Beyoncé becomes first black woman to top Country chart with new song “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Beyoncé's latest foray into country music has landed her at the top of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with "Texas Hold 'Em," making her the first Black woman to claim the No. 1 spot. This historic achievement comes with renewed discussions about inclusivity and systemic inequalities within the genre.
"Texas Hold 'Em" dethroned a 20-week reign by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves' "I Remember Everything," while her other country-tinged single, "16 Carriages," landed at No. 9. Both tracks, released alongside the announcement of her upcoming album Act II, garnered impressive streaming and sales numbers, with "Texas Hold 'Em" alone pulling in 19.2 million streams and 39,000 sales.
This success sparks important conversations about representation and gatekeeping within country music. While Beyoncé's songs dominated the charts, some radio stations refused to play them, reflecting entrenched resistance to diversifying the genre's largely white and male landscape. This echoes similar controversies, like the removal of Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" from the country charts in 2019.
However, Beyoncé's achievement, alongside Tracy Chapman's recent accomplishment as the first Black woman to solely write a No. 1 country song ("Fast Car," covered by Luke Combs), offer a glimmer of hope. They suggest that the tide may be slowly turning, even if challenges remain.
"Act II," out March 29th, promises to further explore country influences, serving as the second chapter in a planned trilogy begun with 2022's "Renaissance." As Beyoncé continues to break barriers and push boundaries, her impact on the music industry, and potentially on country music itself, remains undeniable.