American music star Beyoncé has released her much-anticipated country music album, “Cowboy Carter,” which she says was born out of an experience she had years ago when she “felt unwelcome.”
The album features country music legends Linda Martell and Willie Nelson, and also includes duets with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone.
Many critics praised the album, and Nicholas Hautman of the Page Six website described it as “a much-needed revitalization for country music.”
Experts and fans view Beyoncé’s foray into this music genre as a renewal and tribute to the legacy of black Americans in country music and culture, a history that is largely unknown in some mainstream music circles.
They say Beyoncé, who was born and raised in Houston, Texas, is now following in the footsteps of many famous black country music legends who came before her.
“The criticism I faced when I first entered this genre pushed me to break away from the restrictions that were placed around me,” Beyoncé wrote on Instagram before releasing the album.
In a post, Beyoncé described how a negative experience with country music led her to “dive deeper into the history of country music.”
