Country music may not come with the associative behavior of sex and drugs, as does its musical brother, rock ‘n’ roll, but it has no shortage of controversies and personality conflicts. From country music legends, to contemporary country artists who jab verbal pokers via social media, country musicians know how to throw down with the best of them. Here are eight of the biggest feuds in the world of country music, which range back 40-plus years. We’re talkin’ backstage fights, and lifelong bad blood.
8. Travis Tritt vs. Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus had one of the biggest hits in this history of country music. It was called “Achy Breaky Heart,” and it is as annoying as one might guess. The lyrics were trite, and the song was designed for fun, and boozin’. Some of the bigger names in the industry didn’t quite care for his song. This included Travis Tritt, who referred to Billy’s song as “frivolous,” and suggested it was not music that would do anything to advance country artists in the right direction. When Billy Ray accepted his Country Music Award for Single of The Year, he flipped the script, and told anyone who didn’t care for the song, “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares,” which are the lyrics, and title to Travis Tritt’s most popular song. In the long run, the two laughed about it, and have gone back to being buds.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
