Singer-songwriter Denitia, a native of Texas, was brought to tears the moment she heard Beyoncé’s smash country song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Denitia was drawn to the song not just because of its catchy, exciting banjo intro, but also because it represented a long deserved recognition of the great legacy of Black country music musicians.
Denitia, a Nashville native who was named one of CMT’s next country artists to watch earlier this year, said, “Beyoncé’s success in country music is shining a light on a history of Black folks in country music, in our creation, our contribution to the genre, in our being listeners and avid audience members of country music.” “We have been there from the start and we’re still there.”
Beyoncé’s entry into the genre is seen by experts and fans as a reclaiming and homage to the Black American tradition in country music and culture, a history that hasn’t received much attention in certain mainstream music circles. It is said that Beyoncé, who grew up in Houston, Texas, is following in the footsteps of other legendary Black artists in the country music genre who came before her.
From historical trailblazers like as Lesley “Esley” Riddle and Charley Pride to contemporary musicians like Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen, and Rhiannon Giddens who contributed to the song “Texas Hold ‘Em” on their banjos, an instrument of West African descent.
Francesca T. Royster, associate professor of English at DePaul University, where she teaches courses on Shakespeare, film, and Black feminism, stated, “Black artists have been creating the music that’s the roots of country, despite the fact that country music as an industry and often country music spaces like bars and festivals are primarily white.”
“The story that’s been told about country music is that it’s like this authentically white, nostalgic music, when in fact, Black, Indigenous, Latinx contributions are really important to the sound.”
On March 29, Beyoncé is scheduled to release Cowboy Carter, her much awaited country album. After making an unexpected cameo in a Super Bowl commercial, she dropped two new tracks, giving fans their first taste of the album to come. This album is the second of a trilogy that began with her very acclaimed 2022 album “Renaissance.”
The endeavor has generated a lot of excitement, and “Texas Hold ‘Em” has been a hit song on several music charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to be at the top of the Billboard Country Chart. Although the banjo used in the song has come to be recognized as a distinctive instrument, sound, and tradition in country music, Royster pointed out that it was initially created by and rooted in the music of Black people who were held in slavery.
Royster and other others see Beyoncé’s popularity as a reminder that “anyone can participate in this culture and not feel like a genre or creed of creative art form or way of storytelling is closed to them, regardless of their racial or ethnic identity.”
Beyoncé has been outspoken about her connections to Southern culture and country music throughout her career, hinting at the influence these genres have had. The country song “Daddy Lessons,” from her 2016 “Lemonade” album, was performed by her later that year at the Country Music Awards alongside The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks. She had no place on the largest platform in the nation, according to the racist response that quickly followed the well-received performance.
The history of exclusion in the country music industry is well-documented. According to a 2021 research, just 1% of the songs broadcast on country stations between 2002 and 2020 featured Black performers.
Her country CD has also received mixed reviews and a lackluster reception from some. Many country radio stations have received backlash from fans who claim that their favorite songs have not been played. One such station is KYKC in Oklahoma, which gained notoriety after turning down a listener’s request to play Beyoncé’s country song. According to General Manager Roger Harris, the request was turned down because the station was “unfairly targeted” and the label had originally classified it as belonging to the Pop and R&B genres.
Fans all around the world are still celebrating despite the uproar. Some, like Danielle Williams-Hooey and three of her pals, have even constructed a line dance routine to the music. They have posted clips of themselves dancing to the songs while wearing sparkly cowboy boots and hats.
The popularity of the songs should “trickle down” to other Black country singers, as noted by Texas instructor Williams-Hooey. “I really appreciated it because there are a lot of African American country artists that we don’t really know about, including myself,” she added. “In the end, talent is talent, regardless of the color of your skin.”
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.