Dolly Parton Praises Beyoncé on Hot Country Number One Single
The star became the first Black woman to top the chart this week
Dolly Parton congratulated fellow legend Beyoncé on topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with her new single “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Taking to social media, Parton shared an image on Instagram Thursday night that read: “I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
The Jolene singer recently traversed genres herself with her 49th album Rockstar, which was her first foray into rock & roll.
Beyoncé made history this week by becoming the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in the modern history of country music. “Texas Hold ‘Em” also opened at Number Two on the all-genre Hot 100, while her second single “16 Carriages” reached 38th and ninth on the Country chart.
The week prior, Beyoncé’s record label Columbia announced that it officially promoted “Texas Hold ‘Em” to country radio, and the track became the her first entry on the Country Airplay chart, debuting at 54. Although songwriters like Alice Randall and Tayla Parx have achieved Number One co-writes, no Black woman songwriter had previously solely written a Number One country song until last year, when Luke Combs covered and found massive success with Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.”
Like Linda Martell, who blazed the trail as the first Black female solo artist to find success in the genre 50 years ago, and others after her such as Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer, Beyoncé’s triumph continues the work of other Black country artists who have paved a path in the industry for decades.