Beyoncé is on a mission to reshape country music; with “Cowboy Carter,” she propels past limitations to break this conservative genre.
Beyoncé transitioned to country music with her 2024 album “Cowboy Carter,” a bold reinvention that challenged a genre historically dominated by white artists. Despite all the backlash, “Cowboy Carter” has amplified the voices of Black country artists and, in the same vein, celebrated the pioneers of country music like Linda Martell and Dolly Parton.
Notably, this is not the Houston-born singer’s first rodeo; her track “Daddy’s Lessons” from 2016’s “Lemonade” has that Texas element blended with the soothing tunes of New Orleans brass. However, it faced resistance and was rejected by the Grammy Country Committee when she submitted it for nomination. With “Cowboy Carter,” she commits completely to the genre in honour of her Southern heritage to reclaim and highlight Black contributions to country music.
This article examines her journey through the snare of resistance from the industry, her Grammy triumphs, and the impact of the musical revolution “Cowboy Carter.”
Key songs from the album
The Queen Bee has knocked down the doors of country music with her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” The 27-track ode is a fearless experiment that has charted impressively and reshaped perceptions of the genre.
“Texas Hold ’Em” was released as the lead single from “Cowboy Carter” on February 11, 2024. The track became a cultural phenomenon, with its infectious banjo riffs and Rhiannon Giddens’ viola, merging that country flavour with Bey’s signature sound to celebrate the resilience and Texas pride. “Texas Hold ‘Em” debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, making the “Halo” crooner the first Black woman to achieve this feat, and it also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
It was a juggernaut, amassing over 1.5 billion global streams by mid-2024 and contributing significantly to “Cowboy Carter’s” 1.5 billion worldwide streams. Its success was amplified by a viral TikTok dance trend, which the Queen Bee joined, and its radio airplay, though initially limited on country stations, grew after public outcry over alleged racial bias. The song earned her nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Song at the 2025 Grammys. However, some country purists argued that the song was still too pop to be country, highlighting the tension in her genre crossover.
Another “Cowboy Carter” single released alongside ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ was “16 Carriages.” The song was a surprise release and was first performed by the 43-year-old at the Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024. Though the track lacks that upbeat energy “Texas Hold ‘Em” possesses, the cool riffs from Robert Randolph’s steel guitar and Bey’s soulful vocals tell a story of the American singer’s childhood and her numerous sacrifices. The song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 38 on the Hot 100, with over 500 million global streams by late 2024. However, it received critical acclaim, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance and contributing to the album’s $50 million in revenue in its first year. “16 Carriages” was included in Spotify’s country playlists, a testament to Beyoncé’s versatility.
A standout collaboration from the album is her duet with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted.” A trade of harmonious verses between Bey and Cyrus and the slow guitar riffs evokes a Bonnie-and-Clyde romance. The country-pop track peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. “II Most Wanted ” won a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, thus marking Beyoncé as the first Black woman to win a country Grammy since the Pointer Sisters in 1975. Financially, it generated approximately $8 million in revenue, boosted by its crossover appeal on both country and pop radio. Critics have praised the chemistry between the artists, with Cyrus’s country lineage amplifying Mrs Carter’s narrative of breaking barriers in country music.
Cowboy Carter’s mixed reception
The 43-year-old made history at the 2025 Grammy Awards, earning 11 nominations and winning three major categories: Album of the Year, Best Country Album, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted.” She became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album and the first Black artist to win a country Grammy since the Pointer Sisters in 1975. Her Album of the Year win, presented by Taylor Swift, marked her as the fourth Black woman to claim the top prize, following Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, and Natalie Cole. Talk about career glory, and Queen Bey is your case study. With 99 career nominations and 35 wins, she is the most-nominated and most-awarded artist in Grammy history.
Despite these accolades, the “Crazy in Love” singer has faced significant resistance from the country music establishment. Her 2016 “Daddy Lessons” performance with The Chicks at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards drew record viewership but also sparked backlash from conservative fans who claimed she did not belong in the genre. Subsequently, the CMA removed promotional posts about her performance; this was widely criticized as capitulating to racist sentiments. This fuelled her resolve to create “Cowboy Carter.”
In a 2024 Instagram post, she revealed the album was inspired by an unwelcoming experience, stating, “It was born out of an experience where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” At the 2024 CMA Awards, “Cowboy Carter” was snubbed and ignored despite its chart dominance and cultural impact. This move sparked outrage from artists like Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson. But Post Malone received four CMA nominations for his white-pop country crossover 2024 album “F-1 Trillion.”
Country legends like Willie Nelson and Linda Martell collaborated on “Cowboy Carter,” rising Black artists like Shaboozey credited the “Texas Hold ‘Em” crooner for opening doors for him. His “A Bar Song” (Tipsy) topped the Hot 100 after his feature on her album. The American singer’s persistence and public pressure have challenged the racial and sadistic boundaries of country music, revealing the ongoing tensions between the singer and the Nashville association.
The success of Cowboy Carter
Bey tapped into her Black excellence to release a work of art, “Cowboy Carter,” on March 29, 2024. Her eighth studio album blends multiple elements: country, R&B, blues, folk, and hip-hop. It debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, Billboard Top Country Albums, and charts in 17 countries, earning her 11 nominations across multiple genres, including Americana and melodic rap, at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. The album is the third-most-nominated album in Grammy history, behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Quincy Jones’s “The Dude.”
With 1.5 billion global streams and $50 million in revenue in its first year, it has broken numerous records, including the most first-day streams for a country album by a female artist in Amazon Music’s history. The album made the mother of three the first Black woman to top the Top Country Albums chart, with streaming revenue increasing post-Grammy wins.
Critically, the 27-track album received universal acclaim; some critics praised the singer’s experimentation with different music genres, commending her ambition to celebrate Black cultural history, a Beyoncé album at its heart. The album’s collaborations with artists like Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, and Linda Martell boosted streams for artists like Martell and the 27-year-old Reyna Roberts featured on “Blackbird.”
The album’s cultural impact was profound; country music listeners increased by the day. Her influence extends to fashion, as Western boots and hats sold out quickly post-release. However, some critics, like The Washington Post’s Chris Richards, called the album “directionless,” stating that the fusion of multiple genres indicates a lack of clear focus.
The album received 11 Grammy nominations across multiple genres, including Americana and melodic rap, at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. The album is the third-most-nominated album in Grammy history, behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Quincy Jones’s “The Dude.” Tracks like “Texas Hold ’Em” and “Blackbird” quickly became fan favourites, with the former earning the American singer the Billboard Music Award for Top Country Song after CMA exclusion.
“Cowboy Carter” is about praising Black contributions to country music, opening doors for future artists, and revolutionising a genre slow to diversify. A tour to promote the album has already kicked off. In one of her shows, she brought her children, Blue Ivy and Rumi, on stage, and they were received with warmth by their mother’s BeeHive.
Cowboy Carter Tour
Queen B officially announced her tenth concert tour, the “Cowboy Carter Tour,” on February 2, 2025. The tour is called the “Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour.” It is her fifth stadium tour, which kicked off on April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and will conclude on July 26 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. The additional name “Chitlin’ Circuit” in the tour refers to a network of venues in the United States where African American musicians performed due to segregation enforced by Jim Crow laws.
The 43-year-old has played five shows in Inglewood, California; her next performance is at Soldier Field in Chicago on May 15. The 35-time Grammy winner will conclude the first leg of her “Cowboy Carter Tour” in North America with five shows at MetLife Stadium. She will head to Europe in June to play a series of shows in London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Stade de France in Paris. Bey will take the rodeo to her hometown, Houston; she will play two shows at the NRG Stadium on June 28 and 29.
The 32-show trek follows the “Renaissance World Tour”, which generated $579.8 million-in sales from Beyonce tickets, the highest-grossing tour by a female and Black artist. The tour’s setlist debuted at a Christmas 2024 NFL halftime show, which included “Cowboy Carter” hits like “Ya Ya,” “16 Carriages”, and “Texas Hold ’Em,” alongside fan favourites like “Crazy in Love,” “Daddy Lessons,” and “Formation.” The Guardian praised the opening night, describing the show as “a sweeping, theatrical spectacle that reclaims country music and reframes the American identity.”
When the pop diva takes the stage, the world stops. It is her commanding voice and unparalleled ability to transform each show into an unforgettable experience. Her wardrobe for the tour is a visual statement; collaborating with labels like Burberry, shoe designer Mugler, McQueen, and more, she has elevated the world of contemporary fashion. Her BeyHives and other country lovers have been out since day one to support their Queen Bey.
Beyond charts and awards, Beyoncé’s country album has reshaped the genre’s narrative. By centring on Black artists and history, “Cowboy Carter” challenged country music’s whitewashed image, highlighting pioneers like Linda Martell and amplifying newcomers like Shaboozey.
However, her journey exposes industry barriers; while the Grammys embraced her, Nashville’s gatekeeping, evident in CMA snubs and radio play resistance, reveals a genre slow to diversify. As she tours in 2025, her performances will likely cement her status as a transformative figure, not just in the country but in the evolution of music.
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