Is this a cultural turning point? Beyoncé’s new record Cowboy Carter dives into country music. In America it has prompted furious debate on this controversial genre and its history.
The new Beyonce album dividing America
Is this a cultural turning point? Beyonce's new record Cowboy Carter dives into country music. In America it has prompted furious debate on this controversial genre and its history.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Hold your horses</h2>
It was just a normal Tuesday morning for the DJs at KYKC, a small country musicA music genre that began in southern and southwestern USA. It often includes themes of working class American life. station in OklahomaA state in the south-central USA.. A listener emailed asking to hear Beyonce's new single, Texas Hold 'Em. The station issued a sharp response. "We do not play Beyonce at KYKC as we are a country music station."
Case closed. But the listener posted the response message on X, formerly known as Twitter. It was viewed by 3.6 million users. The BeyhiveA slang term for fans of the singer Beyonce. bombarded KYKC with complaints. The station was forced to relent.
Beyonce was now a country artist. Shortly afterwards, she became the first Black woman to top the country chart.1
Soon after, Beyonce revealed her new album Cowboy Carter would be inspired by country. Its cover shows the singer riding a horse, wearing a red, white and blue one-piece and stetsonA famous American hat brand, often worn by cowboys. . She holds an American flag like a rodeoAn exhibition or competition in which cowboys show their skills. queen.
Yet when the record was released last Friday, listeners discovered that 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. Tracks draw on gospelIn the Bible, a teaching of Christ. Also a genre of Christian music. (Ameriican Requiem), hip hop (Tyrant), rock n roll (Ya Ya) and 18th Century opera (Daughter). Beyonce wrote: "This ain't a Country album. This is a 'Beyonce' album."
It is a critical hit. Commentators have been keen to point out Beyonce's effect on country music. US vice president Kamala 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 and prejudice. In 2021, country pop singer Morgan Wallen used a racist slur while drunk. He apologised. But he opened up debate on whether country music was racist.
Cowboy Carter tacitly rejects the racism present in the country scene. It asks listeners to think about the relationship between Black American genres and 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
Yet others believe Beyonce has not really embraced country. A trio of country legends are relegated to spoken word interludes.3 Beyonce duets instead with fellow pop stars Miley Cyrus and Post Malone.4
Some accuse Beyonce of turning to country for cynical reasons. Pop has had one eye on country since Lil Nas X's 2018 mega-hit Old Town Road. Last year Wallen broke the record for most weeks at number one for a song by a single artist.5 According to Billboard, in the first half of 2023 country music consumption was up 20.3% year-on-year.
Lana del Ray and Post Malone are preparing to release country-facing music this year. Ed Sheeran has said he wants to "transition into country". Cowboy Carter is merely the crest of a money-making wave. As country guitar virtuosoSomebody who is highly skilled in music, or another form of art. Yasmin Williams says: "It feels as though Beyonce has put the Carter before the horse."
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 stetson and shout "yeehaw". Beyonce is an astuteHaving the ability to assess a situation quickly and take advantage of it. 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.
Oklahoma - A state in the south-central USA.
Beyhive - A slang term for fans of the singer Beyonce.
Stetson - A famous American hat brand, often worn by cowboys.
Rodeo - An exhibition or competition in which cowboys show their skills.
Genres - Categories of art, music or writing.
Gospel - In the Bible, a teaching of Christ. Also a genre of Christian music.
Virtuoso - Somebody who is highly skilled in music, or another form of art.
Misogyny - Hatred of or discrimination against women. The term comes from the Ancient Greek "miso", meaning "hate", and "gyne", "woman".
Astute - Having the ability to assess a situation quickly and take advantage of it.
The new Beyoncé album dividing America

Glossary
Country music - A music genre that began in southern and southwestern USA. It often includes themes of working class American life.
Oklahoma - A state in the south-central USA.
Beyhive - A slang term for fans of the singer Beyoncé.
Stetson - A famous American hat brand, often worn by cowboys.
Rodeo - An exhibition or competition in which cowboys show their skills.
Genres - Categories of art, music or writing.
Gospel - In the Bible, a teaching of Christ. Also a genre of Christian music.
Virtuoso - Somebody who is highly skilled in music, or another form of art.
Misogyny - Hatred of or discrimination against women. The term comes from the Ancient Greek "miso", meaning "hate", and "gyne", "woman".
Astute - Having the ability to assess a situation quickly and take advantage of it.