It was popularised by artists like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton in the fifties and sixties . But now it would appear country music is more popular than ever . Chart history was made on Sunday as the first ever home-grown British country act shot into the top ten with a debut album . Scroll down for video . The Shires , comprised of Crissie Rhodes from Bedfordshire and Ben Earle from Hertfordshire , made it to tenth place in the Official UK Album Chart . The feat follows the meteoric rise of US country star Taylor Swift who has had two number one albums in the UK . Relatively unknown until now , The Shires , comprised of Crissie Rhodes from Bedfordshire and Ben Earle from Hertfordshire , made it to tenth place in the Official UK Album Chart with their debut album Brave . The pair , both aged 26 , overtook established band Hozier and came just behind Paloma Faith when the results were announced on Sunday . Their position sees them sit alongside big names such as Kelly Clarkson , Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith in the charts . Their feat has been described as ‘ truly remarkable ’ for a country band and is evidence the genre is shifting eastwards from its heartland in Nashville , Tennessee . Country band The Shires now sit alongside the likes of Paloma Faith and Ed Sheeran ( pictured ) in the charts . Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot said : ‘ This is a fantastic feat by this young British country duo . No UK country act has ever made this kind of impact on the chart before – it is truly remarkable. ’ BBC Radio 2 ’ s Bob Harris added : ‘ I ’ ve been doing the country show for 15 years now , and in the whole of that time I ’ ve never known things to be quite as exciting as they are today . Country is now appealing to a completely new , young generation. ’ The genre has experienced a renaissance in recent years . Last year Dolly Parton returned to perform at Glastonbury to huge critical acclaim .
Country band The Shires make it into the Official Album Chart 's top 10 . Duo are first ever British country act to shoot into charts with debut album . Pair overtook Glastonbury and finished just behind Paloma Faith yesterday .