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CNN
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
With her ‘Cowboy Carter' tour, Beyoncé is all red, white and blue. Not everyone is a fan
In the midst of a record-breaking tour in support of her landmark country album 'Cowboy Carter,' Beyoncé is on top of the world. Largely credited as Beyoncé's reclamation of her country roots, last year's 'Cowboy Carter' questions the lines of genre and highlights the ongoing contributions of Black country artists. When she announced the album's release, she said it was 'born out of an experience' where she had felt unwelcome — a likely reference to racist comments generated by her 2016 appearance at the Country Music Awards, where some country fans claimed she had no place at the event. The album and the ensuing tour, which concludes this month, is a middle finger to those detractors. The visual landscape Beyoncé creates, both within the album and on the tour, directly points to the various roles African Americans have played throughout US history. If the establishment will try to deny them a seat at the table, Beyoncé has made it her mission to bring a chair anyway — just see the thousands of Black fans donning their cowboy boots and matching wide-brimmed hats at each tour stop. It can be powerful for an artist of Beyoncé's caliber to highlight such narratives, but the fan response is more nuanced. While some appreciate the visuals that highlight Blackness within country music and American history, others wish for more explicit statements on contemporary political matters, whether that's the US support of the war in Gaza or the aggressive ICE deportations in the US. Her messaging, they suggest, falls short. 'It's very true that Beyoncé has faced really unfair critique from a lot of different sectors. She hasn't been recognized in the way that she should for her artistry,' said Stacy Lee Kong, culture critic and founder of newsletter Friday Things. 'And at the same time, we also see a superficiality to her politics.' Even before the Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour kicked off in April, the album's art and lyrics specifically emphasized the role Black people have played in country music. Beyoncé's shows underline those messages further, while referencing additional Black history and traditional patriotic imagery. She performs 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' set to Jimi Hendrix's distorted Woodstock rendition; a video screen flashes the message, 'Never ask permission for something that already belongs to you.' She embraces red, white and blue — just see her blue leotard embellished with silver stars and the accompanying floor-length American flag fur coat from her Fourth of July show in Washington, DC. While many fans feel empowered by Beyoncé's interpretation of Americana, others feel the symbolism is lacking. Even among some of her self-proclaimed fans, the ideas presented can be sticky: 'I think people's issues lie where she is silent on current injustices and issues that are happening under that flag now whilst simultaneously constantly draping herself in it,' noted one fan on X. Especially for an artist whose work is often so deeply researched and layered with meaning, Lee Kong said, the fact that Beyoncé doesn't actually say anything specifically about American politics feels fraught. Celebrating being an American, and celebrating Black people's role in America, without actually verbalizing the harm that the United States can cause feels simplistic in today's political landscape, Lee Kong said. Despite her larger artistic message, many fans simply want more from Beyoncé. 'You can't sell an idea and be wishy-washy about it,' she said. 'This is a really difficult line to walk, no matter what, and it has become more difficult as audiences have become more sophisticated and more aware of the complicated politics that are informing our lives.' The complexity of this line is perhaps best exhibited by Beyoncé's Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt, worn during her Juneteenth performance in Paris. The white shirt featured an image of the Buffalo Soldiers, Black soldiers who served in the US Army following the Civil War and were instrumental in the country's westward expansion, conducting campaigns against the Native Americans living in the West (who are credited with coining the 'Buffalo' in their name). On the back of her shirt was a block of text, which read in part: 'their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.' The message sparked intense debate. While some praised the highlighting of the Black soldiers, others critiqued the simultaneous disparaging of Native and Mexican Americans, arguing that the shirt insinuates that these groups exist in contrast to the United States. Beyoncé has not spoken publicly about the controversy. Beyoncé is not new to this type of critique — and she hasn't been completely silent about political topics over the years. During her performance at the Super Bowl in 2016, Beyoncé and her dancers appeared in all-black costumes with fists raised, a clear nod to the Black Panthers. She went on to speak in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement in a 2020 commencement speech. In 2023, as her 'Renaissance' tour film played in Israel amid the war in Gaza, with videos surfacing of pro-IDF Israelis singing the single, 'Break My Soul,' critics argued that the artist who could incorporate explicit political messaging into her 2016 performance should also speak up about the war. 'She's a person who has curated a space, has made herself a political figure, whether she likes it or not,' said B.A. Parker, co-host of NPR's 'Code Switch,' at the time. Does an artist owe fans an explicit political statement? Swifties have long analyzed the political motives of Taylor Swift, who until recently has kept mum on political issues. At this year's Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar seemingly rejected these notions altogether, proclaiming: 'The revolution's about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.' 'She is one of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry,' said Melvin Williams, a professor at Pace University who studies race, gender and sexuality in celebrity culture. 'That she now has to be an expert of everything, stand up for all causes, while performing and showing up flawlessly — that is an impossible standard for any human being.' Beyoncé did endorse Kamala Harris's presidential bid last year, and she has also made more subtle political references during the tour. The Jimi Hendrix version of the national anthem — performed during the Vietnam War — has been widely interpreted as a form of protest, though the legendary guitarist's intent is still subject to debate. In one image from the Cowboy Carter tour book, Beyoncé is pictured sitting at a sewing machine while stitching the American flag, in tribute to Grace Wisher, a Black girl who helped sew the original Star-Spangled Banner. Her veiled, white dress — potentially a callback to the 'veil' analyzed by W.E.B. DuBois, a metaphor used to explain the color line between White and Black Americans — is splattered with blood. 'Cowboy Carter' was a risk, Williams said, both creatively and in its messaging around genre and race. As a celebrity, Beyoncé is adept at initiating social commentary, yet she rarely gives interviews. She speaks almost exclusively through her work. To some, her message is clear, and demands for more are taken as examples of the undue expectations society places on Black women. Despite pushes to do so, it's unlikely that she will ever 'explicitly grapple with, for example, America's history of empire building or the persistence of capitalism in America,' Williams said. But Beyoncé's work presents an entry point into thinking more deeply about the world around us, Lee Kong said. As a result of the album and the tour, those conversations are being had anyway — with or without her input.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyoncé made country music history. The Grammys just redefined what counts.
Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' marked a historic moment in country music. Following its release in March 2024, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to lead Billboard's Top Country Album chart since it started in 1964. Her Grammy win this year for Best Country Album was another first for Black artists. 'Cowboy Carter' asked mainstream listeners to consider how Black artists helped create and shape country music. It also sparked questions about its authenticity as real country. Many Beyoncé and Black country music fans alike hoped the attention would open doors to more diversity in the White-dominated commercial country music industry. The reality is more complicated. On Thursday, Billboard reported that the 2026 Grammy Awards will include a new category: Best Traditional Country Album. Best Country Album is being renamed Best Contemporary Country Album. The Recording Academy, which presents the awards, celebrated the decision as an opportunity to create more space for different types of musical styles to be honored. According to the a description of the category provided to Billboard, 'traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar and live drums.' The news quickly drew criticism, with some Beyoncé fans on social media accusing the academy of gatekeeping in response to her barrier-breaking achievement. In an interview with reporter Phil Lewis, author of the 'What I'm Reading' newsletter, an anonymous music executive said that the Recording Academy's decision appears to be a clear reaction to 'Cowboy Carter.' The road to 'Cowboy Carter' began with the 2016 release of her country song, 'Daddy Lessons,' which despite its traditional arrangement and instrumentation, was immediately put to the 'country enough' test. 'All of the sudden, everyone's acting like she's moved to Nashville and announced that she's country now. Just because of this song 'Daddy Lessons,'' Alison Bonaguro, a critic for Country Music Television, wrote in a 2016 column headlined 'What's so country about Beyoncé?' Later that year, Beyoncé's viral performance of the song alongside The Chicks at the Country Music Awards led to more online debate unpacking what and whose music counts as 'real country.' Those conversations are a throughline to 'Cowboy Carter,' with some country fans disqualifying the album from their own definition of country because of its fusion with hip hop, blues and other genres. Despite the album topping country charts, the Country Music Association did not nominate the album for a single award at the 2024 Country Music Awards. But the Grammy victory — which came the same year that Beyoncé won Album of the Year for the first time — cemented the legacy of 'Cowboy Carter.' Some researchers and country music fans say it also points to the particular novelty of Beyoncé's success compared to that of other Black artists pursuing a place in the country music industry, which has taken deliberate steps to shut out artists of color for more than 100 years. 'Beyoncé is in her own category of artists. She's such a big star, she didn't have to show deference to the gatekeepers of Nashville, the traditional gatekeepers of commercial country music,' said Amanda Martínez, a historian and assistant professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is not the reality for most Black artists looking to break into country music, she added. 'There have been a lot of conversations about creating more opportunities for Black artists, and I think that what we're seeing is that chapter has passed. I think that we're seeing a general moving away from pretending to be invested in creating opportunities for artists of color or addressing issues of diversity,' Martínez added. 'Cowboy Carter' included features from newer Black country artists like Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, who have leveraged that spotlight to reach broader audiences. Shaboozey, in particular, managed to have a breakout year as an independent artist in 2024, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-tying 19 weeks with his single, 'Bar Song.' But these singers represent a small fraction of country radio airplay, which remains a powerful platform for the genre. In February, Ottawa University researcher Jada Watson posted updated data on social media finding that in 2024, women artists received 8.39 percent of country radio airplay — a decline from 11 percent in 2022 — and Black artists received 2.8 percent of airplay. White artists represented 94 percent and White men were 81 percent. 'Despite our urging for radio to build pathways for Black female country artists alongside [Beyoncé's] 'Texas Hold 'Em,' the format failed to platform Black women. Again,' Watson wrote on Bluesky earlier this year. 'Radio played 'Texas Hold 'Em' just as much as they needed… until they didn't anymore.' Throughout country music's history, artists of color have been largely segregated and forced to challenge claims that their sound does not represent authentic country music. Black country artists and fans are doing what they can to create their own avenues. Record labels like Rosedale Collective and Origins Records were created to support Black country artists and other artists of color. The Black Opry is a community for Black artists and fans that produces country and Americana shows around the United States. It's unclear at this point whether the new change in Grammys categories will be used as another tool to police or undermine the artistry of musicians of color. Martínez said we will have to 'wait and see' which artists are celebrated moving forward. When it comes to broader systemic changes, she said: 'it's hard to be hopeful about the prospects of whatever consideration Black artists will receive from the Grammys or the CMAs.' The post Beyoncé made country music history. The Grammys just redefined what counts. appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
Buzz Feed
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Grammys Change Country Category After Beyoncé Album Win
Back in February, Beyoncé made Grammys history when she became the first Black woman to win the Best Country Album award with Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé admitted she was 'in shock' after beating the other nominees: Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. In her acceptance speech, the star reflected on her genre switch as she thanked "all the incredible country artists that accepted this album," and added: "I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists and I just want to encourage people to do what they're passionate about and stay persistent." The win was especially notable as Beyoncé had been completely snubbed by the Country Music Awards, despite Cowboy Carter undoubtedly being one of the most successful country albums of the year. For reference, nominations are decided by the Country Music Association, which is made up of a range of industry professionals. And this wasn't Beyoncé's first sour experience when it comes to the CMAs. In 2016, the star was subjected to anti-Black backlash following her performance of 'Daddy Lessons' alongside The Chicks at the even appeared to allude to this moment when she announced Cowboy Carter on Instagram last year, writing: 'This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn't. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive." In short, Beyoncé's venture into the country genre certainly wasn't welcomed by everybody, and it seems as though her Grammy win may have rubbed some people up the wrong way, as some pretty interesting changes have just been announced ahead of 2026's show. On Thursday, it was revealed that the Grammys are splitting the country genre into two categories: Best Traditional Country Album, and Best Contemporary Country Album. This is the only change to the music categories being made for the upcoming 68th annual Grammy Awards. Per Billboard, new categories are added to the Grammys from proposals made to the Recording Academy's Awards & Nominations Committee, with each proposal being voted on by the Academy's board of the change, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told the publication: 'The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal and said we would like to have more variety in how our music is honored. They said: 'We think we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored.''He also claimed that this particular proposal had been submitted multiple times in the past, but was only approved by the board this definition for the Traditional Country category reads: 'This category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.''People from that community are making more music, it's more varied, there's different styles of writing and performing,' Mason added. 'I'm hopeful that that community understands that the academy is doing what it always does, which is stay in tune with what's happening in their genre.' However, the timing of this change felt a little loaded to some music lovers, with it not lost on them that it was being implemented immediately after a Black woman won this category for the first time. 'Best Traditional Country Album. How subtle.' one viral tweet reacting to the news simply reads. Somebody else wrote: 'Best Traditional Country Album... they couldn't wait a couple more years so it wasn't so obvious what they're responding too?''They really don't want black people winning country awards so they found a loophole to separate white country artists from black country artists,' another claimed. ''Traditional' lol. No one said shiiii when country went pop for a few years but Beyoncé dominates and all of a sudden we need a separate award to make certain people feel better,' one more added.'A black woman won best country album, NOW we need two categories? Interesting,' somebody else observed. While another tweeted: 'Rules always change when black people start breaking in. It really is disgusting and annoying to go through." In fact, this tweet summed up the discourse pretty well: What do you make of the category shake-up? Let me know in the comments below!
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
90s country music icons Little Texas touring 30 years after debut
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — Best known for their hit, award-nominated songs 'God Blessed Texas' and 'Kick a Little,' multiple-time Grammy nominees Little Texas have been making waves on the country chart since forming in 1988. Memorial City Hall: Marshall, Texas's cultural and entertainment hub This fall, the Nashville-based group is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of its debut on the country music charts with a tour, including a performance in Marshall. The band boasts writing or co-writing, recording, and playing every note on every single they've released. Those releases have yielded 12 Top 20 singles (with 7 Top 10s and 3 No. 1s) and received multiple Grammy, Country Music Awards (CMA), and Academy of Country Music (ACM) nominations, winning the ACM for Top Vocal Group of 1994. Lead guitarist and vocalist Porter Howell said, 'It's amazing that the run we had was 30 years ago, and here we are, still out there touring and having a blast, if not the most fun we've ever had. We are very grateful to still be playing these songs for fans, and to look out and see people who could not have possibly been alive back then singing every word is so gratifying. 90s country music is still going strong, and we are thrilled to have a place in it.' Shreveport drummer Hoffman returning as a member of Primus Little Texas will rock the stage at the Memorial City Hall Performance Center in Marshall, TX, on October 11, 2025. Tickets go on sale on August 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nicole doesn't look like this anymore! Aussie actress unveils new 'do following stunning Met Gala hairstyle
Nicole Kidman stunned fans with her major hair transformation yet again on Friday as she attended the Country Music Awards with husband Keith Urban. The happy couple looked all loved up as they arrived at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas—but spectators were only focused on one thing. The Australian actress, 57, rocked some very long locks at the annual event, just days after she made headlines for her new pixie cut at the 2025 Met Gala on Tuesday. Speculation has run rampant all week about whether the Hollywood star's debut look at the fashion event was a wig. Daily Mail Australia's own insider hair expert suggested the edgy short do was in fact done by 'hair magic' using a mix of her real locks and hair extensions. But it seems Nicole is intent on keeping everyone guessing as she made a a very chic arrival to the country music event sporting long blonde tresses once more. The Australian actress rocked some very long locks at the annual event, just days after she made headlines for her new pixie cut at the 2025 Met Gala on Tuesday Nicole paired the shock look with a sleeveless, structured leather top by Monse which featured a high turtle neck and a matte sheen. Beneath the shirt was a pair of black slacks with cloth draping over her hips on either side. The Babygirl star kept her accessories to a minimum, stepping into a pair of pointed black flats and opting for a slim black-banded watch and few silver rings. Meanwhile, Keith made sure to match his wife in his own black ensemble, slipping into a button-up he kept open over his chest to flaunt his numerous tattoos. He paired the frock with black slacks and matching chunky boots, also opting for a simple timepiece to accessorise with. Nicole has been the talk of the town all week after she debuted an edgy new haircut at the 2025 Met Gala in New York. The Australian actress stepped out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art sporting a slick pixie cut by Adir Abergel which delighted her admirers. But as close-up photos emerged of the new look, fans began to speculate if the star's new hairstyle was in fact a wig. Nicole's habit of wearing wigs in Hollywood movies has earned her a cult following over the years. The Hollywood star has rarely showcased her natural hair in films since the early days of her career, and almost exclusively wears wigs for all of her movie roles. An Aussie stylist weighed in on her most radical red carpet look and believed her new short style was a mix of her real hair and extensions. 'This could be Nicole's real hair with the length at the back disguised under some artfully placed, clipped or glued in hair pieces,' Bixie Colour hairstylist Andrew Newport told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'This look, which appears to have been achieved by hair magic, could have been created by taking the hair at the back of the head and braiding tightly to the scalp. Nicole's real hair is featured at the front fringe, plus the hair extensions at the nape would be dressed over the disguised hair. 'This would take a bit of work and considerable time but is 100% achievable.' Speculation about Nicole's new do kicked off just hours after the Baby Girl star walked the red carpet and fans flocked to her hairstylist Adir's Instagram page. Adir shared several photos and videos of Nicole's short hair as she walked the red carpet, expressing pride in his work. Meanwhile, Keith made sure to match his wife in his own black ensemble, slipping into a button-up he kept open over his chest to flaunt his numerous tattoos And while followers sang his praises, many still believed he had styled a wig rather than Nicole's own hair. One fan went so far as to ask Adir outright, but the hairstylist managed to side-step the question and chose not to confirm or deny. 'As a hairdresser of 32 years I have to say, this hair out shined the dress! Stunning... You are amazing. Is it a wig or did you cut her hair?' the follower asked. 'Thank you baby. I am truly touched,' Adir responded without answering the pointed question. Even Italian hairstylist Marco Bresciani Testa said: 'Great job Well done that Wig suit the perfection [sic] and @nicolekidman makes it so real!'
