Wiktionary
n. A subgenre of country music that became popular during the 1970s, fusion older styles (such as honky tonk) with newer styles including rock and blues. Artists involved wrote their own material, demanded creative control of their music and adopted an "outlaw" image.
Wikipedia
Outlaw country is a subgenre of American country music, most popular during the 1970s and early 1980s, sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music. The music has its roots in earlier subgenres like honky tonk and rockabilly and is characterized by a blend of rock and folk rhythms, country instrumentation, introspective lyrics, and local flavor. The movement began as a reaction to the slick production, popular structures, and commercialization of the Nashville sound developed by record producers like Chet Atkins.
Early "outlaws" include Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, "Fifth Highwayman" Guy Clark, Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser, David Allan Coe, Sammi Smith, and Tanya Tucker. Other associated artists include Hank Williams Jr., the Eli Radish Band, Leon Russell, Townes Van Zandt, Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Earle, and Gary Stewart.
Outlaw Country is a Sirius XM Radio channel devoted to Outlaw country music, along with various related genres including classic honky tonk, alternative country and roots rock. It is carried on Sirius XM Radio channel 60 and DISH Network channel 6060.
Usage examples of "outlaw country".
The limiting factor here was the fact that Iran was still something of an outlaw country with surprisingly little in the way of air travel options.
Come down out of the outlaw country looking for something or other.
He had built an empire of land cattle, but he had also brought law into the outlaw country, brought schools and a post office, and the beginnings of thriving settlement.
And so the younger men joshed and argued as they headed for outlaw country.
On the border and in outlaw country, she had elected to run the saloon herself when she found it impossible to sell.