The term "honky-tonk" has been applied to various styles of 20th century American music. A
honky-tonk (also called a
honkatonk,
honkey-tonk, or
tonk) is the name given to a type of
bar that provides
country music for entertainment to its patrons. Bars of this kind are common in the
Southern and
Southwestern regions of the
United States, where country music is most popular. Many country music legends, such as
Loretta Lynn,
Merle Haggard,
Patsy Cline, and
Ernest Tubb began their careers as amateur musicians in honky-tonks.
