Beyoncé has made history by becoming the first Black woman artist ever to claim the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in modern country music history. This achievement comes courtesy of her country debut single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which not only reached Number One on the country chart but also debuted at Number Two on the Hot 100, as announced by the publication on Tuesday.
Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” knocked Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves’ “I Remember Everything” off its 20-week reign at Number One on the country chart and its previous top position on the Hot 100 last year. The success of “Texas Hold ‘Em” can be attributed primarily to robust streams and sales. The song garnered 19.2 million streams and 39,000 traditional sales last week, according to Luminate. Additionally, it received 4.8 million radio audience impressions.
Another country track by Beyoncé, “16 Carriages,” also made its mark, reaching Number Nine on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song accumulated 10.3 million streams, 14,000 sales, and 90,000 radio impressions.
Beyoncé surprised fans by dropping “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” last week during the Super Bowl. This move sparked speculation among fans and industry insiders about whether the songs would be embraced by the traditional country music industry. Last week, Beyoncé’s record label, Columbia, officially promoted “Texas Hold ‘Em” to country radio. Consequently, the song made its debut on the Country Airplay chart at Number 54, marking Beyoncé’s first entry on this chart.
While Beyoncé is not the first woman of color to make her mark in country music, with artists like Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer, and Linda Martell finding success in recent years, her achievement underscores the genre’s historical lack of diversity. Despite a few exceptions, country music has remained predominantly white and male. Last year, for the first time in chart history, a song written solely by a Black woman, Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” topped the country charts thanks to Luke Combs’ rendition.
Although Beyoncé’s success in country music may seem unexpected, it isn’t entirely surprising. The Texas native has shown her country influences early in her career, both as part of Destiny’s Child and later as a solo artist, notably on tracks like “Daddy Lessons.” Beyoncé’s groundbreaking achievement could potentially draw more attention to other Black country artists who have been making significant contributions to the genre for years.
