American music is a rich tapestry of influences and inspirations, and the connections between genres are a testament to the nation’s diverse and ever-changing cultural heritage. Among the most intriguing intersections is the relationship R&B and the contribution of Black artists in general have played in the evolution of country music. One in four Black music fans now listens to country music, making it clear that the category is finding a wider audience, as appreciation for the roots of the genre grows.
With Beyoncé emerging as a pivotal artist in the latest chapter of this ongoing narrative, it’s time to unravel the threads that bind Black musicians and country music together and take a closer look at a new cohort of Black country music artists who are redefining the genre.
But First– Music is Big Business
According to the latest report from Luminate, the global music industry surpassed 4 trillion streams in 2023, a single-year record. And in a reflection of exactly how global the music marketplace has become global music streams are up 34 percent over last year. The same Luminate report found that country music streams grew 23.7% in 2023.
All About Beyoncé.
An icon by any measure, Beyoncé is renowned for her creativity, a talent that bypasses boundaries, and her uniquely devoted fan base. And while her roots lie in R&B and pop, her musical journey has expanded past any genre constraints, culminating in the groundbreaking visual album “Lemonade”. Released in 2016, “Lemonade” marked a watershed moment in Beyoncé’s career, seamlessly intertwining elements of R&B, soul, and notably, country music.
“Daddy Lessons” a track from this album, encapsulates Beyoncé’s genre-bending approach, blending twangy guitars and fiddle flourishes with her signature vocals. Co-written with country songwriters, the song’s narrative is steeped in Southern imagery and familial bonds, resonating with audiences across demographics, and breaking through musical labels’ confines.
Beyoncé’s deeper exploration of country music with two new singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” debuted during the Super Bowl in February and have not only showcased her versatility as an artist but also sparked spirited conversations about representation within the genre.
As a Black woman embracing the sounds and stories of country music, she defied conventional expectations and expanded the horizons of what can be considered country music. With all of the hand-wringing over who is ‘allowed’ to make country music, it is probably worth remembering that Beyoncé is from Texas.
But the 32-time Grammy winner’s Southern bona fides were not enough for an Oklahoma country radio station that originally refused a listener’s request to play her new song, telling the caller that they don’t play Beyoncé on their station. After a deluge of calls and emails, the station relented and started playing the song, much to the chagrin of fans of more ‘traditional’ country music.
The struggle that Black artists have had to get airtime on country music stations is real– a 2021 study found that BIPOC artists received a 2.3 percent share of the airplay on country music stations. And nearly 97 percent of that went to male BIPOC artists.
Back to Beyoncé– her new album is just the latest of her crossovers into the country music space. Her collaboration with the Dixie Chicks in the 2016 Country Music Awards ignited conversations about the fluidity of musical genres and the power of collaboration to bridge cultural divides. And it made a lot of people mad on social media.
Exploring the Roots of Country Music Through the R&B Lens
Exploring their shared origins is essential to comprehend the depth of the R&B-country connection. Rooted firmly in the Black American experience, R&B emerged in the 1940s as a genre that would combine elements of jazz, gospel, and blues, with concentrated centers in cities like Chicago, New York, and Detroit.
What instrument do you think of when you think about country music? It might surprise many to learn that the banjo, an essential instrument of early country music, and one that lends itself to images of lazy summer days in the South, was derived from circular instruments used in West Africa. The banjo is a descendant of West African lutes and was made from gourds.
These instruments were brought to America by enslaved people, and quickly became central to slave life and culture in the South. The banjo was soon reworked, appropriated, and spread to white audiences through minstrel and blackface shows. It was these shows that had a strong connection to what was then called “hillbilly music” that eventually became what we know as country music. Black musicians eventually abandoned the banjo as white musicians adopted it in growing numbers.
But even as Black artists started to move away from the banjo, the music of Black culture still deeply informed the music being made by white country artists of the time. Slave spirituals, field songs, religious hymns, and even the work of Black professional songwriters became the basis of some of the genre’s earliest classics.
For example, a song called “When the World is On Fire” a hymn arranged by a Black minister, was turned into a Carter Family 1928 hit, “Little Darling, Pal of Mine”, which was then turned into a song that many Americans know as “This Land is Your Land”.
The Pioneers of Integration
The convergence of R&B and country music finds early expressions in the groundbreaking work of artists like Charley Pride and Ray Charles. Charles, often hailed as the “Father of Soul” shattered racial barriers with his genre-defying style, infusing elements of R&B into country classics and vice versa.
Similarly, Charley Pride, the first Black American superstar in country music, challenged prevailing stereotypes and expanded the genre’s horizons with his soulful interpretations and heartfelt storytelling. During his influential career, Pride became the first Black country artist to have a number-one record, and the first artist (of any race) to win the Country Music Association’s male vocalist award two years in a row. To this day, Pride remains the top-selling Black country artist of all time.
In his critically acclaimed PBS film, Country Music, filmmaker Ken Burns solidly positions the genre as a natural home for Black musicians. In the film, Burns presents the case that every genre of music– rock, jazz, pop, and country– has elements of instrumentation and vocal styling that can be traced back to Black musical traditions.
It was only once country music was commercialized that executives sought to exclude Black artists from the genre. In essence, Black musicians helped build what we now know as country music, but the industry evolved in a way that sought to diminish their contributions.
The Changing Landscape of Country Music
Beyoncé’s foray into country music reflects broader shifts within the category, where artists increasingly embrace diversity and experimentation. From the rise of other boundary-bending artists like Lil Nas X to the more recent incorporation of R&B-infused production techniques, contemporary country music reflects a richer mix of influences that defy traditional categorizations.
Lil Nas X ruled the summer of 2019 with his single “Old Town Road” featuring bona fide country boy Billy Ray Cyrus. It was a single that spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 charts and confidently placed itself firmly in the country music universe, creating a furious debate about what a country music artist looks like. No doubt, his gender-blurring style only added fuel to the fire.
Even before the release of Beyoncé’s new album, a wave of trailblazing Black artists was already crashing onshore, leaving their mark on the country music scene. Among them, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Rhiannon Giddens, and Kane Brown have risen to prominence, again challenging stereotypes and amplifying underrepresented voices within the genre.
In 2019, Jimmie Allen became the first Black artist to have his debut single, “Best Shot” hit the number one spot on the country music charts. In 2022, Allen took home the ACM award for New Male Artist of the Year.
Mickey Guyton, in particular, has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion within country music. Her single “Black Like Me” confronts systemic inequalities and celebrates the resilience of Black identity in America, resonating with audiences hungry for authentic storytelling and representation.
The Intersectionality of R&B and Country
The marriage of Black artists and country music moves beyond simple musical experimentation; it embodies a marriage of shared histories and cultural legacies. Think about it: both genres draw on the rich experiences of Southern life, weaving narratives of love, heartbreak, and redemption against the backdrop of rural and urban spaces alike.
This intersection has not only expanded the scope of country music but also broadened its appeal to audiences of diverse backgrounds. As the boundaries of country music continue to expand, fueled by the influences of R&B and the voices of Beyoncé and other Black artists, it is entering a new era of inclusivity and evolution.
