Over the course of her nearly three-decade career,Beyoncéhas transcended the concept of genre. Her years as a founding member of Destiny’s Child saw herdominate the charts as the group fused the sounds of pop and R&B. When she went solo, the Houston native remained a strong force on top 40 and rhythmic radio — her southern soul and top-notch vocals setting her apart from her peers at the time. Bey hasnever been defined bya single genre or sound, having experimented with pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, and country across several albums. Given her diverse musical palate,Bey was always bound to release a country album.
A year ago, Bey dropped her country-influenced albumCowboy Carter. The album featuredcountry legends likeWillie Nelson,Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell, — and also spotlightedrising country acts like Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and more. The album fared well among the critics, and later earned herBest Country Album and Album of the Yearat the 67th Annual Grammy Awards this past February. Despite its acclaim,Cowboy Carterhas proven polarizing among the country music community.
Too Country, Or Not Country Enough?
InApril 2016, Bey released her sixth studio album,Lemonade. Over 12 tracks, she details aharrowing journey of betrayal at the hands of a loved one, and recovery from heartache. One of the album’s standout tracks is“Daddy Lessons,” a country-influenced songon which she recalls warnings from her father about untrustworthy men.
Seven months later, sheperformed “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks at the CMA Awards. The performance would later receivebacklash from country music fans, many of whom said that because she wasn’t a country artist, she had no business performing at the CMA Awards. Following the backlash,the CMA Awardsremoved video footage of the performancefrom its official website, and fans of Bey believed this move wasrooted in racism.
Nearlyeight years after the performance, Bey released a pair of country singles — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” — during a commercial break in the Super Bowl LVIII broadcast. A social media teaser revealed a release date for the second act of the trilogy she had worked on during the COVID-19 pandemic, — a then-untitledCowboy Carter. With Act I,Renaissance, being a dance album, fans of Bey were excited to see how she’d reinvent the country sounds on Act II. Within a week, “Texas Hold ‘Em” wasNo. 1 on theBillboardHot 100 chart.
In true Bey fashion, she kept the details of the album mum until the actual release. But in the days leading up to the drop, she shared howCowboy Cartercame to be. 10 days beforeCowboy Carter’srelease, Bey took toInstagram, revealing in a post thatthe album “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t.”Many fans believed that Bey was alluding to the 2016 CMA Awards. Though she had never directly spoken on the backlash she received at the time, Bey clearly did not let this bring her down.
“[B]ecause of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Bey wrote. “It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Cowboy Carteropens with“Ameriican Requiem,”on which shereflects over the criticisms she’s faced in her career.“They used to say I spoke too country / Then the rejection came, they said I wasn’t country enough,” she sings, echoing the sentiments with which she’s become all too familiar.
The Response From Country Artists
With co-signs from the likes of Nelson, —- who recorded interludes for the album, — as well as Parton, who appears on a song and interlude, and gave Bey her blessing to cover her song, “Jolene,” —Cowboy Carterwas surely bound to be a success in the realm of country. But some artists weren’t having it.
Following his performance at Rodeo Houston 2024,country singerHardytook to Instagram to seemingly shade Bey, writing “Didn’t see Beyoncé at the rodeo.” TheBeyhive flooded the commentscoming to her defense. Bey has often said that some of her fondest memories took place at Rodeo Houston, but some country artists and fans have called this into question, especially as she’s dialed back her presence in the public.
SingerLuke Bryanmade a similar comment in October 2024, after Bey andCowboy Carterdidn’t receive any CMA Awards nominations for the 2024 ceremony. During an interview onSiriusXM’sAndy Cohen Live, Bryansuggested that Bey make more appearances within the country music landscape. “[I]f you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit,” Bryan said, further suggesting that Bey “come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family, too.” Once again, the Beyhive was not having this.
After facing backlash from Beyoncé’s fan base, Bryan wrote onX (formerly Twitter)to clear up his comments. “I feel in my heart I could not let media create a false narrative,” he said. “As I read thru [sic] the comments of some of you I just want to say that I encourage all of you to listen to the interview instead of reading click bait headlines. You will hear my tone and intentions which were not negative. I respect Beyoncé and I love how loyal her fans are. I spend a lot of time supporting other artists. I want everyone to win. Love yall.”
Other artists, likeReba McEntirehad nothing but positive things to say about Beyoncé andCowboy Carter. “I think she’s wonderful and we’re glad to have her in Country,” said McEntire in a video captured byTMZ.
Following this year’s Grammy’s,Lainey Wilson, — who was also nominated for Best Country Album for herWhirlwindalbum — sang Bey’s praises in an interview with a United Kingdom television station. “I got an opportunity to meet [Beyoncé] at the Grammys,” Wilson said, “and I walked up to her like seven-foot tall security guy and I’m like, ‘Can I meet her?’ We both share a deep appreciation for what each other does and I think that she’s introduced a lot of people to the country genre that maybe ever even knew that they liked it, and country’s on fire right now.”
Artists likeDarius Rucker,Kelsea Ballerini, and Old Crow Medicine Show have also vocalized their support for Beyand her pivot into country — the lattermost has even covered “Texas Hold ‘Em” during tour stops.
The Country Influence Was Always Strong
This past Christmas, Bey performed a medley of songs fromCowboy Carterduring the halftime portion of the the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL game, broadcast on Netflix. In parts of the performance, she stood atop a car witha license plate that read “BNCNTRY”— perhaps a nod to an essay forTimepenned by Taylor Crumpton titled“Beyoncé Has Always Been Country.”
Bey’s day-one fan base will posit that Bey has always included elements of country in her music. “Church Girl”from 2022’sRenaissancefuses gospel with southern soul sounds. Equally as powerful are 2013’s“Heaven,”the video for which also recalls Bey’s southern church upbringing, and 2011’s “Start Over,”which features Bey belting over an energetic stomp-clapping beat. Many fans can also recall Bey showing her prowess for country and rock on the 2006s song,“Suga Mama.”Even Destiny’s Child’s 2004 hit single“Soldier”hasBey, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williamslooking for boys that“always be talking that country slang we like.”
So a move into country music wasn’t anything new or out of left field for Beyoncé — but rather,something that was always written in the stars.
The Impact — The Numbers Don’t Lie
Despite a few haters, there’s no denying that the people have beenlistening toCowboy Carter. The albumdebuted at No. 1 on theBillboard 200and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA. Though Bey hasn’t released any music videos forCowboy Carter’s songs, she’s kept the album’s era alive.
HerChristmas Day performance pulled in 27 million live viewers, which made the game the most-watched Christmas Day NFL game on record since 2001. And this chapter in her career isn’t over.
Beginning this April, Bey will embark on theCowboy Carter Tour, which will kick off in Inglewood, California, and run through September, before wrapping in Las Vegas in September.
No matter how many naysayers may come her way,Bey remains Texas strong,riding the highs ofCowboy Carteras it continues to make a timeless impact. If that ain’t country, tell me, what is?
