<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Hold your horses</h2>

Beyonce fans have spent the last two months waiting with bated breath. In February, she revealed a bold new direction. Her single Texas Hold 'Em embraced country musicA music genre that began in southern and southwestern USA. It often includes themes of working class American life. . It became a huge success.¹

Yet it also caused controversy. Country radio stations refused to play it, until fans forced them to change tack.

Last Friday, Beyonce launched her album Cowboy Carter. Listeners expected a country record. But Beyonce had wrong-footed them again.

Cowboy Carter is a 78-minute epic that takes country as its starting point to explore countless genresCategories of art, music or writing. of music, unified by Beyonce's voice.

It is a critical hit. Commentators have pointed out Beyonce's effect on country music. US vice president Kemala Harris tweeted at Beyonce: "You have redefined a genre and reclaimed country music's Black roots."

This is significant. Country is huge in the United States. But it is often associated with conservative politics as well as prejudiceAn idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality. . In 2021, country pop singer Morgan Wallen used a racist slurAn allegation that will harm someone's reputation. . He has remained popular since.

Cowboy Carter rejects this racism. It asks listeners to think about how Black American music relates to country. As Alex Abad-Santos writes in Vox, it allows "mainstream culture to acknowledge just how much country music owes its sound and history to Black artists".²

Others believe Beyonce has not really embraced country. A trio of country legends are relegated to spoken wordLanguage, especially poems, that is spoken out loud - not written or sung. interludes.³ Beyonce duets instead with fellow pop stars Miley Cyrus and Post Malone.⁴

Some even think Beyonce is turning to country for cynicalNot trusting in the goodness of others. reasons. According to Billboard, in the first half of 2023 country music consumption was up 20.3% year-on-year. Cowboy Carter is just part crest of a money-making wave.

Is this a cultural turning point? 

Yes: In recent years, country music has become associated with conservatism, racism and misogynyHatred of or discrimination against women. The term comes from the Ancient Greek "miso", meaning "hate", and "gyne", "woman".. Beyonce has helped America to rediscover that the genre can be positive and forward-thinking.

No: Anyone can wear a stetsonA famous American hat brand, often worn by cowboys. and shout "yeehaw". Beyonce is a clever businesswomen and going country is just her latest record-selling trick, just as two years ago she marketed herself as a dance diva.

Or... Country music is already enjoying a period in the limelight. Pop stars are queueing up for country collaborations. Cowboy Carter is not itself a turning point. But it is a part and a product of one.

Country music - A music genre that began in southern and southwestern USA. It often includes themes of working class American life.

Genres - Categories of art, music or writing.

Prejudice - An idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality.

Slur - An allegation that will harm someone's reputation.

Spoken word - Language, especially poems, that is spoken out loud - not written or sung.

Cynical - Not trusting in the goodness of others.

Misogyny - Hatred of or discrimination against women. The term comes from the Ancient Greek "miso", meaning "hate", and "gyne", "woman".

Stetson - A famous American hat brand, often worn by cowboys.