Final answer:
The notion of combining country music with rock was not new in the 1990s; rock and roll's roots can be traced back to the 1950s with a fusion of diverse musical elements including country. Rock and roll helped to diminish racial barriers and contributed to desegregation efforts in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the idea of blending country music and rock was an entirely new concept in the 1990s is false. Rock and roll emerged in the 1950s as a combination of electric instruments with the sounds of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B. This new musical genre was a fusion of African American rhythm and blues with other musical styles, which white musicians like Elvis Presley also embraced, leading to a massive cultural shift. Additionally, by the 1980s, different regional sounds, including the blend of rock with other music genres, were already well-established.
The birth of rock and roll played a significant role in blurring racial lines and was instrumental in advancing towards ending certain types of segregation across the nation. It brought together white suburbanites and the music of black America, if only through the airwaves, creating a platform for interracial unity and understanding through shared musical tastes. The precedent for musical hybridization in American music, as seen in rock and roll, was set as early as the 19th century by Stephen Foster and continued to evolve through various musical genres including country, rock, blues, and jazz.