Popular music in Australia was not limited to rock and pop. Australian fans support many other forms of popular music. One of the most notable is country music. Australian country music is a merging of Australian folk music and American Country and Western. Some of the first country acts out of Australia were Tex Morton and Slim Dusty. In the 1970s, The Bushwackers also became very popular. A few Australian country stars, such as Keith Urban, were able to break free of the Australian borders and make it big in other countries.
Another form of popular music in Australia is rhythm and blues (R&B). Although this genre is definitively American, many Australian musicians became heavily influenced by this music. The popularity of Australian R&B began with local covers of American songs. Eventually, Australian R&B performers developed their own unique style and became favourites around the world. Some examples include Daniel Merriweather, Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy.
The final form of popular music to come out of Australia is children’s music. Music targeted toward children developed slowly in Australia, beginning in the last half of the 20th century. Children’s performers were showcased on the popular television show Playschool. In the 1990s, the most popular children’s group in Australia was formed, The Wiggles. By 2008, The Wiggles had become the top-grossing entertainers in the country for four years running.