Line dancing, a joyful and communal activity, has graced dance floors for decades. Fueled by catchy music and the simple desire for a good time, this choreographed dance form, where groups move in unison, has seen waves of popularity, most recently sparked by social media trends like TikTok. While line dancing has historically paired with various music genres, including pop, disco, and R&B, it’s become intrinsically linked with the heart and soul of country music.
The connection deepened significantly in the 1980s, coinciding with country music’s own surge in mainstream appeal. The movie Urban Cowboy, starring John Travolta in 1980, acted as a major catalyst, igniting a renewed passion for line dancing, country music, and the associated country lifestyle. This momentum exploded in the 1990s, propelled by iconic songs like Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” The music video for this hit prominently featured line dancing, bringing the energetic dance style directly into homes. Networks like Country Music Television (CMT) and The Nashville Network (TNN) further cemented line dancing’s popularity, broadcasting it into living rooms across the nation during its commercial zenith in the 90s.
Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, opening its doors in 1994, became a landmark venue that capitalized on this dance craze. It even hosted The Nashville Network’s Wildhorse Saloon Dance Show, presented by Katie Haas, effectively delivering line dancing entertainment to a wide audience weekly. Though the Wildhorse Saloon recently closed after an impressive 30-year run to make way for new developments in downtown Nashville, line dancing’s legacy endures.
Today, line dancing remains a beloved pastime. Dance clubs and honky-tonks throughout the country continue to offer line dance lessons and dedicated spaces for enthusiasts to dance the night away. The enduring appeal of line dancing, especially when paired with infectious country rhythms, speaks to its ability to bring people together in a shared celebration of music and movement.
