On Sunday evening, Beyoncé played this song “Texas Hold ‘Em” and another one called “16 Carriages”, a part of her country-inspired album to be released next month.

This album is more than a musical experiment for Beyoncé, it’s a chance to promote, embrace, and reclaim country music’s culturally diverse history.

Robert Randolph plays rock and folk steel guitar on “16 Carriages.”

He described Beyoncé’s “Act II” vision to Rolling Stone by saying… “It almost seemed like it was supposed to be out of left field when a Black artist says, 

‘Hey, I’m going to do a country record.’ It’s crazy that the whole world doesn’t understand the history of country music.”

Country music originated in the southern United States and tends to focus on working class Americans and blue-collar American life. 

But it’s always been a diverse genre coming from a wide variety of cultures.

The music combines white, Black, and Native American cultures among many others. These have all contributed to the sounds and singing styles we associate with country music today.

“Queen Bey” has been trying to spotlight American Black cowboys for years now. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar for her Ivy Park Rodeo fashion line, she said her inspiration was Black rodeos she attended growing up that helped Black people reclaim their place in western history and culture.

Beyonce’s goal now is to erase the stereotypes and reclaim Black artistry in the world of music. Act i of her three part project also recognized past Black musicians while also paving the way for new Black artists. Ashley Ware is a video game design major at USC.

Ashley Ware: I know her last album, Renaissance, it set like a theme for her next two albums, which is the reclamation of historically black music. So, I think because I don’t really normally listen to country music, but like Beyoncé, making country music. I’m gonna, I’m gonna take a listen.

Sophomore Mariele Manzella studies public relations.

Mariele Manzella: Music is just art, and I don’t think there should be any kind of stereotype or label for people who listen to specific genres of music.

Black artists like Charley Pride, Linda Martell and Ray Charles have made major contributions to country and paved the way for the future of the genre.

Garth White is a senior studying economics. He argues that music is a versatile art with no limits on who can create what.

Garth White: Good music is good music, no matter who sings it and I support any good music, you know, whatever walks of life, they come from whatever religion whatever, gender, race, religious belief, anything like that

The most awarded Grammy winner, Beyoncé, continues to embrace Black artists of the past while making big strides for Black artists of the future.

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Source: Los Angeles Times