Until the first recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, the mountain music of Kentucky and Virginia was limited to rural communities. ""Down From the Mountain"" traces history of country music from Clinch Mountain to the sophisticated modern bluegrass of Alison Krauss and the resurgence of roots music sparked by the success of the film O Brother Where Art Thou?.

The roots of Nashville's position at the heart of country music lie with the honky tonk heroes who moved from the bars of the Southeast to the Grand Ole Opry. ""The Road to Nashville"" moves from the inspired and mournful sound of Hank Williams to the birth of Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley's smoother ""Nashville Sound,"" in response to the rise of rock 'n' roll.

With the advent of the Nashville country -- pop style, the roostier end of country began to emerge in places as disparate as Bakersfield, Calif. and Austin, Texas. ""Beyond Nashville"" examines the rise of these newer stars and their legacy in the contemporary alt country genre.

While acts such as Shania Twain or the Dixie Chicks sell millions, it's easy to forget that women's dominance in country has been an uphill struggle. ""Sweethearts of the Rodeo"" tells the story from the original cowgirl, Patsy Montana, to the outspoken big-haired icons of the '60s and '70s and today's stars including Gillian Welch.