Beyoncé has become the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
The 'Crazy in Love' hitmaker surprised fans when she dropped two new country music songs - 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages' - and she has now made history with the former hit after it debuted at No.1 on the US chart.
A week after they dropped, 'Texas Hold ‘Em' garnered 19.2 million streams and '16 Carriages' earned 10.3 million.
The 42-year-old Grammy winner confirmed plans to release a country-themed album in an advert for Verizon which aired during the Super Bowl VIII on February 11, in which she attempted to break the internet with stunts including a hologram called Beyonc-AI and a film called Barbey before she declared: "OK, they ready. Drop the new music. I told y’all the ‘Renaissance’ is not over."
'Renaissance Act II' - the second part of her planned 'Renaissance' trilogy - will land on March 29.
However, not everyone is pleased with the R'n'B superstar's interpretation of country music, namely, including outspoken '212' hitmaker Azealia Banks, who went as far as accusing Beyoncé's husband, music mogul Jay-Z, of "bullying" her into doing it.
The 32-year-old rapper began her Instagram Stories post: “I love you down, but them R'n'B runs over the Leslie feist back beats is giving Pickmesha.
“Nothing country about it. You’re setting yourself up to be ridiculed again. There’s a theatrical element to country music. Them [country] critics are not just going to accept an ugly blond wig and bullying from Jay-Z. It’s giving big-time musical grift. (sic)"
Referring to country star K. Michelle (aka Puddin), 41, she continued: “Yes, Black girls can make country music, but you’re just really not hitting the button.
“K. Michelle, this is your turn to really execute. It’s no shade, but K. Michelle truly understands the assignment.”
Turns out, Michelle - whose real name is Kimberly Michelle Pate - is fully behind Beyoncé's foray into country.
She posted to X (formerly Twitter): "Y’all been mentioning me all night.
“I’m just happy to be spoken about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like I always do."
