You can understand the words and they tell of life's experiences, to which many of us can relate. It has melody lines you can remember and sing along with. I'm talking about older stuff. Much of the newer country music is not REALLY much country, more rock/pop.
There is certainly a place for everything, I try hard not to put down any genre. Except rap and songs with filthy words.
I actually do quite a number of songs that could be considered light jazz and standards.