The 82-year-old country singer released his signature song "God Bless the USA, which is also known as "Proud to Be an American," in 1984.
Profane Ryder Cup hecklers reflected a broader American culture that has grown coarser, meaner and more polarized.
As a child of a certain era in Texas, I grew up on a certain brand of country music. Kenny Rogers, Alabama, the Oak Ridge Boys. I listened to Dolly Parton before she was retro cool.