Beyoncé and the changing face of country music

The latest Beyoncé song, Texas Hold ‘Em, has topped the charts in the US and UK. More significantly, however, this is the first time a black woman has gone to No. 1 in the US country music charts, provoking several talking points about diversity within the country music genre.

Host James Reynolds brings together three African-American women in country music, including musician Rissi Palmer who first reached the country charts in 2007 and has had several hits since.

She shares her approach to song writing: “Country means something different to white and black people in America,” Rissi tells us. “We tend to look towards family, we tend to look towards God, we tend to look towards the future and good times and laughing and…black joy!”

While having its roots in the south of the United States, country music is attracting a growing number of fans and performers around the world. And three people involved in country on three continents, in Argentina, Nigeria and Sweden, tell us about their love for the music.

(Photo: Beyonce attends the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US. 4 February, 2024. Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters)