Country Music Highway

Story of the Byway

The 144 mile Country Music Highway, which follows US Route 23, recognizes all the well-known country music stars that came from this area such as Loretta Lynn, Wynonna & Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Gary Stewart, Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle and more. While visitors may come to see the history of those stars, they will soon come to realize that the entire region is steeped in cultural and musical history.

There are many opportunities to hear the sounds of all types of music at venues along the Country Music Highway. The byway begins north in Greenup County. Here, visitors can discover the brand new amphitheater at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park. As the byway continues south, the route enters into Boyd County, home of the historic Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky. This venue launched the careers of Billy Ray Cyrus and The Judds. Billy Ray's famous "Achy Breaky Heart" video was also filmed there. Today, visitors can still stop by for a performance, many of them well under $50. The byway continues to Johnson County, home to two famous venues, the Mountain Homeplace Amphitheater and the Country Music Highway Museum. On Thursdays, visitors can enjoy a bluegrass performance at the Country Music Highway Museum and visit the 14 exhibits honoring the country music stars who inspired the byway. Moving further south to Floyd County, in the city of Prestonsburg, visitors will find the Mountain Arts Center, home to the professional entertainment ensemble, Billie Jean Osborne's Kentucky Opry. As the byway continues to Letcher County, visitors should be sure to stop by the multi-purpose facility, Appalshop, a quaint theater that features many Appalachian and bluegrass concerts.

Towards the end of the byway, visitors can find the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center, located in Pike County, which was designed as a multi-purpose facility that is available for concerts, conventions and special events. In addition to the above venues there are countless shows and festivals that feature the sounds and talents of the region. Visitors can’t miss a taste of the music!

The Country Music Highway is not only about country music. When visitors travel the Country Music Highway, they can also learn about Native Americans, pioneers, the Civil War, and the coal mining industry. The history of Eastern Kentucky has been shaped by those who, early on in the nation's history, began searching for land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Not long thereafter, as a result of being a border state between the North and South, sections of the area became battlegrounds for the Civil War such as the Middlefield National Battlefield.

As the area began to develop and grow, coal mining became an essential chapter in Kentucky, and still is. This area is well known for a very notable feud - The Hatfield-McCoy Feud, which became a nationally known event. While on the trail of feuders, pioneers, or miners, the area along Country Music Highway is full of natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The region is blessed with six beautiful State Parks from Greenbo Lake State Resort Park in Greenup County to Kingdom Come State Park in Letcher County. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Floyd County also features Broadway type musicals at Jenny Wiley Theatre.

Welcome to one of the most beautiful and historic places in the nation. As visitors travel along the Country Music Highway, and meet the friendly folks of this Appalachian region, they will quickly realize that they have found a hidden treasure. The key to a successful visit in this region is to make sure visitors have enough time to see and hear it all!