Beyoncé has made history once again by becoming the first Black woman to top the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with her latest release, Cowboy Carter. The album also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling an impressive 407,000 album units in its first week of release in April.
With this achievement, Beyoncé, a 32-time Grammy winner, now holds the fourth-most No. 1 hits among women, following Taylor Swift, Barbra Streisand, and Madonna. Cowboy Carter marks her best-selling week of 2024 and her biggest debut since her Lemonade album in 2016.
The album features a diverse lineup of guest artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and many more. Beyoncé's single 'Texas Hold ‘Em' from the album also made history by becoming the first song by a Black female artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart.
Despite facing resistance from some country music fans and radio stations, Beyoncé's innovative approach to country music was recognized at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she received the Innovator Award from Stevie Wonder. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the importance of innovation and pushing boundaries in art.
At the CMT Awards, where she won three honors, Beyoncé's boldness in covering 'Jolene' was praised by fellow artists. The success of Cowboy Carter showcases Beyoncé's resilience in the face of criticism and her commitment to creating art without limitations.
In her speech, Beyoncé acknowledged the artists who have inspired her and thanked her husband, Jay-Z, and their three children for their support and inspiration. She encouraged the industry to be more open to diverse expressions of art and to embrace the joy and liberation that comes from breaking stereotypes.
