Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to top Billboard’s Country songs chart with Texas Hold ‘Em

Beyoncé has made history as the first Black woman to reach the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with her track "Texas Hold ‘Em" debuting at No. 1. This milestone, achieved in a genre historically debated for its treatment of Black artists, is one of several significant achievements highlighted in the latest weekly chart rankings.

"Texas Hold ‘Em," released alongside the single "16 Carriages" in a surprise album drop during the Super Bowl, marks Beyoncé's inaugural chart-topping success in the country genre. It also distinguishes her as the second solo female artist, without any featured collaborators, to debut at No. 1. Taylor Swift previously accomplished this feat in 2021 with her re-recordings of "Love Story" and "All Too Well."

Additionally, Beyoncé has secured her place in music history by becoming the first woman to lead both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since their inception in 1958. Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ray Charles, and Morgan Wallen are among the select few artists who have achieved this dual chart-topping feat.

The Hot Country Songs chart utilizes a "multi-metric" approach, factoring in US sales, streams, and radio airplay, similar to Billboard’s primary Hot 100 chart. The latest rankings, reflecting data from the seven days leading up to February 15th, propelled "Texas Hold ‘Em" to the top spot after just four days of tracking. During this period, the song amassed 19.2 million streams and 39,000 downloads in the US, according to entertainment data company Luminate.

While "Texas Hold ‘Em" debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, its companion single "16 Carriages" entered at No. 38 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 on Hot Country Songs. Both tracks are slated to feature on Beyoncé’s forthcoming album, the second installment of her Renaissance trilogy, scheduled for release on March 29th.

The significance of Beyoncé's achievement on the country charts is underscored by recent controversy surrounding the categorization of "Texas Hold ‘Em" as a country track. Initially met with reluctance by a country radio station in Oklahoma, the song gained traction following a viral campaign on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The station has since embraced the track, which is now officially being promoted to country radio, according to Billboard.

Notably, "Texas Hold ‘Em" marks Beyoncé's debut appearance on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, where it entered at No. 54. Unlike the Hot Country Songs chart, Country Airplay focuses solely on radio play.

This milestone for Beyoncé comes amid ongoing debates within the country music industry regarding the inclusion of Black artists. Notably, in 2019, rapper Lil Nas X's genre-blurring hit "Old Town Road" was removed from Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart despite its blend of country and trap elements. Similarly, Beyoncé's country-inspired track "Daddy Lessons" faced rejection from the Recording Academy's country music committee in 2016, sparking discussions about the genre's politics and ambiguous classifications.