Can Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Overcome Country’s Bias?

Beyoncé’s knack for dominating the music scene in a number of genres is nothing new. Months after the 2017 launch of her flavorful Lemonade, she made historical past as the primary artist to garner Grammy nominations within the rock, rap, R&B and pop fields in the identical 12 months. The one style to not acknowledge her, regardless of the category-appropriate monitor “Daddy Classes”? Nation music.

Beyoncé submitted the twangy music to the Grammys, and primarily based on important reception alone, it ought to have earned bids for greatest nation music and/or greatest nation solo efficiency. (Recording Academy members are directed to vote solely of their areas of experience.) But it surely was not a shock that the Houston-born singer was rejected from the class, a choice that mirrored her terrible expertise on the Nation Music Affiliation Awards, the place her stirring efficiency of the music with the Dixie Chicks resulted in a firestorm, calls by some salty followers for a boycott and the megastar’s presence that night time being omitted from the CMA web site.

Now that Queen Bey has launched one of the crucial talked-about albums in current reminiscence, breaking Spotify’s file for many streams in a single day, how will Cowboy Carter fare on the Grammys provided that it blends blues, people and zydeco components? Will the Recording Academy’s nation committee say it’s not nation sufficient? Will the album be pushed to pop? May this be the challenge that lastly lands Beyoncé a win for album of the 12 months?

Subsequent Gen Nation

Some will argue that Cowboy Carter isn’t totally nation, so why would it not compete for greatest nation album? However I’d argue that Beyoncé shouldn’t need to launch a solely country-sounding album if that’s not what she desires to do, nor ought to her album be disqualified within the nation class. Awards reveals may must categorize albums, however artists should be happy and unrestricted to do nice work. However as a result of it’s deeply rooted in nation music and that’s one of the best style match for the challenge, that’s the place it ought to compete — even when traditionalists really feel in another way.

And since Cowboy Carter can also be a multi-genre affair, songs may very well be submitted to fields aside from nation, together with within the American roots, people, rock, pop, R&B and rap fields. Identical to she did with Lemonade.

Dolly for the Help

Covers of basic nation songs have accomplished effectively on the Grammys. Darius Rucker gained greatest nation solo efficiency in 2014 along with his model of “Wagon Wheel,” written by Bob Dylan and Previous Crow Medication Present’s Ketch Secor; John Hartford launched “Light on My Thoughts” in 1967 and Glen Campbell coated it the identical 12 months, and it gained the singers two Grammys apiece in 1968; and the a cappella group Pentatonix gained in 2017 alongside Dolly Parton for his or her duet model of “Jolene,” initially launched in 1973. 

Outdoors of “Texas Maintain ’Em,” Beyoncé’s Parton-approved tackle “Jolene” could be onerous for the committee to disclaim, and it may very well be price submitting for greatest nation solo efficiency as a substitute of the album’s lead single, although that anthem made historical past on the nation charts. The query is: Which music is extra more likely to reduce via? Methinks “Jolene.” To separate the distinction, “Texas Maintain ’Em” may compete for music and file of the 12 months.

Collaborative Nation

If there’s a Grammy class the nation committee is extra lenient with, it’s greatest nation duo/group efficiency. Justin Bieber and Dan + Shay’s “10,000 Hours” gained the respect in 2021, and singers outdoors the style have earned noms for his or her duets with nation acts, together with Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Bebe Rexha. 

Beyoncé has a number of collaborations on her album, and “II Most Wished” with Miley Cyrus stands out. The music has garnered essentially the most streams for Cowboy Carter so far and may very well be a shoo-in for greatest nation (or pop) duo/group efficiency. Collaborations with Parton, Willie Nelson and Submit Malone and Beyoncé’s cowl of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” which options rising Black feminine nation singers (Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts and Tiera Kennedy) is also put forth. However a nom for Linda Martell, who seems on “Spaghetti,” could be groundbreaking. The primary Black lady to carry out solo on the Grand Ole Opry, she launched just one album, in 1970, and left music after experiencing racism onstage. 

Cowboy Carter can also be a household affair. Blue Ivy Carter gained one of the best music video Grammy at age 9 for her look on her mother’s anthem “Brown Pores and skin Lady,” and her child sister — Rumi Carter, 6, who seems on “Protector” — may grow to be the youngest artist to earn the prize. The album may additionally assist Jay-Z win extra Grammys; he co-wrote a number of of the album’s songs. He and Beyoncé are tied for many noms ever: 88. He has 24 wins, she has a file 32. 

This story first appeared within the April 10 concern of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.