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Country music is having a moment
Giddy up, GF—it looks like 2024 is going to be the year of country music. And tbh, looking back on the coastal cowgirl trend, Taylor Swift's country rerecordings and emerging country chic fashion, it's been a long time coming.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Beyoncé announced a new country album called Act II and dropped two singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages." Ever since Queen B broke the internet with the genre switch-up, her country debut has been the talk of the industry (to be fair, it is Beyoncé herself).
But not only is she now the first Black woman to top the Billboard country charts (*and* the all-genre Billboard Hot 100) with "Texas Hold 'Em," she is also starting conversations of inclusion in country music by challenging the idea of the "traditional" country artist. Her entrance into country music has also boosted other female artists of color in the genre.
Beyoncé’s country music has helped boost other black women in country, @Billboard reports.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 22, 2024
Streaming gains have been seen in music by Linda Martell, Rhiannon Giddens, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, and K. Michelle since the release of “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES.” pic.twitter.com/PCuamYvIGf
But are we only seeing this country renaissance with Beyoncé? Apparently not. Lana Del Rey has also fully embraced Americana by announcing her first country album, Lasso, set to release in September.
It's no secret that our girl Lana has always had themes of Americana in her music, but we know it to be her signature alternative style. This shift is just making us *that* much more excited for what she has up her sleeve. And if it's anything like her cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," we'll be needing a minute (or two) to squeal. Another icon gone country? There's definitely something in the air.
If you ask us, we're *so* here for this country-meets-pop-meets-alternative music era. And as country takes over the music industry, it's no surprise that it's making its way into fashion, too. With artists like Beyoncé and Lana del Rey fueling the country music rave, the edgy-slash-coquette cowgirl aesthetic has also had us tapping into our inner country era.
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Slider and top image: @beyonce