on country radio, Bluegrass still has a core of avid fans. Marty Stuart tours with Lester Flatt and sometimes with the “Father of Bluegrass,” Bill Monroe. Back in his home state of Texas, Willie Nelson discovers a music scene in Austin, where a mixture of hippies and rednecks seem to get along and welcome offbeat artists like Nelson whose music becomes a hit. Ricky Skaggs has deep Bluegrass credentials, but his time with Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band inspires him to experiment with a sound combining the acoustic instruments of a string band with something more electric. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings launch the “Outlaw” movement, and Emmylou Harris bridges folk and rock with country music in a way that influences a new generation of artists.

Incarcerated men and women are admitted to the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) and discover they are held to the same academic standards as students on the Bard College main campus.

Students address the difficult circumstances of their past. The debate team preps to face the University of Vermont. Some make strides academically, while others are accused of breaking prison rules.

The debate team faces West Point. Seniors embark on their thesis projects. Rodney and Dyjuan's families visit, while Shawta reckons with her path to prison. Jule struggles to find work in New York.

The debate team faces Harvard. Most seniors complete thesis projects but Giovannie is sent to SHU and might not finish his. Students at Taconic and Eastern celebrate at graduation.