Ken Burns Country Music on PBS: Series Overview
Ken Burns Country Music is an eight-part documentary series produced by Florentine Films and aired on PBS. The series premiered on PBS stations in the United States in September 2019, following the model of Burns's earlier landmark series such as The Civil War and Baseball. The project was developed in partnership with PBS member stations and major public television funders, with the primary goal of chronicling the history of country music from its folk and blues roots through modern commercial success. The series uses archival footage, interviews, and performances to trace the genre's evolution across nearly a century of American music history.
The documentary was executive produced by Ken Burns, Dayton Duncan, and Julie Dunfey, with original music by the series' central subject: country music itself. PBS stations across the country scheduled the series as a multi-night event broadcast, typically airing episodes over consecutive evenings to maximize viewer engagement. The production received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and various corporate and foundation sponsors, reinforcing its status as a major public television event. The series is also available for streaming and on-demand viewing through the PBS website and the PBS Video app.
Current PBS Broadcast Schedule for Ken Burns Country Music
PBS member stations set their own local broadcast schedules, but the national pattern for Ken Burns Country Music typically involves airing the series in prime time on weekday evenings. Most stations schedule the eight episodes across two weeks, with two episodes per night, though some markets spread the series over a longer window. The standard broadcast window is 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time, with local variations depending on station programming and pledge drive calendars. Viewers can check their local station's program guide or the national PBS schedule page for the exact airing times in their area.
For viewers who miss the initial broadcast, PBS stations often rerun Ken Burns Country Music during weekend daytime slots or late-night windows. The series is also scheduled for periodic encore presentations tied to fundraising campaigns, when stations receive additional support for airing the documentary. Streaming availability on the PBS website and app allows viewers to watch full episodes on demand, with individual episodes typically remaining accessible for several months after the initial broadcast window. The PBS schedule page and the PBS Video app provide the most up-to-date information on when and where the series is currently airing.
Where to Watch Ken Burns Country Music on PBS
To watch Ken Burns Country Music on PBS, viewers should first visit the PBS website at pbs.org and search for the series title in the schedule or video search tool. The PBS Video app, available on smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile platforms, also provides on-demand access to the full series, with episodes organized by part for easy navigation. Local PBS member stations may offer additional streaming options through their own websites or apps, so checking with your station directly can reveal alternative ways to access the content.
For viewers interested in the production background and funding details, the PBS corporate page at pbs.org/about provides information on how public television programming is supported by member stations and underwriters. The series is also cataloged in the Library of Congress public broadcasting archives, reflecting its status as a significant cultural documentary. Ken Burns has noted in interviews that the goal was to create a definitive televised history of country music, and the PBS broadcast schedule remains the primary way most audiences experience the series as intended.