A Word: Black Country Renaissance
Beyonc\xe9 has announced that the second act of Renaissance will be a country album. \u201cCowboy Carter\u201d is set for release at the end of March, Women\u2019s History Month. Beyonc\xe9 has already made history as the first Black woman to top the country charts with \u201cTexas Hold \u2018Em,\u201d and recently received Dolly Parton\u2019s blessing to cover her classic song, Jolene.\xa0\n\nWhile Beyonc\xe9 may seem to be breaking new ground, much of country music has always been rooted in African American culture, and Black women have been singing country for decades. On today\u2019s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by DePaul University Professor Francesca Royster, the author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions. They talk about the history of Black women in country music, the racial tension that has kept many African American fans away from the genre, and whether this moment represents a new era for Black country artists.\xa0\n\nGuest: Professor Francesca Royster, author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions\n\nPodcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola\n\nWant more A Word? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking \u201cTry Free\u201d at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/awordplus to get access wherever you listen.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices