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Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s new country single \u201cTexas Hold \u2019Em\u201d reached No. 1 on the Billboard country airplay chart this week, making her the first Black female artist to hold the top spot.<\/p>\n
Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s other single, \u201c16 Carriages,\u201d released simultaneously on Feb. 11, also debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard country chart. The songs reached No. 2 and No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. \u201cTexas Hold \u2019Em\u201d has already drawn more than 19 million streams, and \u201c16 Carriages\u201d has 10.3 million streams.<\/p>\n
Historically, Black artists have struggled to gain recognition in the genre of country music, a field often dominated by white male singers. But the sudden success of Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s country singles comes at a time when Black women have started to receive acclaim within that realm. At last year\u2019s Country Music Awards, Tracy Chapman won song of the year<\/a> for \u201cFast Car,\u201d which topped country charts three decades after it was released, thanks to a cover by Luke Combs. Black female country artists like Mickey Guyton<\/a> and Brittney Spencer have also gained popularity in recent years<\/a>.<\/p>\n Beyonc\u00e9 is the first woman to top both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Hot R&B\/Hip-Hop Songs chart since they were established in 1958, according to Billboard<\/a>. Both Beyonc\u00e9 singles are part of her upcoming album, a country-themed follow-up to \u201cRenaissance,\u201d which she referred to as \u201cAct II.\u201d The full album, announced during a Verizon ad that aired during the Super Bowl, is expected to be released<\/a> March 29.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n