We all remember where we were when Beyoncé surprise-dropped “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” on Feb. 11 after hinting at a brand new era of music in a Super Bowl commercial. And as if that didn’t send fans into enough of a frenzy, Beyoncé revealed that she’ll be embracing her Texas roots in Act II, a sequel to Renaissance, which will also be her first-ever country album. The singer’s loyal Beyhive immediately dusted off their glittery cowboy boots and hats, but the country music scene at large seemed a bit hesitant to embrace her latest singles.
On Feb. 13, the Oklahoma-based country radio station KYKC went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter) for their response to a Beyonce fan who requested they play “Texas Hold ‘Em.” “We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station,” wrote S.C.O.R.E. Broadcasting over email. After the email was shared on Twitter, KYKC was flooded with many more requests for the song, as many pointed out the historic exclusion of Black voices in country music.
Though the station’s general manager later clarified that “Texas Hold ‘Em” would eventually be added, the incident sparked a discussion about country music’s discriminatory nature. For years, Black and biracial country artists – such as Mickey Guyton and Kane Brown – have openly shared their firsthand experiences with this issue.
Bobby Bones, one of the most well-known country radio hosts, pointed out that white singers rarely receive backlash when they pursue a country crossover project — take Post Malone and Lana Del Rey, for example. Plus, white country artists such as Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs earn chart-topping hits when they incorporate pop and hip-hop influences. If the trap-heavy “Last Night” remained a staple on country radio in 2023, why can’t the more stripped-back, traditional-leaning “Texas Hold ‘Em”?
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” situation reminded fans of the backlash surrounding Lil Nas X’s 2019 country rap hit, “Old Town Road.” Billboard was met with similar criticism when it removed the track from its Hot Country Songs chart – only for a Billy Ray Cyrus remix to catapult the song to #1 on the Hot 100, where it maintained a record-breaking 19-week streak.
A Feb. 14 infographic, created and posted by @mattxiv on Instagram, explained the role of Black culture in country music’s rich history. Despite being a genre dominated by white voices today, country has always rightfully belonged to Black musicians.
The infographic pointed out that enslaved Africans brought the banjo to America. They would play the instrument on plantations, thereby introducing it to white slaveowners. In the 1800s, white minstrel performers utilized the banjo and blackface to promote harmful racial stereotypes. From there, the instrument spread to larger white audiences, and white musicians appropriated the banjo to create what we now know as “hillbilly” music.
Black artists have been creating country music for centuries but before now, they didn’t receive the recognition they deserved. Now that Beyoncé has entered her country music era, the genre’s Black roots are finally getting attention.
“Beyoncé’s new country music has sparked a conversation about the ability of a Black woman to make ‘white music.’ But the image of country music as a white genre is not reality; it is the invention of some racist record label executives who have been writing Black people out of the country music narrative for over a century,” the IG post read.
“Texas Hold ‘Em”’s #1 debut on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart marks a step in the right direction. Beyonce even became the first Black woman to top this chart. She also earned her first #1 UK hit in 14 years with the song.
As we celebrate Bey’s milestones and impatiently wait for Act II to come out, it’s important to acknowledge the ways that “Texas Hold ‘Em” is making history. Beyoncé has brought an important conversation to the table, and she’s changing the culture of country music for the better.