I watched the final episode of the Ken Burns documentary several days ago, but I'm still noticing the songs I Saw The Light or I'm So Lonely I Could Cry or May The Circle Be Unbroken etc. constantly repeating in my mind when I awake or I'm in the shower or doing some task without other music on.
The best things about the doc, for me, were the many great songs, the revealing details of life stories I hadn't known (Minny Pearl was actually a refined upper-class college-educated actress?), and the incredible musicianship displayed by so many.
What I missed was some expert analysis of that musicality and history (the one historian was used sparingly) and especially of the racial and political impact and connections to the music (mentioned sparsely and not in much detail).
The use of photos and footage showing Nixon and Reagan and Bush senior in connection with the music demanded a deeper analysis of why the music's association with wealthy and powerful politicians seemed confined to conservatives when the modern presidents with the deepest connections to the birthplaces of country music—Carter and Clinton—were ignored. Could it be because their party supported and promoted policies beneficial to minorities and civil rights?
Still, it was worth watching for the music.
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