Entertainment (Commonwealth Union)_Beyoncé is already making history with her forthcoming country album, Renaissance: Act II. The project already has two singles out, namely “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold’ Em,” the latter of which has charted No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart.
Both tracks were released on 11th February after being announced during Super Bowl LVIII in a Verizon commercial.
After the songs were dropped by the singer, there was some controversy as to how to label them, genre-wise. Some country radio stations reportedly did not want to stream them, claiming that they were still considered pop.
Queen Beyonce is making history once again, this time as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, thanks to the phenomenal success of her single, “Texas Hold ‘Em”, which was officially released on country radio on 13th February dethroning Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves’ duet, “I Remember Everything,” which had reigned atop the chart for 20 weeks.
When the lists consolidated into the all-encompassing genre song charts Per Billboard, Beyonce also made history as the first female artist to claim the No. 1 spot on Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since October 1958. The only other artists who have led these charts are Ray Charles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Morgan Wallen.
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That didn’t stop Beyonce or her hive of loyal followers. Along with “Texas Hold ‘Em” at No. 1, “16 Carriages” has charted at No. 9. The first of the two achievements in particular makes history, as Beyoncé is now the first Black woman to chart No.1 on the Country Songs Chart.
Beyonce makes history as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart by releasing singles during the Super Bowl, surprises fans with music videos and claims the top spot on multiple charts, joining Billy Ray Cyrus, Ray Charles and Justin Bieber.
Beyoncé has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Black woman to reach the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with her latest song ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’.
Earlier this month the singer unveiled the track alongside the announcement of her eighth studio album, Renaissance Act II, alongside a preview of another song titled ’16 Carriages’ from the forthcoming body of work.
This goes on to mark Beyoncé’s first time topping the country charts, going on to make her the second solo female artist, to debut at the top spot, without any featured collaborators, following Taylor Swift’s accomplishment in 2021 with her re-recordings of ‘All Too Well’ and ‘Love Story’.
Moreover, Beyoncé has also become the first ever woman to lead both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since their inception in 1958. Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ray Charles, and Morgan Wallen are the only other musicians to have achieved this feat.
The recent milestones on the country charts follow an outpouring of online discussion regarding the classification of ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ as a country song. There were reports of a country radio station in Oklahoma rejecting a listener’s request to play Beyoncé’s latest single, who reversed their decision after a viral campaign on social media altered their view.
While country music has historically been criticised as heavily rooted in primarily conservative, white and male-dominant values, Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ marks a notable turning point for the genre, even if it only serves to ignite discussions about the political dynamics within country music.
The new album will serve as the second part of what is anticipated to be a trilogy of albums titled Renaissance.
“16 Carriages,” Beyonce’s second country single which she released alongside “Texas Hold ‘Em” on February 11, debuted at No. 9 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and commenced at No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart. That track has amassed 10.3 million streams, 90,000 airplay hits, and 14,000 in US sales.
