Beyonce: The Queen of Country Crossover
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Beyoncé's latest single, "Texas Hold 'Em," has skyrocketed to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, making history by debuting atop the Hot Country Songs chart last week. With Beyoncé, the reigning queen of pop/R&B, now leading the country charts, her surprising transition into the country genre sparks both confusion and fascination. Since her initial announcement of Renaissance in June of 2022, fans have been left wondering what’s next to come. At the time of release, Beyoncé announced her original release as Act I: Renaissance. With that, we all knew more was coming, but two years ago, I’m not sure we would have predicted a country album would be next. The queen just does it all, doesn’t she? While this switch may seem like it came out of left field, there were subtle clues leading up to this surprising genre shift.
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Her new upcoming album, Renaissance Act II, made an iconic entrance during a commercial break at Super Bowl LVIII, catching everyone off guard with the surprise release of two songs: "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages.” This release was timed perfectly: one week after her foreshadowing Grammy’s outfit. Her attire featured a black leather jacket with silver studs in a checkered pattern, complemented by coordinating shorts. Her striking suit with a white collared shirt and a sleek black tie reflects the style we would expect from Queen B. For a more foreshadowing effect, she added a touch of country flair, topping her outfit off with a white Stetson cowgirl hat that had people questioning what she had next up her sleeve.
Beyoncé's affinity for the cowgirl aesthetic isn't just a passing trend; it's deeply rooted in her upbringing in Houston, Texas. She once told the Houston Chronicle about her childhood experiences at the Houston Rodeo and her inspiration from local legends like Selena, Frankie Beverly, and Maze. Beyoncé's journey into country music feels like a natural progression, although still surprising from her pop past that we know and love her for.
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Digging even deeper into Beyoncé's country roots reveals her longstanding connection to the genre. While the Recording Academy may not have fully embraced Beyoncé's country motives, she's no stranger to the genre. In 2016, she released "Daddy Lessons," a bluesy track from her album Lemonade. She submitted this song to the country category for the Grammys, but the Academy's country music committee denied her request, deeming it unfit for the genre. Undeterred, Beyoncé performed the song at the Country Music Association Awards on November 2nd, 2016, alongside The Chicks, eventually releasing a version featuring the renowned country trio.
Additionally, her fourth Ivy Park collection with Adidas in 2021 was named Ivy Park Rodeo. The collection was more than just a fashion statement—it was a manifestation of Beyoncé's country flair and a foreshadowing of her impending foray into the country music scene. Whether it’s her former country songs, Houston roots, or country fashion statements, Beyonce has highlighted the eclectic mix of genres through her expression, making this album debut less surprising after all.
Strike Out,
Writer: Bella Ferretti
Editor: Cristina Angee
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