Beyoncé releases her first album labeled country music. The album features 26 tracks, including collaborations with two country icons, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
“Black country” has always existed, but black musicians have been kept out of the genre, writes Julian Zelizer. Zelizer: With the success of the hit Texas Hold 'Em, black country artists hope to benefit from a spotlight, he says.. For now, white-dominated country music is asking black and mixed-race artists to demonstrate sincerity and good faith, Zelizer says.