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When Beyoncé released Cowboy Carter earlier this year, she said it was the best music she’s ever made, even if it wasn’t what everyone expected of her.
Just days before the album’s release, the star also got candid about its genesis, admitting it was “born out of an experience” in which she “did not feel welcomed,” which made her dive deeper into the history of Country music and its Black roots.
“It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history,” Beyoncé said at the time — and three months after the projects’ release, the education continues, and Cowboy Carter’s influence reigns supreme.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter recently, Beyoncé admitted that while she’s “very grateful and humbled for the extraordinary success of the new album,” numbers are not high on the priority list of the feats she’s achieved with Cowboy Carter. Instead, she’s particularly proud of having opened the doors for others to come through.
“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female Country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” she told the publication. “I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me. The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman.”
To celebrate Black Music Month, Apple Music is continuing what Beyoncé started and honoring Cowboy Carter’s influence further by releasing the Beyoncé Covered collection, a special Apple Music Nashville Sessions project featuring live-recorded Country covers of the star’s catalog performed by six Black rising artists leaving their mark in the Country scene: Tiera Kennedy, Madeline Edwards, BRELAND, Tanner Adell, Joy Oladokun, and Brittney Spencer. (And yes, you might already recognize some of these names from Cowboy Carter.)
“Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is a tribute to the history of Black music, and especially Country music. It honors pioneering musicians whose outlaw spirit paved the way for her — and for many other artists who’ve been inspired to add their unique stories to the ever-evolving genre,” Apple Music said in a press release. “To celebrate her genre-redefining album and her profound impact on music in general, six Black artists pay homage to Queen B by putting their own spin on some of her greatest hits — new and old — for this special Apple Music Nashville Session.”
You can listen to the Beyoncé Covered collection of Apple Music Nashville Sessions here and check out some exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, photos, and quotes from the six artists featured below.
