Settlers who immigrated from Scotland and Ireland to the Appalachian area of the United States brought with them folk music that became the foundation of bluegrass.
Kentucky is a part of the Appalachian area; other states include North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Bluegrass music was given its name because of Bill Monroe, a Kentucky native who is known as the founding father of bluegrass. Since Kentucky is called the bluegrass state, this style of music was similarly named.
Bill Monroe and his brother Charlie formed the Monroe Brothers and became popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Later, Bill formed his own band called Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys.
Bluegrass draws not only from Scotch-Irish music but also from country and old-time gospel music.