Beyoncé’s hotly-anticipated foray into country music, COWBOY CARTER, is finally here and has brought a resurgence of mainstream interest in the genre. The second act in the songstress and mogul’s trilogy celebrating historically Black music genres, the project not only educates listeners on the oft-disregarded Black roots of Country but shines a light on its bright Black future. In addition to features from Post Malone, the unofficial queen and king of country music, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson, and, she also enlisted the help of select Black country stars to bring her vision to life, make room for more upcoming Black country singers.
Linda Martell
Beyoncé highlighted Black Country pioneer Linda Martell, the first commercially successful Black Country artist. One of the album’s tracks is called The Linda Martell Show, which is an intro to the song Ya Ya. Martell appears on that track, as well as the song Spaghetti. Martell had the highest peaking single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles (now Songs) chart at #22, “Color Him Father,” by a Black female country artist in the history of the genre in 1969, until Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ’Em” debuted at #1 on February 21st, 2024. Martell was notably the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Born and raised in South Carolina, Martell listened to country, gospel, and R&B music. In her teens, she formed a singing trio with her family titled Linda Martell and the Anglos. She moved to Nashville in 1969 and released her Top 25 charting debut single the same year which preceded her first and only album, Color Me Country. Color Me Country climbed to the Top 40 on the Billboard Top Country Album chart, featuring three charting singles and receiving praise from Billboard for its authenticity Though the album was deemed a success, Martell’s talent and tenacity still faced racism by audiences shouting racial slurs and hateful words at nearly every live show. In the mid-2000s, Martell retired from her public school career and last performed publicly in 2011 with her band, Eazzy. Martell was honored with the Equal Play Award at the 2021 CMT Music Awards. It was given to recognize her work as a Black female performer in country music.
Tanner Adell
Tanner Adell is an American country music singer-songwriter. Her debut album, Buckle Bunny, was released in 2023. The Kentucky native first went viral on TikTok with her love song, Love You A Little Bit, which is still her biggest hit digitally with over 31 million streams on Spotify. When Beyoncé shook the internet with two Country singles shook the internet on February 11th, Adell tweeted her manifestation of featuring on Queen Bey’s upcoming country album, and her wish was granted. She’s featured on Bey’s BlackBiird, a cover of The Beatles’ 1968 hit alongside other Black female country acts. Adell was also featured as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and is gearing up to release her next single, Whiskey Blues, on April 12th, while teasing remixes to Buckle Bunny.
Willie Jones
Willie Jones is an American country music singer and a former contestant on The X Factor. The Shreveport, Louisiana native stood in front of “X Factor” judges Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, LA Reid, and Demi Lovato in 2012 and impressed them with his range and rich tone. His 2018 record, Runs In Our Blood, really put him on the map. Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, he released the American Dream to explicitly detail what it means to be Black in America. Jones has spent his years performing on the Nashville circuit and advocating for Black voices in the country in projects like Prime Video’s 2022 documentary documentary For Love & Country. After releasing his debut album, Something To Dance To in June 2023, he caught the attention of Mrs. Knowles-Carter. His new collaboration with Beyoncé, the hauntingly introspective ballad Just For Fun, showcases Jones’ velvety vocals.
Tiera Kennedy
Rising singer/songwriter Tiera Kennedy is emerging as one of the most exciting voices in the format – injecting Country music with a breath of vitality. The Alabama native’s unique sound stems from equal parts nature and nurture. Armed with talent and knowledge, she scored a publishing deal and a radio show on Apple Music Country. Her proper merger of R&B and country came in the form of her demo record,Found It In You, which has over 21 million streams on Spotify. Landing on several of 2022’s most impressive Artist to Watch Lists, including MT’s Listen Up, MusicRow’s Next Big Thing, and Pandora’s Country Artist to Watch, Kennedy took those songs and more on the road, opening for artists including Kelsey Ballerini and Danielle Bradbery as well as worked with Dolly Parton, and Shania Twain, while playing festivals across the country. She is featured in Beyoncé’s BlackBiird on COWBOY CARTER alongside Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, and Brittney Spencer.
Reyna Roberts
An Alaska native, this banjo-strumming songstress has been honing her Country chops in Nashville since 2020. Influenced by Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Gretchen Wilson, and The Dixie Chicks, the red-haired “hell-raiser” is spicy and sweet. Robert received high praise from the industry and her peers, opening up for Reba McEntire, and Jamey Johnson, and featured alongside Luke Combs performing at CMT Giants: Charley Pride. She’s featured in the Grammy Museum’s Power of Women in Country Music Exhibit as well. Roberts is an Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist and CMT’s Next Women of Country, and appeared in Prime Video’s 2022 documentary documentary For Love & Country, and Hulu’s new documentary CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair. Roberts is featured in Beyoncé’s BlackBiird on COWBOY CARTER. Roberts recently released a music video for her single, Miranda, from her album, Bad Girl Bible Vol. 1.
Shaboozey
Born in Virginia, Shaboozey is a Nigerian-American singer and rapper who is best known for bridging hip-hop and country music. His single, Let It Burn, received over 8 million streams. He has made waves by bridging elements of afrobeat as well into his brand of country music. His biggest solo record, Beverly Hills, from his 2022 LP, Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die, has amassed over 39 million streams on Spotify alone. Shaboozey is signed to Empire and in recent months has made more inroads in Nashville. He is featured on both Beyoncé’s Spaghettii and Sweet Honey Buckin. Shaboozey has released three albums and has previously been featured on the soundtrack of Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. His fourth studio album Where I’ve Been, isn’t Where I’m Going, will be available on May 31.
Brittney Spencer
As a Baltimore native, Brittney Spencer is known for her free spirit and standout ability to mold life, truth, and wild imagination into songs. Spencer received special attention following a viral Twitter video showing her singing a cover of a song by The Highwomen. This promoted the release of her first extended play,Compassion, and multiple singles, most popularly 2021’s Sober & Skinny. She headlined BottleRock as a member of The Highwomen and has performed with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Reba McEntire. Spencer opened for Willie Nelson, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, and more in 2022. She’s also performed the National Anthem at The 148th Kentucky Derby, the Preakness in 2022 alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Lauryn Hill. Spencer launched her debut album, My Stupid Life, in January this year and has been named in Rolling Stone’s “25 Artists To Watch”. She recently did her mashup performance of Beyonce’s Texas Hold ‘Em alongside Grace Potter, mixing in Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again. Spencer is featured in Beyoncé’s BlackBiird on COWBOY CARTER.
Source
Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies.
She’s an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.
