Dixie Chicks leading the way for a return to country traditionalism.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

At a time of instant TV pop idols, computer-generated movies and airbrushed pop masquerading as country music, it might be foolhardy to suggest that traditionalism is back.

After all, it seemed it would take a miracle _ or a miracle of marketing _ to make traditional country, the rhythms of white-lightning America's hills and hollers, hip again in a mocha-latte world. But it has happened.

The Dixie Chicks, after returning to the fiddle-and-banjo sound they once played on Dallas street corners, recently held the No. 1 spot on the album chart for three weeks with "Home." Its success treads in the bestselling path of last year's "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," the surprise hit soundtrack that has sparked a roots revolution.

All of a sudden, country veterans Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs have viable careers again, this time by performing the bluegrass music of their youth.

Even pop/rock veterans Bruce Springsteen ("The Rising") and James Taylor ("October Road") find themselves sidling up to combative rapper Eminem and British modern rock act Coldplay in the Billboard Top 10. These boomer faves are moving records like they did in the good ol' days by releasing albums that sound like they were recorded 25 years ago.

Natalie Cole has also gone the traditional route, returning to her family's roots by cutting a jazz vocal album. The resulting "Ask a Woman Who Knows" enters the Billboard 200 at a healthy No. 32 this week.

But it's in country where this trend is most pronounced. This resurgence is all very exciting for the artists and fans, but the return to realism came at a price. Industry experts say renewed interest in American roots music is partly due to the events of Sept. 11 and the struggling economy.