100 Years of Country Music History
By Abby Monteil, Stacker News
On 4/10/21 at 9:00 AM EDT
Over the past century, the country music genre has become one of the most popular and recognizable within the American music industry. It first originated in the early 1900s, particularly among working-class Southern Americans. Elements of fiddle songs, ballads, banjo, jazz, and blues became entangled together, leading to its official recognition as a genre (often referred to as hillbilly music ) by the 1920s.
From there, country music grew roots in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, where the Grand Ole Opry radio and television show launched the careers of icons like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. It was also the place where the genre had its Big Bang moment, when talent scout Ralph Peer began to scout Southern talent and came away with legendary acts that would continue to shape the genre and put Nashville on the map as Music City.
50 U.S. Cities With the Dirtiest Air
By Tiffany Onyejiaka, Stacker News
On 3/14/21 at 8:00 AM EDT
Almost half of all Americans 45.8 percent, or 150 million people live in counties with unhealthy air quality, according to the American Lung Association s 2020 State of the Air report. Poor air quality, including unhealthy ozone or particle pollution, can lead to respiratory issues that are known to shorten lifespans, contribute to the risk of lower birth weight in newborns, and cause myriad tangential health problems.
Despite this knowledge, the number of people living amid unsafe air quality continues to grow; 2020 numbers are up from 134 million people reported in 2018. To learn more about where in the country the air is the dirtiest, Stacker analyzed the 2019 Air Quality Statistics Report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), released in May 2020. From there, we compiled a list of the 50 cities with the dirtiest air.
50 Famous Songs About Every State
By Annalise Mantz, Stacker News
On 2/12/21 at 8:00 PM EST
Every state has an ode in song. California s sandy beaches and green valleys have inspired tracks by Tupac Shakur, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beach Boys, and Johnny Cash. Empire State of Mind and Welcome to New York are only two of the recent additions to the peck of songs celebrating New York s Big Apple. Country tunes abound with Texas pride.
Gijsbert Hanekroot / Getty Images
But all states have songs written about them, and every state has an official state song except for New Jersey, perhaps because it would force the state to decide between native sons Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.
These Are the 100 Best Public High Schools in America
By Lexi Pandell, Stacker News
On 1/27/21 at 8:00 PM EST
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a 96 commencement address at Wellesley College, Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead. If that s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 56.4 million students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in 2020; and there are almost 24,000 public high schools in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics.