Beyoncé has surprised her fans and the music industry with her new single ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’, which she released during the Super Bowl 2024 commercials on Sunday, February 11th.
‘Texas Hold ‘Em’, which is one of the two tracks that she unveiled from her upcoming album Act II, is a country-inspired tune that pays homage to her home state of Texas and showcases her versatility and creativity.
Her bold move to explore the country genre challenges the stereotypes and boundaries that often limit the representation and recognition of Black artists in country music.
In fact, the song has been a commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyoncé the first Black female artist to achieve this feat.
Beyoncé’s foray into country music is not entirely new, as she has previously incorporated elements of the genre in some of her songs like ‘Daddy Lessons’. She has also performed with country artists, such as the Dixie Chicks, and has expressed her admiration and respect for the genre and its legends, such as Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash.
However, her new single is a more explicit and deliberate attempt to claim her place and identity in the country scene, and to celebrate her roots and heritage.
Beyoncé’s new single is part of her three-act project that she announced in 2022, which consists of three albums. The first act, Renaissance, was released in 2022, and featured collaborations with artists such as Grace Jones and Beam.
The second act, Act II, is expected to be released on March 29th, 2024, and will be a country-inspired album that will include another new song, ’16 Carriages’, which she also previewed during the Super Bowl commercials.
The third act, Act III, is yet to be revealed, but some fans speculate that it will be a rap-inspired album that will feature collaborations with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Cardi B.
Beyoncé has established herself as an incredibly influential and accomplished artist in the music industry for more than two decades. She has won 32 Grammy awards and 88 nominations, making her the most awarded and nominated female artist in Grammy history.
Beyoncé is the ultimate game-changer, and she is not afraid to hold ’em.
