Advertisement
In the wake of Beyoncé’s announcement of her “Cowboy Carter” album, there has been a flurry of commentary surrounding her foray into country music, along with discussions about the often-overlooked contributions of Black artists to the genre since its inception.
Among the discourse, there have been lighthearted remarks about the album’s title, derived from Beyoncé’s married surname and her husband Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, juxtaposed with the profound legacy of the Carter Family. The Carter Family, comprising Sara Carter, her husband A.P., and pioneering guitarist Maybelle, exerted a profound influence on the country genre with their recordings spanning from the 1920s to the 1950s. Their lineage extended to include Maybelle’s daughters June (later wed to Johnny Cash), Anita, and Helen.
Carlene, the daughter of June Carter and herself a seasoned country singer, extended a warm welcome to Beyoncé and her “Country Carter” album, embracing her as part of the Carter family legacy. In a heartfelt statement, Carlene addressed the negativity surrounding the album’s release and emphasized Beyoncé’s talent and creativity. She highlighted the Carter family tradition of pushing musical boundaries and praised Beyoncé for following her heart and taking spirit-driven risks in her artistic endeavors.
Acknowledging that the country music establishment has not always been welcoming to diverse voices, Carlene expressed her admiration and support for Beyoncé’s exploration of country music. She affirmed Beyoncé’s place among the Carter women, who have historically embraced various genres of music with love and passion. Carlene concluded her statement with a warm invitation to Beyoncé to join the “Carter Girl Club,” expressing confidence that detractors will eventually come to appreciate Beyoncé’s contributions to the genre.
With her words of encouragement and solidarity, Carlene extends a hand of acceptance and celebration to Beyoncé, welcoming her into the esteemed lineage of the Carter family and anticipating the eventual embrace of her music by all.