Beyoncé's "YA YA" and the Legacy of Linda Martell: Genre, Race, and Country Music
Summary
This article discusses Beyoncé's song "YA YA" from her album "Cowboy Carter," framed through the lens of genre boundaries and the legacy of Linda Martell — the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. It explores how Beyoncé's venture into country music echoes Martell's own struggles with racist resistance in the 1960s, and how Beyoncé's album was inspired by a deep dive into the history of Black artists in country music.
Source
bskyBeyoncé's "YA YA" and the Legacy of Linda Martell: Genre, Race, and Country Musicmusic.apple.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledGenres are a funny little concept, aren't they?
She was the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, but her attempt to move from soul and R&B into the realm of country in the 1960s was met with racist resistance—everything from heckling to outright blackballing.
Beyoncé knows the feeling, as she explained in an uncharacteristically vulnerable Instagram post revealing that her eighth studio album was inspired by a deep dive into the history
You might also wanna read
Shaboozey on Working with Beyoncé for 'Cowboy Carter': A Career-Defining Endorsement
Shaboozey discusses his experience working with Beyoncé on her country project 'Cowboy Carter', revealing he kept it a secret until the trac
Rolling Stone·17d ago
10 Years Ago, Lemonade Reshaped Culture—and Beyoncé’s Legacy
ELLE·2mo ago
Nashville’s Urban Cowboy Bar Is More Than a Place to Drink
ELLE·15d ago
Ella Langley Performs Stripped-Down 'Be Her' at 2026 ACM Awards, Wins Multiple Honors
Ella Langley performed an acoustic, stripped-down version of her song "Be Her" at the 2026 ACM Awards in Las Vegas. The Alabama singer-songw
Rolling Stone·1mo ago
Atlanta Man Sentenced to Two Years for Stealing Unreleased Beyoncé Music
A man who stole hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music from a Jeep in Atlanta has been sentenced to two years in prison. The theft
Stereogum·1mo ago
Shaboozey on His Historic Grammy Win and Ambitious New Musical Era
An in-depth profile/interview with country music trailblazer Shaboozey, exploring his historic Grammy win as the first Black man to win in h
Rolling Stone·18d ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.