A little bit country

[Stav]

Where does the phase 'a little bit country' come from, and what does it mean?

[mikewith]

"I'm a little bit country"
"An' I'm a little bit rock an' roll"

So sang the immortal Donny & Marie Osmond. It was something of a signature tune for them and their 70s TV show, as I recall. Whether this is the first use of the term, I couldn't say, but in this context it means not only the obvious ('I like coutry music') but also perhaps a fondness for old-time, traditional values.