101 Black Country Songs to Stream If You Love Beyoncé

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A Black Country Starter Kit for Cowboy Carter Fans Who are Ready for a Real Live Boogie

Some of us can’t afford to go see Blu Ivy and her momma in person. That’s definitely the case for me. And if you’re in the same boat, I got you.

Cowboy Carter earned Beyoncé the 2025 Grammy for Album of the Year, a historic first for her. The global superstar also became the fourth Black woman to achieve this accolade. Furthermore, that same night, Beyoncé seized the Grammy for Best Country Album. The win cemented her legacy for all those who thought Black women couldn’t do country. Consequently, Brittany Spencer and Reina Roberts’ visibility soared. Their first-time listener streams increased by more than 100% on Spotify after their collaborations with the HBeyIC. Similarly, Tiera Kennedy’s catalogue streams went up by 40,000%.

The Beyonce effect is real.

However, before you start acting like Dre in Hive, just know that there will be no Bey slander in this article. Alternatively, if you are too anxious to wait, just just click here and skip to the Blackuntry playlist now.

When I started this list, the first song that came to mind was from the ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ soundtrack. I remember watching that movie with my mother so many times. My favorite song was a Negro Spiritual sounding piece called “Lonesome Valley” by Mississippi John Hurt. Now I know there are distinctions between bluegrass, country, folk music, and a bunch of other subcategories on that side of the spectrum, but I am not writing this as any sort of expert. I am writing this as a person who has replayed Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter performance at the NFL halftime show 100 times.

Black Country Music: A Deeper Look

I took this playlist to the Soul In Stereo Cypher to test out my set. Here’s a great distinction that Neo Souljah made.

“If you’re trying to show that artists who are known for other genres can perform country music, you’ve got a really nice and diverse list. If you’re trying to show that black artists can be true country artists, Outkast, Janelle Monae, Nelly, NasX, etc. will be seen as a novelty.”

To be clear, my #Blackuntry 101 playlist is curated for the babies. It’s built for those of us trying to dip our toes into country. I’m sure there are better playlists than mine out there. And honestly–you should listen to all of them. Every month can be Black History Month if you put your mind to it.

Even though I was born and raised in the South–and yes Kentucky is the South, not the midwest–I have always been more of a Delta Blues girl, but I had fun making this playlist as I discovered new (to me) country artists to love. I have to say that “Thank God I Got My EBT Today” by Nikki Morgan, “Give me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman (one of the few country songs I knew way before I started making this playlist), “Down Home” by Jimmie Allen are my top 3. (Honorable mention to Jimmie Allen for “Down Home”).

Oh, and in case no one ever told you–Black people invented country music. 

Here’s my Blackountry playlist!