Nashville, Tennessee – Beyoncé’s recent achievement of reaching the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart has garnered praise from legendary country singer Dolly Parton. The groundbreaking success of Beyoncé’s single “Texas Hold ‘Em” marked her as the first Black woman to have a chart-topping track on the Billboard Hot Country chart. In response to this milestone, Dolly Parton took to social media to commend Beyoncé on her accomplishment and express her excitement for the singer’s upcoming country album.
Other artists, including Brittney Spencer, Morgane Stapleton, and Queen Latifah, joined in to applaud Dolly Parton for supporting Beyoncé in her foray into country music. Beyoncé surprised fans with the release of “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” during the 2024 Super Bowl as a prelude to her forthcoming country album, “Act II,” set to debut on March 29. While “Texas Hold ‘Em” quickly became a fan favorite and secured the No. 1 spot, “16 Carriages” also made its mark by reaching the 9th position on the chart.
Despite the positive reception, not all country music enthusiasts welcomed Beyoncé’s venture into the genre. Some fans took to social media to voice their opinions, claiming that her music did not align with traditional country sound. One individual from Kentucky shared a screenshot of an email from a local country radio station, stating their policy of not playing Beyoncé’s music due to being a country music station.
The controversy sparked a discussion on social media and led to the radio station South Central Oklahoma Radio Enterprises, overseeing KYKC, eventually adding both of Beyoncé’s country singles to their playlist. The decision to include Beyoncé’s music was also mirrored by two other stations managed by the company. Beyoncé’s entry into the country music scene continues to generate waves of both excitement and debate among fans and industry professionals alike.