I don't think I can sincerely enjoyed the genre of Country music as a whole since 2001. I mean, I've enjoyed an occasional country song here and there (and pledged my allegiance to Carrie Underwood), but I think 2001 was the peak for me as an individual when I enjoyed Country music more than any genre.
I remember when my grandparents were building their new house, its all we would listen to while we painted or varnished or whatever, and I would LOOONG for my favorite songs to come on. "Burn" by JoDee Messina, "When God Fearin Women Get The Blues" by Martina McBride and my absolute favorite country song of all time "Lucky For You" by SheDaisy to come on and their follow up singles and a few other memorable #s.
I'd sit around and watch GAC waiting for the videos to come on as well.
I always casually grew away from the genre because the music became more and more lackluster to me. There were always my favorites (mainly the Dixie Chicks, loved them, always will) who could release anything and I would listen to it.
Over the years, certain songs always jumped out at me, most notably:
-Gretchen Wilson's debut album was ace
-"Girls Lie Too" by Terri Clark
-Sugarland---period
-"Red Ragtop" by Tim McGraw
and the most successful country song on my chart ever, "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" by LeeAnn Rimes.
I've been more accepting of the genre lately as I have found artists/songs that catch my ear, but in the current Top 40, its really bleak:
5 6 MIRANDA LAMBERT White Liar Columbia Nashville 2009 3777 4537 -760
10 9 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Temporary Home 19/Arista 2009 3584 3410 174
11 11 EASTON CORBIN Little More Country ... Mercury 2009 3643 3522 121
17 14 LADY ANTEBELLUM American Honey Capitol Nashville 2009 2681 2354 327
16 16 TAYLOR SWIFT Fearless Big Machine 2008 2391 2268 123 123
19 17 KELLIE PICKLER Didn't You Know How ... 19/BNA 2006 2275 2114 161
45 36 REBA I Keep On Loving You Starstruck/Valory 2009 622 314 308
And I am really forcing myself to like that Easton Corbin song for, um, other reasons
But I agree with you Zack, when I was kid, Country music was my main genre and its all I would listen to, but as I grew up, the songs got worse and worse, and right now, it seems as if its just crap now.