Country music is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern United States. Merle Haggard, a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, was an important figure in the development of the genre. Tanya Tucker is another influential country artist who has had a successful career since the 1970s. Pastorale is a type of country music that is characterized by its slow tempo and rural themes. National anthems are patriotic songs that are used to represent a nation or country.