Beyoncé's Gone Country

"Look at them boots!"

I don’t know if your social media algorithm is going wild with country Beyoncé content, but hooo lawdy mine sure is. Zuckerburg and co. clearly know I’m interested in this topic, because every other post on my algorithm is all about Beyoncé, “going country” as Alan Jackson might say.

Funny that I bring the 90s country icon up so quickly, as rumor has it, it was exactly HIM who supposedly played a role in making Beyoncé feel unwelcome at the 2016 CMA Awards, when she performed with the artists who were at the time known as the Dixie Chicks. I read multiple claims on social media stating that he got up and left in protest of their set, but a deeper investigation on this shows it was just a rumor. Stupid internet.

I remember when Beyoncé collaborated with the Dixie Chicks, for “Daddy Lessons,” and it’s a damn good song.

Without getting too into the tumbleweeds, here are my thoughts on Beyoncé’s new country-ish album Cowboy Carter and the broader topic of America’s pop megastar going country.

Beyoncé famously said, “this ain’t a country album, this is a Beyoncé album,” and I get it. It’s a combination of country and Beyoncé yes, but it’s also something else entirely. I can’t say that many of the songs on Cowboy Carter remind me much of the country music in my regular Spotify rotation: Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Cash, Patty Loveless, Loretta Lyn, Dolly Parton, Valerie June, Hank Williams, Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Shania Twain, Benjamin Todd, Colter Wall, the list goes on and on, but I don’t even care. I just love that in embracing the idea of country music, Beyoncé is sewing a million rows of country music seeds to an entire demographic who previously might not have thought this kind of music was intended for them.      

Artforms belong to everyone. Art of all mediums and genres evolve and change. Music, like all creative expression, is not exclusive to one group of people or one culture and while many people are right to point out that country music has African and African American roots, even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t care. Plus, Beyoncé’s American, from the South and I’d be willing to bet she’s heard her fair share of country music. But, yeah, it shouldn’t matter anyway.

When Beyoncé felt unwelcomed while previously dipping her boots into country, she took that feeling and jumped into the genre cowboy hat first. What a way to say “fuck you” to the haters! That sounds pretty cowgirl outlaw to me. I love that she’s embracing her Texas roots, exploring new sounds and collaborating with so many great artists.

Part of her incentive to do this might be connected to the fact that country music, by many accounts, is having a revival. Now is a profitable time for Beyoncé to pull out the banjo, but also, to get even more cynical, pursuing country music just for its profit margin sounds about as modern top 40 country music as you can get. It’s not all three chords and the truth, as much as some of us wish that it was.

Songwriter and comedian Bo Burnham did a satirical country song picking on modern country music megastars. The chorus went “fuck your ears, I’m pandering.” Another zinger: “I write songs about riding tractors, from the comfort of my private jet.”

The intentions behind the country music matter a lot to some fans. But others just want to boot scoot at the bar.

The (amazing) Masters Musicians Festival in Somerset, Kentucky is renowned for its celebration of musicians from the Bluegrass State. Last year southern rap group Nappy Roots was one of the headliners.

The band came together in 1998 and is now based between Kentucky and Atlanta. All four (Black) members came out on stage dancing proudly, owning their cowboy swagger, singing song after song that blended genres of rap, hip hop, blues and country.

The audience loved it, myself included. I was surprised when they performed their rendition of “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama.

The crowd, (predominantly white folks) were delighted at this Dixie ditty. I am glad that Nappy Roots were happy to perform that song, but I would also understand why any band, and especially a band of Black artists, would give that one a miss. The word “Dixie” is becoming increasingly sketchy in modern America. There are plenty of think pieces on the word and its controversial meaning. But also, Nappy Roots and their fans didn’t seem to mind.  

Afterwards I got a chance to have a quick chat with band member Fish Scales about mixing rap and country. For him, it’s just good business sense. You can listen to the short interview here. (The only photo I got of Scales was a selfie with me, please excuse my fangirling.)

“Southern rap is rap; it’s just a southern story,” he told me. “We are so lucky that we found the magic formula between country music and hip hop, and I think we got the perfect balance between the two.”  

Beyoncé is following their lead. Cowboy Carter is hard to define, but I like the songs. Her version of “Jolene” gave me goosebumps. “Texas Hold Em”’s banjo introduction by Rhiannon Giddens is superb. I love the country legends she’s included in the album, even if they’re just speaking for a few seconds. The fact that Beyoncé recognized Willy Nelson and Dolly Parton indicates to me that her intentions are authentic and good. Her album also exposed me to several new country artist, which is great. You’ve got a new fan, Shaboozey!

Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country” hit from the 90s is all about the lack of authenticity with privileged, non-southern musicians pursuing country music careers. He criticizes wealthy out-of-touch people trying to profit from the genre. I can understand why some working class folks would be skeptical of Beyoncé. Yes she’s a near billionaire who’s built an empire, but also damnit she’s from Texas with Louisiana roots. Even if her intentions are questionable, she’s changing the way the world sees country music and all country fans should want this! We’re not all redneck women, no offense to Gretchen Wilson.          

As Alan Jackson sings (and please listen and read the lyrics of this song in its entirety) “I hear down there, it’s changed you see. They’re not as backwards as they used to be.”

Beyoncé is being strategic when she explores country music, as she is with everything she does. I don’t think we should worry too much about her intentions. Country music fans should show some southern hospitality and welcome her with open arms.

Here’s what I’ve been reading about this week.

- In the NYT, Judith Butler Thinks You’re Overreacting.

- Coleman Hughes podcast this week was so compelling “Is Therapy Bad For You?”

- I watched the interview between Elon Musk and Don Lemon and they’re both annoying.

- This beautiful poem by Erica Meitner was just amazing.