Beyoncé has made history once again. Her latest album, the epic “Act ll: Cowboy Carter”, hit No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, making her the first Black woman to top the chart since its 1964 inception.
Quick Read
- Historic Achievement: Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to top the Billboard country albums chart with her album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” since the chart’s inception in 1964.
- Billboard 200 Success: The album also secures the No. 1 spot on the all-genres Billboard 200 chart, marking Beyoncé’s eighth No. 1 album.
- Impressive Sales: “Cowboy Carter” accumulates 407,000 equivalent album units in its first week, according to industry data from Luminate.
- Cultural Impact: Beyoncé challenges traditional perceptions of country music and its association with whiteness, embracing and reclaiming the genre as a Black woman.
- Public Appearances: Her foray into country music was hinted at during the 2024 Grammy Awards with her cowboy-themed attire and further teased with the release of hybrid country songs at the Super Bowl.
- Chart-Topping Singles: Beyoncé’s single “Texas Hold ’Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart earlier, making her the first Black woman to achieve this feat as well.
The Associated Press has the story:
Beyoncé becomes 1st Black woman to hit No. 1 on Billboard country albums chart
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
Beyoncé has made history once again. Her latest album, the epic “Act ll: Cowboy Carter”, hit No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, making her the first Black woman to top the chart since its 1964 inception.
The album also topped the all-genres Billboard 200, marking her eighth No. 1 album. According to Luminate, the industry data and analytics company, “Cowboy Carter” totaled 407,000 equivalent album units, a combination of pure album sales and on-demand streams, earned in the U.S. since its first week since its March 29 release.
As a Black woman reclaiming country music, Beyoncé stands in opposition to stereotypical associations of the genre with whiteness. Conversation surrounding Beyoncé’s country music explorations began when she arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards in full cowboy regalia — making a statement without saying a word. Then, during the Super Bowl, she dropped two hybrid country songs: “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages,” eventually leading to the release of “Cowboy Carter.”
In February, “Texas Hold ’Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart, making her the first Black woman to top that chart as well.
