I have to agree with others who said, "I didn't know it was dead"!!!
Music has always been important to me. I'm a rocker at heart. Grew up with some fantastic bands all over the radio in the 60's. The 70's were good, until disco came along. I never did like that. Sure hope it doesn't return ....but that's another story. I've listened mainly to classic rock for years, but nowadays it's the same thing. Nothing new, or not enough new stuff that can fit in the classic category. So I've tried the new stuff on pop stations. There are some good songs, but most I do not care for. Now, I think I'm open minded, as an example (I'm afraid this will make some of you cringe) I actually liked that M & M song about "Two Trailer Park Girls, go around the outside" or "Guess who's Back". Not sure of the name of it, but to me it was a catchy tune. He has a few others I kinda like. Overall, I don't care for rap. Most of it I can't understand what they are saying. And ....that brings back memories of what my parents would say about the Rock and Roll I listened to way back when I was young. Anyway, pop stations have way to much rap and other stuff I don't care to listen to, classic rock is same old, same old, so it gets boring to fast. I can't do the head banging hard rock stuff, just don't care for it. This carries over to VH1 and MTV. I used to enjoy seeing new videos on those channels but they hardly play them anymore. So I tried out CMT and GAC. I found I liked some of the new country ones. Seeing the videos helped me understand the songs and lie them better. Had I tried radio first I might never have made the switch. I've never been a country fan. I did like some of the crossover acts, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson for example. But hard core country was never my thing. To twangy for my taste. New country does not seem to be that way. It reminds me of the light rock or southern rock from back in the 70's to some extent. So, I'll always consider myself a rocker, but nowadays I listen to country as much as rock stations.
Have you heard the song 'Alcohol' ...it has a catchy line in it "helping white people dance". That slays me. To sum up I do not think today's country is anything like the old style country, but I like it. Just like pop music today is nothing like it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, country is not the same as it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, and I think it's a good thing.