Why? Because it's got at least a sliver of authenticity.

 They either recorded songs they wrote or ones that reflected their life experience. It's even moreso today. When Whiskey or Turnpike or Cody record a song, it reflects their own experience or someone they know. They may take poetic license but it does reflect their experience.

Country music is best when it's close to the people listening to it. It has to provide an experience familiar to the listener. I don't like rap but it's probably the only other genre that does the same thing.

Nashville doesn't care. As long as they're making money off their formula they'll stay the course. It takes something like T Bone Burnett and the Cohn Brothers to move them off center (without “Oh, Brother” there is no bluegrass resurgence).

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