Explore how Beyoncé’s latest chart-topping country hits redefine music history, breaking barriers in a genre with deep roots in Black musical traditions.
Beyoncé has made history once again, becoming the first Black female artist to achieve a No. 1 country song, as confirmed by Billboard on Tuesday.
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Just over a week after release, her tracks “Texas Hold ‘Em” claimed the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, while “16 Carriages” secured the 9th position. This achievement not only underscores her status as an R&B and hip-hop icon but also highlights her influence in a genre with historical ties to Black musical traditions that have often excluded Black artists, particularly Black women.
Released on February 11 and teased in a Super Bowl commercial, these songs precede Beyoncé’s upcoming album, a sequel to her 2022 release “Renaissance,” set to debut in March. Beyoncé now stands as the first woman to lead both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since their inception in 1958.
While Beyoncé isn’t the initial Black female country singer, her success on the country charts emphasizes the historically white and male dominance in the genre. Over recent decades, women of color, recognizing country music’s roots in Black musical traditions, have sought to carve a space for artists who reflect the genre’s diversity.
Amanda Marie Martinez, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, notes the historical influence of Black people on prominent country instruments, like the fiddle and banjo. Despite these roots, early 20th-century country radio primarily featured white artists, solidifying a narrative that persisted for decades.
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As the genre and its audience evolve, advocates like Rissi Palmer and Mickey Guyton push for increased visibility for Black country musicians. Many anticipate that Beyoncé’s forthcoming country album will redefine perceptions of what it means to be a country artist, contributing to a more inclusive cultural consciousness.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” not only secures Beyoncé‘s seventh unique No. 1 spot on various charts but also positions her as a trailblazer in reshaping the narrative of country music. (As of now, only Justin Bieber surpasses Beyoncé with eight unique No. 1 songs across charts, according to Billboard.)