Great Artists In American Roots Music (OOL)
Osher Online | Registration opens Sunday, August 16, 2026 2:00 PM
From its emergence amid rapid cultural change in the early 20th century, country music has resonated with people who feel left behind by a shifting world. A key genre of American roots music, it captures hardships of modern life while intentionally evoking emotional response. Whether facing troubled relationships, unemployment, homelessness, loneliness, or spiritual bereft, there is a country song for you.
This course traces the history of country and American roots music through the stories and artistic developments of influential performers. Each session highlights key figures including the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton.
Program Meets each Monday, SEPTEMBER 28 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2 at 10 am CT
Each live session is 90 minutes
Monday, September 28
Monday, October 5
Monday, October 12
Monday, October 19
Monday, October 26
Monday, November 2
As this class is delivered by the National Resource Center for OLLIs (NRC) at Northwestern University, you will receive a welcome email from osheronline@northwestern.edu. The email will include your credentials (username & password) as well as a hyperlink to the Osher Online Website through which you will access your course website. Please save the link once you receive it. Multi-session courses will use this same link each week.
Taylor Ackley
Taylor Ackley, PhD, is a scholar, composer, and performer of American Roots music. He holds a PhD and a master’s degree in composition, and a master’s in ethnomusicology from Stony Brook University. Ackley is an independent scholar and professional musician based in northwestern Montana and is writing his first book, Hearing Class. A singer and multi-instrumentalist, he has performed nationwide, released four albums, and presented at major conferences in music, sociology, and ethnomusicology.