Beyoncé makes history once again with Cowboy Carter - details

Virgin Radio

9 Apr 2024, 16:16

Beyoncé has made history once again with her latest album, Cowboy Carter.

The worldwide icon’s newest album has hit top spot on the US’ Billboard country albums chart, making her the first Black woman to ever make it to number one on this list since its creation in 1964.

Coming in at number one on the all-genres Billboard 200 chart too, Cowboy Carter also became Queen Bey’s eighth number one album this weekend.

Though both achievements are ones to celebrate, it’s likely the former will have the former Destiny’s Child star most excited, as her album represents an effort to reclaim the genre from its now stereotypically white tradition. 

Songs such as the album’s opener ‘American Requiem’ make direct reference to incidents in Beyoncé’s past when she was made to feel unwelcome as a Black woman in the country music scene, and make reference to the history of Black country music as a whole.

The album also features covers of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’, The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’, and a collaboration with former Black country musician Linda Martell who retired from the genre after facing discrimination and a lack of success in the industry after her debut the early 70s.

Meanwhile, new hits like 'Texas Hold ‘Em' and '16 Carriages' remind the listener that no matter the genre, this artist always seems to be able to deliver hit after hit. After all, as the artist herself said when announcing Cowboy Carter (the second ‘act’ in her current musical output to follow on from 2022’s Renaissance) - “This ain’t a country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”

'Texas Hold ‘Em' already made history earlier this year, becoming the first song by a Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and which made the singer only the second solo female act to ever debut at number one in the chart, following on from Taylor Swift’s success with her ‘Love Story’ and ‘All Too Well’ Taylor’s Version re-releases in 2021.

Cowboy Carter is out now.