Beyoncé Makes History Topping Billboard’s Country Chart

With her next album Renaissance Act II right around the corner, Beyoncé has proven she can nail the country genre. This week, Queen Bey made her debut on Billboard’s streaming, airplay, and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart (dated February 24) with her first two entries on the survey: “Texas Hold ‘Em” at #1 and “16 Carriages” at #9.

With "Texas Hold 'Em" in particular, Beyoncé has made history as the first Black woman, or female known to be biracial, to have topped the Hot Country Songs tally. The LA Times reports Beyoncé joins Taylor Swift as the only solo women to top the chart with no accompanying artists. Additionally, she's set the record for being the first woman to have topped both Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since the lists began as all-encompassing genre song charts in October 1958.

_{Check out our selection of free stations streaming Beyoncé music at Live365.com.}

The superstar, who released the new songs after her Verizon commercial aired during Super Bowl LVIII earlier this month, joins Morgan Wallen,
Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Ray Charles as the only acts to have led both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, according to Billboard. Her pair of songs also charted on the publication’s all-genre Billboard Hot 100, with “Texas Hold ’Em” climbing to the #2 spot and “16 Carriages” parking at #38.

Although she might be among the most recognized names, Bey is by no means the only Black artist making waves in country music. Hootie & the Blowfish alum Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Kane Brown, Breland, Willie Jones, Jimmie Allen, Reyna Roberts, Blanco Brown, Tanner Adell, and Brittney Spencer are just a few of the contemporary musicians who have left their mark on the predominantly white genre in recent years. And in the past, disco queen Donna Summer made history as the first Black woman to co-write a #1 country single in 1980 with “Starting Over Again”: a tune she wrote with her widower Bruce Sudano for none other than Dolly Parton.

Speaking of Dolly Parton, the country legend made headlines praising Beyoncé for her chart achievement. “I’m a big fan of Beyonce and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton wrote on social media. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”

Renaissance Act II is set for release on March 29, and will be the second part of a trilogy. The first installment of Renaissance, which vogued its way into the EDM genre in 2022, featured disco and club music. The Destiny’s Child alum is similarly bringing her Houston country-music roots to Act II.

Listen to "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" below.

READ NEXT: Best Beyoncé Songs

Check out our selection of free stations streaming Beyoncé music at Live365.com.

_{Rather listen on our app? Download the Live365 app on iOS or Android. Ready to start your own station? Contact one of our Product Consultants or visit our website today. Keep up with the latest news by following us on Facebook (Live365 (Official) and Live365 Broadcasting) and Twitter (@Live365 and @Broadcast365)! You can also shop Live365 swag and branded merchandise at store.live365.com!}

_{Article Image: Close-up of Beyonce singing during her "Renaissance World Tour" in June 2023. (Raph_PH [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons)}