Gospel

Gospel sits near the centre of Branson’s musical identity rather than off to one side. Most of the town’s country and variety shows include a gospel segment, and several productions are built around it entirely.

Six titles are gathered here. The Oak Ridge Boys carry the most name recognition – a group whose catalog runs from southern gospel roots into mainstream country. Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel is explicit about working both traditions in a single show. Ozarks Gospel, New South Gospel and Down Home Country keep to the four-part harmony tradition, and Smoke on the Mountain tells its story through a 1930s church singing convention, which puts it closer to musical theater than to a concert.

Worth knowing: because gospel segments turn up inside so many other Branson shows, this list is narrower than the amount of gospel music actually playing in town on a given night. If you want more of it, the country and variety listings are the places to look.