Black Women Share How They See Themselves in Beyonce’s ‘Cowboy Carter’

Source: collage by Joce Blake / Joce

I’ve been a Beyonce fan since the day I was born. Yes, I said what I said. There’s always been something magical about the Houston baddie. From her style to her effortless way of communicating my feelings in her songs, I have always felt connected to her.

However, something truly transformative happened when she entered this new phase, particularly around the release of Lemonade. Suddenly, her lyrics resonated with a newfound intensity. Then came Renaissance, which felt incredibly liberating. And now, with Cowboy Carter, the excitement continues to build. 

The impact of Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter”

Blue Ivy’s mama conceptualized Cowboy Carter as a mystical journey through a reimagining of Americana, specifically shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history. While many have categorized it as a country album, the album seamlessly blends an array of musical genres, including pop, hip hop, trap, psychedelic funk, blues, soul, rock, rock and roll, opera and even a little “Irish” jig“. What I love most is how the album is framed as a radio broadcast by the fictional station “KNTRY Radio Texas,” with country legends Dolly Parton, Linda Martell, and Willie Nelson serving as disc jockeys. Those little pieces of history make the album even more intentional. Featuring tracks by lesser-known Black country artists like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey, and Willie Jones, the album boasts a rich musical landscape driven by acoustic instruments played by acclaimed musicians like Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Nile Rodgers, Jon Batiste, Gary Clark Jr., and Rhiannon Giddens.

Beyoncé consistently gives us reasons to embrace our Blackness in ways that few other artists do. Above all, she has reclaimed numerous genres that were once taken from us, asserting her power in meaningful ways. HelloBeautiful was intrigued by this thought, so we asked four Black women how they see themselves in Beyonce’s latest album, “Cowboy Carter.”

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