Beyoncé is showing her support for her fellow Black female
artists in the country music space.
 |
| Beyoncé KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE |
Alongside the release of her highly-anticipated country album "Cowboy Carter," the Grammy-winning singer sent flowers and heartfelt cards to K. Michelle and Mickey Guyton, expressing her appreciation for their contributions to the genre.
To Guyton, Beyoncé wrote, "Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining. Love and
respect, Beyoncé," accompanied by a beautiful bouquet of white
flowers.
In her card to K. Michelle, Beyoncé, the "Texas Hold 'Em" singer, praised her
efforts, saying, "You're killing it!
I love what you've been doing, and I know it's not easy to enter a new space.
Sending you positivity and respect. I hope to meet you one day. Love, Beyoncé."
Mickey Guyton made history as the first Black female solo artist nominated for a Grammy in a country category for her single "Black Like Me" in 2021. She has used her voice and lyrics to address racial issues, a theme that continues on her debut album, "Remember Her Name."
K. Michelle, now performing under her country alter ego,
Puddin, successfully transitioned from R&B to country in recent years. She
released her debut solo country single, "Tennessee," last year.
Both Mickey Guyton and K. Michelle have openly discussed the
challenges they faced as Black female artists entering the country genre.
Beyoncé echoed a similar sentiment earlier in March when she shared the
inspiration behind "Cowboy Carter."
The "16 Carriages" artist wrote on social media that her latest album stemmed from feeling unwelcome in the country space when she first attempted to enter the genre.
"It was very clear
that I wasn't," Beyoncé said. "But, because of that experience, I delved deeper into the history of
country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how
music can unite so many people around the world while also amplifying the
voices of those who have dedicated much of their lives to educating others
about our musical history."
In her post, Beyoncé continued, "This genre forced me to surpass the limitations that were imposed on
me. Act II is a result of challenging myself and taking my time to blend and
bend genres together to create this body of work."
"Cowboy Carter,"
with its 27-song tracklist, includes a cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird." This song holds
particular significance for Beyoncé as she collaborated with a quartet of
emerging Black country artists on the track: Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts,
Tanner Adell, and Tiera Kennedy.
