Beyonce made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Black woman to achieve a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with her single "Texas Hold 'Em." This milestone marked a significant cultural shift for the country music genre, which has historically been seen as exclusive and has had a complicated relationship with artists of color. "Texas Hold 'Em," a twangy ode to Beyonce's home state of Texas, was released alongside another track titled “16 Carriages” during a Super Bowl commercial for Verizon.

The new album, set to be released on March 29, is described as “Act II” of Beyonce's three-act project that began with her critically acclaimed “Renaissance” album in 2022. This achievement also makes Beyonce the first woman to have topped both the country and R&B/hip-hop charts since they were launched in 1958, joining the ranks of artists like Ray Charles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Morgan Wallen.

Despite the success of "Texas Hold 'Em," the song faced controversy when an Oklahoma country radio station initially refused to play it. The station later added the track to its playlist after backlash from fans and accusations of racism and discrimination. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by artists of color in the country music industry.

Beyonce's accomplishment also makes her the second solo female artist to debut at No. 1 on the country chart, following Taylor Swift in 2021. With her chart-topping country track, Beyonce continues to push boundaries and redefine genres, solidifying her status as a legendary artist with a career spanning 27 years.