Beyoncé is one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry and beyond, but she hasn’t always felt welcomed in certain situations. Apparently.
The woman known by many as “Queen Bey” says she drew inspiration for her new country music-inspired album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” from one such instance.
In a post on Instagram, Beyoncé announced that the soon-to-be-released album has already seen success with the release of dual lead singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages”.
“I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart,” she said.
Beyoncé then noted that the project had been years in the making and “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.”
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The Experience? Beyoncé’s Performance At The Country Music Awards
Axios reports that Beyoncé’s comments have been “widely interpreted as a reference to her 2016 performance at the CMA Awards, which was met with a racist backlash on social media.”
Bey had performed a song with the Dixie Chicks and, as the Los Angeles Times interpreted things, “conservative country music fans” weren’t thrilled because “all they knew was that an ‘other’ was on their blessed stage.”
Country legend Alan Jackson even reportedly walked out when Beyoncé hit the stage.
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Was It Racism?
Beyoncé was clearly not welcomed. But, as a diva, she’s not willing to accept any explanation that people might not like her in every situation and therefore, it must be racism.
But was it?
Jackson, prior to her performance that year, complained that producers of the 50th-anniversary edition of the CMAs were trying to force pop music into the show instead of honoring pure country.
“Yeah, they may play some real country music,” he said. “But I understand the dang television station trying to get the ratings with whatever they think is gonna prop it up, with some big event with some other type of artist on there.”
Another country star had expressed similar sentiments:
The other issue may have been in the choice of the Dixie Chicks as her backup band. The Chicks had a long history of disrespecting America and injecting politics into their music and appearances.
Furthermore, Beyoncé also has a history of being anti-police and anti-military, something that doesn’t typically appeal to country music fans.
In a video for “Formation”, Beyoncé controversially dressed like a member of the militant Black Panthers organization, while anti-police messages were seen throughout.
Her Inspiration Is Grievance
Good for her to use a perceived sleight as inspiration to create new music. Most artists do. But the sleight, at least from a race aspect, is just that – perceived.
There’s no denying the success that Beyoncé has experienced since jumping into the country music genre, as even the country legend Dolly Parton is a supporter of her work.
“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton said in a statement. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
Parton also shocked fans when she revealed that Beyoncé had recorded a cover of her hit song “Jolene.”
“My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant,” Beyoncé said.
Generally, the only ones seemingly obsessed with race are her supporters, and the media.
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