Beyonce reveals what motivates her to keep making music... and says 'music industry gatekeepers are not happy' with her after genre-defying success of Cowboy Carter
She proved that genre isn't capable of boxing her in with the release of her chart-topping country-inflected album Cowboy Carter.
And now Beyoncé is giving her fans a taste of what keeps her going years into her whirlwind career.
In a new Hollywood Reporter piece highlighting some of the Black country music stars who have seen a surge in popularity thanks to being featured on Cowboy Carter — including Shaboozey, Tierra Kennedy and Brittney Spencer — the 42-year-old hitmaker revealed that it was the success of a new generation of singers inspired by her that 'motivates' her to keep making music.
'When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift,' she said via a statement. '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.'
The songstress — who missed out on ACM nominations this year — added that, even as the success of a new generation keeps her moving, she no longer cares about how well her music sells.
Beyoncé, 42, revealed that it was the success of a new generation of singers inspired by her that 'motivates' her to keep making music; pictured April 1 in LA at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards
'When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift,' she said via a statement,' she said via a statement to The Hollywood Reporter; pictured on the Cowboy Carter cover
'There was a time in my life when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth and your dreams into your art, it’s impossible to go backward,' Beyoncé stated.
However, she said she was 'very grateful and humbled for the extraordinary success of the new album.'
Beyoncé collaborated with Shaboozey on her Cowboy Carter songs Sweet Honey Buckin’ and Spaghetti.
He has had striking success in the wake of his Beyoncé collaboration.
After she became the first Black woman to top the Billboard Hot country songs chart with her song Texas Hold 'Em, he supplanted her in the top spot when her single fell to number two, marking the first-ever time that two Black musicians have held the top spot consecutively on the chart.
Now his album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going is a top five hit, which may be partly due to what has been dubbed the 'Bey-effect.'
Beyoncé has plenty of new talent to motivate her thanks to the bevy of young Black country artists she collaborated with on her latest LP.
On a cover of the Paul McCartney–penned Beatles classic Blackbird, she worked with a choir of country singers Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell and Reyna Roberts.
Tiera, who had been dropped by her label shortly before her Cowboy Carter appearance, revealed that she had seen a sizable surge in social media interest from fans after the album dropped.
Now, she's even having informal talks with labels, which could land her a new deal amid the rise in her industry stature.
Britney's appearance on Cowboy Carter came after the release of her debut album My Stupid Life, which was a hit with critics, and she's considered a top contender for a best new artist Grammy Award.
She described new fans showing up at her shows solely because they were introduced to her via Beyoncé.
In the middle of Cowboy Carter coming out, I was still on the road finishing up a tour leg with Grace Potter and there were people that came up to me like, "Yo, I heard you on Cowboy Carter and I had to come out here." And of course it made me smile so deeply,' she gushed.
Prior to Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé released her hit 2022 album Renaissance, which was the first LP in her planned trilogy.
'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.' Shaboozey (pictured) worked with her on Sweet Honey Buckin’ and Spaghetti; seen June 18 in Cannes
'There was a time in my life when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth and your dreams into your art, it’s impossible to go backward,' Beyoncé stated; seen in 2016
Other singers who got a boost from Cowboy Carter collabs include Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy; pictured April 7 in Austin, Texas at the CMT Music Awards
'I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me,' Beyoncé said of Renaissance and Cowboy Carter; pictured with Stevie Wonder on April 1 in LA
'The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman,' she said defiantly
Unlike the countrified music on her most recent release, Renaissance was suffused with dance music, disco, house, hip hop and R&B music — all genres that have been significantly shaped by Black musicians.
'I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me,' Beyoncé said.
She added that her recent genre experiments pushed back against 'industry gatekeepers' who had tried to keep her and countless other artists from straying outside the boxes they were placed in.
'The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman,' she said defiantly.
