How Beyoncè’s new album highlights Black women in country music

Tiera Kennedy, a singer-songwriter featured on Beyoncè’s new album, and Holly G., owner of Black Opry in Nashville, talk to CNN’s Victor Blackwell about the effect and influence behind “Cowboy Carter.” #CNN #News

[@RBS314]

70 yr old white guy here. Love her album! Country, bluegrassy, done Beyoncé’s style.

[@jjboyd01]

there is a small but significant groups of country music blacks... Rodeo trail rides and dance parties in the South, Zydeco, Recall Karl Malone the NBA player.... The Trail rides are huge in the country.

[@roseamberzine5846]

❤

[@JOHNSAG1]

haha 76 yr old white guy here .. I love her album and the focus on black history behind country music that's finally starting in this country ...

[@TheRealBizWiz]

40 year old Latino here. What’s your favorite track on the new album?

[@JOHNSAG1]

Well right now it's Blackbird, but I need to go through all of them again. There are so many good meaningful ones, it's taking me time..@@TheRealBizWiz

[@sawdust6148]

This is one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever listened to. And I’m not even exaggerating. The vocal prowess and production were otherworldly

[@roseamberzine5846]

❤

[@OPIXdotWORLD]

loser bot

[@reading101]

Agreed 💯

[@CosmicJournee]

This is so historic! I hope that Beyoncé’s push of country music really breaks the door down for these black country artists! I know for me I’ve been streaming these country artists and I hope it helps somehow get them on radio.

[@url0veang3l]

Same. I've really taken to Tanner Adell and Willie Jones. I just came across Reyna Roberts today. She has a beautiful voice also.

[@CosmicJournee]

@@url0veang3l yea Tanner Adell is a star! I love her music and just overall presence. I have to check more of Willie Jones out. I really like Chapel Hart, they’re a group of sisters. They reimagined Jolene in such a fun way! There’s definitely alot of new artists I’m going to be checking out. Love that for us and them lol 🫶🏾

[@ridinreiners]

Ray Charles, Charley Pride, Darius RUCKER, Aaron Neville, Chapel Hart. Beyoncé is not the first. And why isn’t Beyoncé’s music completely original, instead of all the piece’s of already successful songs? And why all the swearing and “F” word. I like a couple of the songs but this is not a stellar piece of work.

[@napoleonsmith7793]

Where have your racist ass been???

[@CosmicJournee]

@@ridinreiners who said Beyonce is the first? If you listened to the album she actually includes Linda Martell who was the first commercially successful black woman in country music! Nobody cares if you liked the album…turn it off and support the artists you named. 😉✌🏾

[@reading101]

Obsessed with this album… gorgeous vocals, arrangements, and songwriting.

[@KairoK]

They're mad in the comments 🤣🤣🤣 And they haven't even heard the album, clearly

[@ahkillahjohnson8795]

Just angry they need to stream it lol

[@roseamberzine5846]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ingai7014]

Where is country music ?😂:ain’t country style at all 🙈

[@ashley.taylor174]

@theworstusernameonyoutubeThere are different sub genres within a genre of music. 🙄

[@ingai7014]

@theworstusernameonyoutube you just nailed it !👌:only boots and hat -maybe

[@deborahsteele7389]

She has established a new country canon. 🐝👑

[@calidawg510]

no one hearing that bs except fan girls

[@davidmorris8319]

Alice Rendall is such a light! The way she radiates pure joy and passion for music is so infectuous!! I love how Beyoncé really made an album not for herself, but the people - black americans to be specific.

[@chibundunwatu8963]

“If that ain’t country, tell me what is” - Beyoncé

[@jjboyd01]

Zydeco is country too.

[@JustCallMeJaph]

Yes; it is! I heard it for the first time driving from Texas to Louisiana, and I fell in love instantly.

[@lennymccartney1]

nice version of mccartney's blackbird!

[@Soulbirdami]

Especially when you consider that the song was written for black women. Really beautiful full circle moment.

[@keithbell9348]

I recognized it immediately when Beyonce recorded her version of it. But was a bit confused as to how it fit into the format of the album in its entirety. I always wondered the meaning behind that song since I first heard it from the Beatles White Album.

[@lennymccartney1]

@@keithbell9348 the beatles were well known for their stand on racial equality...

[@keithbell9348]

@@lennymccartney1 wasn't aware of that. Thanks for sharing!

[@Davidperez-oi6ke]

Ray Charles did a Country album back in the day. Modern sounds in country and western music. I own the CD. People of all races are C&W fans. Last time I was at the Opry there was an older cat from Japan on the hallowed stage. I am happy to have Chapel Heart tickets in April.

[@noneshere]

Fact : the first PERSON ever recorded by The Grand'ole Oprey was a black man named Deford Bailey.

[@Davidperez-oi6ke]

@@noneshere WOW, I had no idea. We do a shitty job of recording and teaching American history. If it doesn't fit the ruling class' narrative then it simply didn't happen.

[@awalker8371]

Yasss my pop pop had that album loved it I can’t stop loving you is one of my favorite songs ❤

[@Davidperez-oi6ke]

One of the tunes on that album is a ballad entitled You don't know me. Beautiful tune.

[@jjboyd01]

there are black rodeos and country dancing in the South.

[@nunyabusiness3666]

Segregation is wrong..

[@jjboyd01]

@@nunyabusiness3666 white people go too but its mostly black... PEOPLE WHO LOVE DANCING DON'T CARE WHOSE NEXT TO THEM.. THEY DO COUNTRY LINE DANCING. ITS FUN....

[@JOHNSAG1]

Some of the comments here are hilarious .. look at all the white guys and gals in denial that original country music started with blacks and banjos, and church hymns from black churches that help make Hank Williams songs and the Carter family music for example. Yes, blacks initiated the music. I'm a white guy who accepts reality. Get with it folks ..

[@thomasodonnell2187]

Yes, the north American Caribbean enslaved slaves brought the Banjo over. Point we'll taken 😊.

[@jawadpace8326]

@JOHNSAG1 And I'm a BLACK GUY saying, "Thank U brother" for being a good HUMAN BEING

[@thomasodonnell2187]

THANK YOU,😊💜.

[@margaretnorvell9555]

Wrong. Country music started in the Appalachian mountains and is a fusion of music from the Irish and Scottish settlers.

[@Brooklyn_Muse]

​@@margaretnorvell9555 are you a historian who has traveled to Appalachia & recorded the oral & written history there?

[@jeremykylehouston614]

If you needed B to generate your awareness about the racial diversity that contributes to the genre of country and western then you need to get out more.

[@TransKidsMafia]

I’m the first person of color to take a dump while smoking puberty blockers off foil. Celebrate me.

[@andreas0101]

race obsessed americans. Travel more and grow up!

[@ChannelHandle143]

Eminem didn’t cry to CNN to spin coverage of the percentages of ‘90s white rappers, immediately demanding spins on all rap stations, and the white fans interested in the hip hop culture. he didn’t try to get in covering Run DMC songs, after 10 rock albums. Huh.

[@monicamanns9208]

@@TransKidsMafiaignorance is your bliss.

[@johne.porter1298]

Most of these pop lovers do need too. They are ignorant of history, even in their own genre and in country!!

[@ashley.taylor174]

I like the song “Blackbird.” I usually do not like country music but I will buy Beyoncé’s country album out of spite to trigger a very insecure, greedy demographics in America. 😜

[@josephsonora3787]

BLM said Black Bird was Racist.

[@MyThoughtzAndOpinionz]

Let’s see the amount of racism coming

[@noneshere]

It's not racism... Beyoncè don't even play an instrument and keep tempo with herself. Furthermore, anytime society holds blacks accountable to the truth the blacks scream racist . Believe me, it's very obvious to the non black communities.

[@haikuu7059]

​@@noneshereshe plays some piano. Also, not all country artists play instruments. Also, she did mention that this ISN'T a country album, but a BEYONCÉ album. Dont strawman. Get all your facts first.

[@andrese9805]

Typical from Black people to play the rece card every time they don't have arguments to support their opinions.

[@MsSnu]

​@@noneshereBless your heart❤. Mariah Carey, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Jacob Sartorius, Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, and Micki Minaj. Non of these singers play an instrument. I got these from a Google search. What makes you think we are worried about a community who can't use the Google.

[@oscarjimenez7476]

It's not racist, this album definitely sucks.

[@ShredderTainment]

Blackbird is my favorite song!!! Yaaaay!

[@josephsonora3787]

Is that a racist song? The BLM said it was because the Bird was Black.

[@marylander3798]

erasure of the black roots and not embracing black artists in the genre is intentional. I hope this opens more peoples eyes to see the way american history is manipulated to exclude and erase black Americans.

[@s.d.c5513]

As an artist what's the problem with experimenting with new sounds? Why pigeonhole yourself? NO ONE had a problem When Garth Brooks did the SAME THING

[@keithbell9348]

Actually for many country music fans, it was a problem. I clearly remember when Garth tried out his grunge rock alter- ego on one of his albums and country folks went Bananas!

[@ashley.taylor174]

@@keithbell9348okay but it’s a free country. We have bigger problems in the world than getting insecure over a black woman experimenting in country music.

[@keithbell9348]

@@ashley.taylor174 Makes sense to me. You gotta use that same reason with all the country music gatekeepers freakin about her

[@s.d.c5513]

@@hifiphono887 Is that why Brooks has had at least 6-7 more successful albums since the Chris Gains days in '99? Seems experimenting didn't hurt Garth much at all bud... Maybe your insecurities are getting triggered for no reason here.. Give it some thought.

[@izodman]

Thinking back growing up black country artists were rare to hear on the radio. I remember in some past interviews, some artists expressed the shadows cast on them because of their skin colour. Thanks to Beyoncé, she is helping to break down these barriers to spotlight marginalised country artists while paying homage to the legends she admired in country. I trust this will open the doors for more country artists to have their music heard by music lovers like me to tune in and appreciate more. This is why this woman is well respected and will down in history with the likes of the other great legends.

[@Liy___444]

Wow, I was wondering whose voice was on Blackbiiird. Very beautiful voice ma’am.

[@charlita25]

“Blackbird “ is beautiful 🤩

[@michaelmawazo]

Beyoncé. Genius. Global. Homegrown. 🎸✨🤠

[@user-su5cg3fb7p]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 good on BEYONCE after all the mess has come out now

[@kmarcol1]

We have to push these artists and support them ourselves. There's nothing else Beyonce has opened up a new market for the black country artists

[@josefelixaranda9002]

Countries and musics are many everywhere but there is only one Beyonce' and one Beyonce' is always good enough.

[@ninadaly7639]

Not this time.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

God bless beyonce for doing this album making history ,and opening the doors much wider for black country artists 🙏🏾❤.

[@tim7462]

Great. Love it. It’s helps country music.

[@tmoore7049]

Beyonce is a great woman, who brings people along her journey!❤❤❤❤

[@GrandpaVince]

Good old grandma Shirley is a country grandma and im famous for my delicious potato casserole

[@keithbell9348]

Don't come after me, but its minus the raisins right?

[@GrandpaVince]

@keithbell9348 yes it's an ancient traditional recipe just potato and water

[@keithbell9348]

@grandmashirley6604 potatoe and water? Gotta have the eggs and mayo!

[@subalchemy]

BEYONCE ❤

[@PedoPeterandcrackboy]

Wasn't Beyonce and Jay-Z BFFs with P Diddy 😂😂😂😂

[@Jthegreat84]

If country music starts playing more black artist, the RepubliKKKLans will start boycotting them and sadly I don’t think that they would be willing to take that gamble!

[@josephsonora3787]

You part of the problem just stirring the Pot of Hate. Don't burn the stew Pasna!

[@tbagger5211]

Maybe you should learn your history where the k k k started fool

[@noneshere]

Actually, the first PERSON ever recorded by The Grand'ole Oprey was a black man named Deford Bailey. Blacks are not new to the country music scene but the ones that make it big Actually Play Instruments.

[@sandranynj7118]

My favorite so far is JOLENE!

[@troybody6662]

That's what's up!!! Beyonce gave recognition to the female country singers! No one is talking about that!

[@ChristopherWilliams-eh6zs]

Yes! Agree 😃 This is Really Special 😊❤

[@geronimodeloscielos1583]

Except for That One Thing That Is Currently Taking Place... Now "That's" a Country Song Waiting to Be Written!!!

[@tequilla-mc5ss]

This was beautiful

[@realfan3565]

Mickey Guyton is a well known black woman country artist and I’ve never heard her on country radio but to be fair there are many well known white women also not played.

[@akosinubitah]

congrats guys

[@John-tt7fc]

Jealous of black billionaires

[@anthonyputignano951]

From a white guy she’s the most beautiful girl in the world. God bless her.

[@ashley.taylor174]

I agree! Some people are just jealous and miserable.

[@irenegresham1519]

She's ok nice. But I think..Kelly Roland is much nicer Beyonces is Talented on stage but overated in some Parts Great marketing that's all she's got a good Team behind her. The Press jump on it so everybody else's does the Press like to causes a Reaction around the world like they do with most things

[@josephsonora3787]

Ya'll gots Jungle Feva! 😂

[@anthonyputignano951]

@@josephsonora3787 your funny

[@ashley.taylor174]

@@josephsonora3787 It’s called human nature.

[@chrismdh]

Love ittt

[@cjueyjustice2213]

The vocals. She was actually singing and I love it

[@Denise-gf4zt]

Black people been in country western lifestyle for many decades. Come to Houston and check out Black cowboys

[@ElishaLoweRN]

Beautiful!

[@shirleyaguilera7766]

Congratulations #TieraKennedy!!!

[@estherjoseph2877]

Reading these comments is an eye opener..Of the 12 Most Educated Countries in the World. America is number 11 and it shows.

[@GayleAllen-RINO]

LOVE IT

[@jinntoliver]

Excellent!🎉❤

[@ambee3943]

🎉 She is giving The WHOLE STORY... AND Passing the torch to the FUTURE #Genius #Legend ❤❤❤❤❤❤👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾💯

[@TEM1]

I like the blues. Ray Charles before the movie. Hank Williams was inspired by that scene.

[@pheapsorphanara5383]

Wow❤❤

[@sheliafranklin4595]

Awesome Video Stay Up tho Beyonce Beautifully Done and Way to Teach and Preach so to say, Thank you for Humbly being you,😮😮😅😂❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rhondahalliburton8523]

Unless you're a die-hard fan of bey. There's other black women who have been singing country, only they were overlooked. Only my opinion.

[@ajm8748]

And that’s one of the reasons she made the album…..

[@sjd283]

Some of us didn’t know that until now!

[@feliciadavenport3621]

This is quite literally the message she’s trying to convey on just the second track of the album, Blackbird…

[@hejaaquia8756]

Come to Amsterdam with all black country women please. We'd love you. Take a 5 cd album with you! And please make a KZbin black country genre channel!

[@ava78]

Chapel Hart!!! Definitely a group of divas! Hope this helps them get there break.

[@josephsonora3787]

This genre has already been covered by the Late Great Charlie Pride. He was Country when Country wasn't Cool. RIP Charlie 🙏

[@marymyatt3004]

I hope Darius Rucker take Beyonce on Tour to be his Opening Guest. 🔥 That would be Amazing 🔥 INDEED

[@juiceman_3]

Righttt. How many other black country singers did she have on as a feature???

[@url0veang3l]

She had Shaboozey and Willie Jones as well.

[@samylynch5185]

5

[@sarahduncan6574]

Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts & Tiera Kennedy

[@nicolejonson3133]

Do it matter

[@thehoneydeev]

It’s not in her job description that is to provide great music, so when sh😢involves one, let’s be appreciative. How many people out of your family have you uplifted with your talent where you are yourself ?👀

[@charlita25]

Go Tiera 🎉

[@user-fd1ck2ko3v]

Daughter is on repeat

[@jillphillips8117]

I think it's great! It's about time there is a change in country music.

[@kevinwilliams1768]

love it my favorites are 16 Carriages Daughter & American Requim

[@charlita25]

Jolene is 🔥 fiyah and I love the duet with Miley Cyrus

[@almacoleman6350]

Miko Marks is fabulous as well 😍

[@martinsulat697]

Bouncy Bouncy BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE...

[@dennisgardner7991]

I listen to both Country and Pop. The Pop stations play her new song a lot. Country stations, not so much. So is it a country song/album just because you say it is, or does "counrty" have to buy into it?

[@donaldewert2332]

Beyonce even says it's not country!!

[@Ty-dk2sj]

It's not country, but it is country inspired and there are some tracks on there which are straight up country. It's not played on country radio because they hear the word Beyonce and they immediately judge and avoid it. It's pretty sad.

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

It's an amazing album. ❤

[@Mycraft168]

Hello everyone ❤

[@charlita25]

Cool 😎 shout out to the Beyhive

[@thomasodonnell2187]

As JOHNSAG1 pointed out: the Banjo brought over by enslaved Africans to & in North America and the Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean. The Banjo is descendant of the west African instrument AKONTING,KANE Brown bringing a lot to the table. I wish he had more fans. This is a great attention brought to black country stars & do need a bigger amount of support. Beyonce did a good deed.😊❤

[@keithbell9348]

Listen to YA YA on her new album. A song some are proclaiming as her strongest peformance yet on Cowboy Carter. To me, it seems so out of place when compared to the general theme of the entire album, and seems to harken back to Renniscance Part 1. But that's just me. Music resonates differently with each individual so I can't say "what" is disrespectful to any genre, especially seeing how country music has gone thru so many metamorphosis in the past few decades. But thanks for revealing about Kane Brown- I'm going to check him out!

[@donaldewert2332]

Kane is rap!!!

[@Ty-dk2sj]

​@@donaldewert2332No he's not, what are you on about? Most of his songs don't have any rap.

[@thomasodonnell2187]

@donaldewert2332 NO,BRAIN DEAD. He is country & his rap is true & very smoothly casual. They he rolls it. He is very Gifted. & Certainly, NO ONE ELSE in the rap field CAN'T compare to his ORIGINALITY.🧐 GOD BLESS KANE.

[@donaldewert2332]

@@thomasodonnell2187 This brain dead knows that Country are people like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Dottie West, Alan Jackson, Tony Jackson, a black singer if compared to Kane couldn't even spell C O U N T R Y!!!

[@wadestclair249]

Charlie pride and darius rucker 2.0 . its just like pop music. Country hasnt been country for almost 40 years.

[@jadrakelvis7740]

Father Lord be magnified in our lives. We're grateful for the gift of life and the opportunity to come before ur throne of mercy to worship and adore you. So grateful are we oh Lird for being partakers of this new month... Jesus loves you so much and wants to have a relationship with you today. Give ur life to Jesus today and make him the Lord and personal saviour of ur life ❤

[@edzzz5043]

I didn't know Beyonce was black!😮

[@stephaniecannon410]

🌹

[@Angelisa-hi3fv]

Rather, she sounds like an r&b star with a Southern accent.

[@MsSnu]

The haters in this thread act like Cowboy Carter is a personal insult. You can just move on with your life. I don't pay attention to things I don't like. You should try it.

[@lenirasusana5693]

they are boycotting, like they did little mermaid...while we have to deal with taylor

[@MsSnu]

@@lenirasusana5693 😂🤣😅

[@PJGRAND]

Texas holdem is just contemporary country I think the reason why the song is being played is because it's simply outstanding but if it was released by an unknown and not Beyonce it would probably still succeed it would just take longer

[@MonarC27818]

I’ve been following buckle bunny Taylor Adele for awhile. She’s excellent.

[@nfalls75]

How about acknowledging Mitski who started this whole Cowboy trend 6 years ago.

[@MsSnu]

Who is Roy Rogers.

[@nfalls75]

@@MsSnu Oh, c'mon. That's not what I meant. OK. Just for you, I'll clarify. "Women in 21st century popular music adopting cowboy imagery trend." There. Fixed it. And, as always, Be The Cowboy 🤠

[@MsSnu]

@@nfalls75 my apologies. This thread has me a little triggered ✌️☮️

[@idavaughn3512]

Love it

[@rondapierce6215]

let the public push the radio airwaves to play what we want to here

[@PatienceWithAnimals-be6uc]

Reminds me of The Joanne album from Lady Gaga

[@notabot1798]

I don’t understand why she’s famous.

[@craftingretired]

Well all in all she won😂

[@InspiredByEbonyLove]

The blessing is that DESPITE the Racism/ White Supremacy of those who gatekeep and discriminate against Black artists/ Black women on country radio , these artists WILL GAIN MORE SUPPORT, more fans, more sales and history WILL KNOW THEIR NAMES, without them needing the validation of Racist Man and Racist woman! 🎉🎉

[@amihogatai8432]

much like they said "see, america is not racist! we voted a black man as president." the kind of bs these people truck in.

[@noneshere]

Actually, the first PERSON ever recorded by The Grand'ole Oprey was a black man named Deford Bailey.

[@autumnjade815]

@@noneshereYet people in the comments are talking about cultural appropriation..

[@SamuelAttias-ug1ej]

Bingo!

[@user-kd1gj4dm9l]

Be positive

[@HoTrEtArDeDcHiXx]

Nice jeans 👖

[@smi2le4ever]

She hasn’t won album of the year for a reason.

[@MsSnu]

But her other 32 Grammys are not lonely.

[@MikePBabbyy]

@@MsSnuu are that

[@Hits789]

She samples because certain people support original music

[@Vondella09]

Global now

[@rebeccamouse9294]

Everybody look up CHAPEL HEART!!!

[@sharonmalone592]

I love Chapel Heart! ❤❤❤

[@13bgunbunny46]

Why?

[@lovechild1024]

🤠

[@queenbutterfly4888]

You can’t even hear Tanner’s voice. She drowned out their voices on purpose.

[@keithbell9348]

Naw I think you can clearly hear her vocals highlighted on Blackbird. Check it out!

[@reading101]

Her vocals shine… you can tell with the production on this particular track compared to the others, the voices are turned up.

[@X2LR8]

Eminem. That. That right there. Spaded It!

[@pattyaddison]

👋🏾wow, I only like Texas Hold'em, out of all the other 26 songs🤷

[@Hits789]

II Most Wanted

[@nicolejonson3133]

To everybody saying they don't like the song and not put your negative comment you're not going to gain friends you're not going to get cookies. As usual the racist are in the comments

[@PhilodendronShangriLa]

It's not racist to dislike child abuse Hollywood madams

[@keithbell9348]

I personally have no problem with anyone who doesn't like her version of country songs. Many won't even accomodate it because they would rather her stay in pop or r & b mixed with hip hop, and are assuming they won't like it. Which is ok. Even if some first give it a chance and then decide they don't like what they hear, is no problem because at least they judged it based upon actually hearing it first. What is problematic is to dismiss her merely on the basis that she doesn't belong at all in this genre because of her race. Just shows how worfully ignorant they are.

[@whataboutsci8294]

the hood is here

[@euroyankee2003]

Beyonce could cut an album of nothing but farts, and it would go platinum

[@karenmbbaxter]

But after The P. Diddy raids everyone now has their eyes on Jay Z......One o P. Diddy's long term partner and Jay Z mistress were both very fit and died of weird circumstances in their 30's and early 40's......Fit people don't drop dead like that and both guys have been involved in a lot of stuff EVERYONE says it will be JayZ and Beyonce's home raided next.

[@turquoisepurple7sky151]

Stop. The reason it is weird because we live in the age of internet