Country music legend Dolly Parton has shown her support for Beyoncé after she made history by becoming the first Black woman to claim the top spot on Billboard’s country music chart.
Beyoncé, 42, achieved this feat with her track “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which was released alongside “16 Carriages” in a surprise album announcement during this year’s Super Bowl. Not only did she break records, but she also became the second solo female artist to have a song go straight to the summit of the country music chart, following Taylor Swift’s achievement in 2021.
Despite some backlash and criticism from detractors, such as a radio station refusing to play Beyoncé’s song because they consider themselves a country music station and actor John Schneider telling her to stay out of the genre, Dolly Parton, arguably the biggest icon in country music, has no problem with Beyoncé’s success.
In fact, she enthusiastically expressed her support for the pop superstar in a heartfelt Instagram post:
“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
As Beyoncé is set to release her new album, “Renaissance: Act II,” on March 29, fans are now speculating if the entire project will focus on country music.
With approximately 76 million Americans enjoying country music weekly, it’s not surprising that well-known artists like Beyoncé want to tap into this extensive fan base and broaden their appeal, despite the resistance from certain hardcore country music fans and radio stations who believe she should leave the genre alone.
Beyoncé’s critics have not gone unchallenged by her loyal fan base. Many of them have defended her against the backlash, particularly taking issue with John Schneider’s comments.
Schneider recently discussed the country genre and its evolution during an interview with OANN host Alison Steinberg. When Steinberg asked Schneider about the entertainment industry’s involvement in different genres, he replied with an analogy:
“The lefties in the entertainment industry just won’t leave any area alone, right? They just have to seize control over every aspect, don’t they? They’ve got to make their mark, just like a dog in a dog walk park. You know, every dog has to mark every tree, right? So that’s what’s going on here.”
Fans quickly pointed out the historical roots of country music and the hypocrisy of gatekeeping the genre. One fan on X stated, “Country music was created by black folks.
Imagine gatekeeping a genre of music that black people created, imagine getting mad that a southern artist from Texas decided to go back to her roots.”
Another fan mentioned examples of crossover artists in the past, like Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, who have embraced country influences in their music. The support for Beyoncé was clear, and her fans were not afraid to voice their opinions.
Despite the negative comments, Beyoncé can find solace in the fact that she has the support of Dolly Parton, widely known as the Queen of Country.
With Parton’s backing, it’s safe to say that Beyoncé’s venture into country music has received the seal of approval from one of the genre’s most beloved and respected figures.
