I'm certain it was intended in jest, but the fact is that Ray Charles' favorite music was a tie between country and gospel. He recorded two blockbuster albums of his country favorites, from which several of his biggest songs of all time came.
Also, when Chuck Berry was performing around the St. Louis area early in his career, he billed himself and his group as a "country act". He didn't know any better...that's what he thought he was playing. When you listen, he may have a point. Anyway, Leonard Chess didn't see things that way, of course, and Chuck was re-billed.