Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to rule Top Country Albums
Beyoncé is ruling the hearts and charts with her latest album Act II: Cowboy Carter! The Grammy-winning artist has rewritten history, becoming the first Black woman to claim the top spot on the Top Country Albums chart, according to Billboard. Despite her own assertion that it "ain't a country album," it has not only dominated the country charts but also reached number one on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. This marks the eighth time that Beyoncé has achieved this feat.
Why does this story matter?
Released on March 29, Act II marks the eighth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and serves as the second installment of her trilogy project, following Renaissance (2022). Beyoncé conceived Cowboy Carter as a journey through a "reinvention of Americana," shedding light on the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers. Debuting at No. 1 in countries worldwide, it features collaborations with lesser-known country artists like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Tiera Kennedy, among others.
'Texas Holds 'Em' single topped Hot Country Songs chart before
The album is supported by the chart-topping co-lead singles Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages. Earlier, Beyoncé achieved the top spot on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with the former single, making history as the first Black woman to have a country song reach No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts. This success comes amid ongoing discussions about her role in country music, given that she is not a traditional country artist.
Massive impact 'Cowboy Carter' created on Black musicians
With the release of Cowboy Carter, Black country musicians reportedly experienced a surge in listenership. Linda Martell—the first commercially successful Black female country artist—saw a remarkable 127,430% increase in streams of her music after being featured on the album. Other Black female country musicians, including Reyna Roberts (250%), Rissi Palmer (110%), and Adell (188%), also witnessed significant increases in streams. Additionally, musicians like Adia Victoria, Amira Unplugged, Spencer, Mickey Guyton, Rhiannon Giddens, and Sacha Visagie saw heightened demand.
'It was born out of an experience': Inspiration behind album
Interestingly, Queen Bey earlier revealed that the creation of Cowboy Carter spanned over half a decade. She shared in a social media post, "It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcome...and it was very clear that I wasn't." This statement likely refers to the backlash she faced after performing Daddy Lessons with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards.
Glance: Beyonce's deep roots in country music
Apart from her "personal experience," Beyoncé's connection to country music is also deeply ingrained in her upbringing in Houston, a city known for its rich country music culture. Her family has roots in the American South; her father was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and her mother comes from Galveston, Texas. These ties have played a significant role in shaping her unique sound that merges various musical genres.