Home / Arts and Entertainment / Beyoncé Reclaims Country Music Roots
Beyoncé Reclaims Country Music Roots
16 Aug
Summary
- Album born from not feeling welcomed in country music.
- Beyoncé draws on history of Black musicians in country.
- Album experiments with genre, highlighting erased histories.
Beyoncé's highly anticipated follow-up to Renaissance, titled Cowboy Carter, ventures into country music with significant ambition. This album is rooted in an experience from years ago where the artist felt unwelcome in the genre.
This sentiment appears linked to her 2016 Country Music Association Awards performance of "Daddy Lessons" with the Chicks. Following this, she delved deeper into the history of country music, acknowledging the foundational role of Black musicians.
Cowboy Carter is described as more than just a country album; it's an exploration across various American musical landscapes. Beyoncé revisits Western tropes while critically examining the America often omitted from mainstream narratives and historical accounts.
By drawing inspiration from genre-fluid artists and reclaiming the etymology of "cowboy," Beyoncé firmly asserts her position within the rich, multiracial history of country music.
