Beyoncé recently became the first Black woman to hit #1 in the US with a country song, sparking a significant conversation across the music industry and social media. In her album announcement, Beyoncé expressed feeling honored by this achievement and hoped for a future where an artist's race would not be a topic of discussion in music. She also addressed the criticisms she faced upon entering the genre, which propelled her past limitations. The milestone was met with mixed reactions, including criticism from Azealia Banks, who accused Beyoncé of using her capitalist advantage to overshadow other artists in the country music scene. Banks also criticized Beyoncé's husband, Jay-Z, for his involvement in her career and suggested Beyoncé should not let opinions from white people influence her music direction. Maren Morris supported Beyoncé with a "Drag Them, Queen" response, encouraging her to address the country music industry's politics, while the controversy has also led to discussions about the politics within the country music scene and Beyoncé's silence over the backlash.
Azealia Banks on Beyoncé becoming the first Black woman to top Billboard's country music chart: “Like in 2024, is being the first black woman to have a #1 on the country charts an accomplishment when you’ve clearly used your capitalist advantage to smother out the currently… https://t.co/ViuO8WW7Gv
Azealia Banks blasts Beyoncé for "nauseating little Bey on the prairie" country pivot https://t.co/FuE9Y4EBm0
Azealia Banks criticizes Beyoncé’s new album, says Jay-Z should stop involving himself in her career and how she should stop letting opinions from white people influence her music direction: “Ur always sharing ur platform with white women who are jealous of you but have such a… https://t.co/aqw6ZAsItA
#Beyonce, The Chicks And The Country Music Awards: A History Lesson. https://t.co/nBg9F2H6Sn
Beyoncé, the CMAs, and the fight over country music’s politics, explained https://t.co/qolJUom5gV via @voxdotcom
Azealia Banks on Beyoncé becoming the first Black woman to top Billboard's country music chart: “Like in 2024, is being the first black woman to have a #1 on the country charts an accomplishment when you’ve clearly used your capitalist advantage to smother out the currently… https://t.co/KaWjoLGbyQ
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” Beyoncé wrote. https://t.co/zHVtR6tTFV
“Drag Them, Queen” – Maren Morris Responds To Beyoncé Calling Out The Country Music Industry In Her Album Announcement https://t.co/NETWpgADWF https://t.co/NETWpgADWF
Beyonce breaks silence over backlash for going country https://t.co/otlgTvTdLZ https://t.co/txo6ZbonjW
Beyoncé on becoming the first Black woman to hit #1 in the US with a country song: “I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart… My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist's race, as it relates to releasing… https://t.co/jjTIeCjKgd