Latest news with #PhilLewis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Army veteran who had to give up everything he worked for does something incredible
Army veteran who had to give up everything he worked for does something incredible Phil Lewis has a life-changing condition meaning he could no longer work or drive and said it has had 'devastating' impact on his life Phil Lewis (Image: Alison Lewis ) For Phil Lewis, vision loss took away everything he had worked for his entire life. Although he knew the day was coming, with a hereditary condition affecting his grandparents, mother and siblings, the moment it happened was not any easier. In 2020, coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic, the 61-year-old's condition retinitis pigmentosa, which makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss, forced him to stop work. He has entirely lost his side vision and all he can see is directly in front of him, but it is very limited, only in dark and light shades, just allowing him to manoeuvre himself around. He said: "I was first diagnosed with my sight loss when I served in the Royal Engineers at about 21-22 years old. It was night vision that was the issue. I was devastated when I had to come out of the army, It was my career path, and I was only in it for four years, but I did my apprenticeship as carpenter and joiner, in the army, and luckily I came out and carried on with my trade. "At that point, I thought my eyesight was fine, but it wasn't good enough to be in the military. "It was fine to work, and I carried on with my trade during my working life for the next 35 years, self-employed with my company Tradesmen Carpentry Services, but it very gradually got worse over the years. It didn't really affect me at all until 2020. I had to stop then, because it was getting dangerous with scaffolding and roofs and things, it was a bit hairy. Article continues below "I didn't have a choice, and it was devastating as I loved my job and my work and everything I had worked for, I had to just give up and stop overnight. I had no intention of stopping. I'd still be working today if I could. "My grandparents had it, and my mother had it, my two brothers and two sisters have got it as well. I think that's why I worked so much, and worked so hard, knowing that when I get older I wasn't going to be able to support myself. I needed to work as hard as I could and get everything done up until the point I knew I wouldn't be able to do it. Unfortunately, it's come a bit quicker than I anticipated. "The first three and a half years after I finished was depressing, it knocked my confidence and I lost the motivation to do anything as well. I couldn't drive or anything so it was awkward getting out and about." In 2023, Mr Lewis took the decision to reach out for help from Blind Veterans UK, a not-for-profit organisation looking to support anyone who has served in the Armed Forces or who has done national service and is now living with significant sight loss. The Fforestfach, Swansea resident, began receiving support from them, including the use of a cane for which he had training, which proved to be a game-changer for him. "I had been at a bit of a loss really as to what to do next," he said. "I by chance had a conversation with the optician that I had been in the army, and he mentioned the Blind Veterans, and I thought I'd give it a go and see what they could offer, and they have been fantastic. "They came to see me and there was a bit of an assessment as to what I used to do and where I was in life. They couldn't believe I didn't have a cane and they got some pretty much straight away. They gave me a bit of cane training and stuff, and it gave me my confidence to get back out again. "Up until that point, I'd been walking into people and getting into arguments all the time, but once I started using the cane properly, it changed my life and gave me confidence to get out there and do things again. "I've got good mates who come here every week and we go out walking together, which has been a real boost. I'm married and I've got three daughters and six grandkids so it keeps me busy. I do the school runs every day, it all helps, and feels you have a bit of worth to help out." Mr Lewis said he was keen to do something to give back to the charity which supported him when he most needed it. Together with his friends Chris Hannon and Colin Barry, as well as Sam Thomas who works as a rehabilitation officer for the visually impaired at the charity, he set off on an ambitious 26-mile walk along the Gower coast to raise £1,000 for the good cause, as part of its armed forces month campaign, which calls on people to organise activities to celebrate and commemorate key dates in the month of June. Mr Lewis together with Chris Hannon, Colin Barry and Sam Thomas at the Big Apple in Mumbles (Image: Alison Lewis ) Mr Lewis said: "These three men have been a great support to me throughout my sight loss journey and have helped me to prepare for this challenge. I couldn't have done it without them. 'The terrain on the route was extremely challenging; only the last four miles of the coastal path was an actual proper pathway. The rest was more like a coastal climb than a coastal walk! 'Sam was my guide during the walk. It must have been as exhausting for him as it was for me, if not more so. Sam gave me constant instructions in the tricky sections and had to watch my steps as well as his own. We had planned to go for a pint when we finished, but instead we all went home to bed.' The men taking part in the challenge (Image: Alison Lewis ) Mr Thomas added: 'When I first met Phil, he was unable to travel independently around his local area and relied on his family when getting around. He required skills that would enable him to feel safe and confident. 'We began with short routes around the park and eventually started branching into unfamiliar areas. With the use of the long cane and the skills he learnt he soon felt confident with asking for support and relying on his own skills to walk longer and more complicated routes. Article continues below 'Phil has proved that sight loss does not prevent you from reaching your potential. He's met stumbling blocks on the way but has always found solutions to meeting his goals. It was an honour to take part in this walk with Phil. I have learnt so much in the short time we have worked together and am looking forward to our next challenge.' If you would like to raise funds for the charity you can learn more on how to do so by clicking here.
