SHE’S vying for Madonna’s crown as the queen of reinvention, having had chart success in everything from dance and Latin to house and pop.
Now, 34 years into her career, Beyonce has done it again with a surprise move into country music and another No1 single.
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8It was revealed on Friday that the American superstar had scored her sixth chart-topping track in the UK — with Texas Hold ’Em, from her upcoming debut country album.
It now looks set for another week at the top, early chart figures show.
Genre-hopping Beyonce, 42, last week became the first black woman to top Billboard’s Country Music chart in the US.
She has now scored No1 hits on NINE of Billboard’s charts including the Hot 100, Gospel, Latin and R&B.
On March 29 she will drop her new album, so far titled just Renaissance Act II, which is expected to further cement her all-conquering status in an industry that can be ruthless towards women over 40.
She sent her fans into meltdown earlier this month when, in an ad break during the Super Bowl, she announced she was releasing new music — before dropping singles Texas Hold ’Em and 16 Carriages as well as the album release date.
Her news rather overshadowed the US sports showcase’s earlier half-time performer, R&B star Usher.
After Beyonce’s genre pivot she was hit by a backlash from the country scene, with Oklahoma radio station KYKC refusing to play Texas Hold ’Em.
A fan shared a message from the station online and accused them of “racism and discrimination” for snubbing the track.
But such is the power of Beyonce, they reversed their decision due to overwhelming support for the star and her fresh sound.
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Country icon Dolly Parton showed her backing on Instagram, posting: “I’m a big fan of Beyonce and very excited she’s done a country album.
“So, congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country No1 single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
Beyonce’s latest success has also helped to shine a light on other black American women in country music.
Streams of songs by Tanner Adell have leapt by 188 per cent, while Reyna Roberts has seen a jump of 250 per cent.
But it is not the first time Beyonce has ruffled feathers on the country scene.
In 2016, she performed her song Daddy Lessons at the Country Music Awards and it was met with anger from some viewers, who said a non-country artist should not have featured.
But her father and ex-manager, Mathew Knowles, insists she has been a fan of the style from a young age, after hearing Mathew and her mum Tina playing it.
And her new music is testament to her resolve to stay at the top of her game, which she has done for three decades with smart business moves and changes to her music.
An industry insider said: “Beyonce is the secret to Beyonce’s success.
“She is one of the most driven and hardest-working people in music.
“She will put ten times more work in than anyone else, to everything she does. She is a perfectionist.
I respect things that take work, I respect things that are built from the ground up
Beyonce
“With every project, she hand-picks the most talented people in that field to work with, and brings them into her inner circle.
“It becomes a labour of love for everybody and she is so inspiring that she brings out the best in everyone she meets.”
In her 2019 Netflix documentary Homecoming, Bey gave an insight into the lengths she goes to as an artist.
In particular, she opened up about her headline show at Coachella the previous year, which she rehearsed for eight months.
Beyonce said: “I respect things that take work, I respect things that are built from the ground up.
“I’m super-specific about every detail.
“I personally selected each dancer, every light, the material on the steps, the height of the pyramid, shape of the pyramid — every patch was hand-sewn.
“Every tiny detail had an intention. We all worked to our limit.”
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8On what she hopes her work can inspire in her fans, she added: “It shows them they are limitless — it’s possible.
“If my country ass can do it, they can do it.”
No one knows her remarkable work ethic better than best friend Kelly Rowland, 43, who was a childhood pal and later a bandmate in Destiny’s Child.
Speaking in 2022, Kelly said: “I watch the way she works.
“She works so incredibly intricately.
“It’s something you’re born with — you either have it or you don’t.
“It’s a really dope focus and it’s one of the many reasons it makes her so f***ing dope.”
Recalling their childhood together in Houston, Texas, Kelly said: “When some of us wanted to go to the movies, when we did have our off- time, she was in the studio sitting there by herself writing a record.
“I’ll never forget, we were at an indoor gym having fun like kids are supposed to and she sat out in the hot-ass car and was writing a track.
Her work ethic . . . I ain’t as monstrous. I’ve never seen anything like it
Kelly Rowland
“I remember going, ‘Where B at?’ They said: ‘Oh, she’s in the car.’
“And I went and sat in the passenger seat and she just wrote this record.
“And I was like, ‘We be out here trying to have fun and this girl, she’s on it.
“‘She lives this. Like she wants this bad.’
“It is no surprise to me that she is the icon she is.
“Her work ethic . . . I ain’t as monstrous. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
As well as Beyonce’s eight No1s on the main US Hot 100 chart, and record 32 Grammys, she has ten on the R&B/ Hip-Hop chart — including Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and Drunk In Love with her husband Jay-Z.
On the Hot R&B chart, she has had three No1s, while her 2020 collaboration Savage with Megan Thee Stallion saw her top the Hot Rap rundown.
In 2017, her remix of Mi Gente with J Balvin and Willy Williams took her to the top of the Hot Latin chart.
Then in 2022, Break My Soul, the lead single from her seventh album Renaissance, reached No1 on the Dance/Electronic roster.
Other hits include her 2014 track Say Yes on the Hot Gospel chart and a 2007 duet with Justin Timberlake, Until The End Of Time, on the Bubbling Under rundown.
Beyonce also has plenty of projects away from music — not to mention her kids with Jay-Z, daughter Blue Ivy, 12, and six-year-old twins, son Sir and daughter Rumi.
She has her own production and management firm, Parkwood Entertainment, and makes documentaries and music visuals.
She also executive-produced the soundtrack to the live-action Lion King film in 2019, and her company has produced Beyonce’s films Black Is King, in 2020, and last year’s Renaissance.
She has had fashion lines, too, and last week launched her own hair-care brand Cecred.
But now there is speculation she may hit the road again.
Her 56-date Renaissance world tour in 2023 was the eighth-highest gross-ing tour ever, making £460million.
She has yet to confirm a new tour to accompany her country album — part of a trilogy likely involving yet another change of direction.
But she would surely sell out stadiums around the world following rave reviews for her last gigs, despite high ticket prices.
For this most wondrous chameleon, anything is possible.
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