Beyonce Brought Back Old-School Country Music To The CMA Awards 2016

Beyonce has proven that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Not only can the performer sing and dance, but she can also act if she wants to. She could even sing the phone book if she wanted to. Beyonce released her experimental and raw visual album, Lemonade, earlier this year. On the release, she dabbled in country music with the track “Daddy Issues.”

On Wednesday, November 2, rumors circulated that Beyonce was going to perform at the 2016 CMA Awards. Both Beyonce’s fans and country music lovers were confused. What was she going to perform? Was she going to perform a track off her new album? Who was she going to perform with? Nothing was confirmed until a few minutes before the awards ceremony aired on ABC.

Although Beyonce skipped the red-carpet portion of the CMA Awards, she still slayed the fashion game when she brought along her own photographer to snap photos of her look. The Queen Bey wore a pastel blue floral and lace gown designed by Zuhair Murad. Sure, the dress looks similar to most of the dresses she has worn on the red carpet, but it still looked gorgeous on her. The gown featured puffed shoulders, a low-cut back, and a dainty train, as noted by Cosmo. Bey finished off her look with her long, straight blonde hair parted in the middle, a simple pair of pearl drop earrings, and minimal makeup. She looked like she belonged at the CMA Awards.

Beyoncé SLAYS the #CMA press room backstage! #FLAMES pic.twitter.com/lZKIrDbyFx

— THE BEYHIVÉ (@TheBeyHiveTeam) November 3, 2016

Later that night, Beyonce performed alongside the Dixie Chicks as they sang “Daddy Lessons” off her new album. She slayed the game and brought back old-school country music in an industry that’s riddled with either pop-country or bro-country on the mainstream country radio.

It was the 50th anniversary of the Country Music Awards, which means there were going to be plenty of surprises and special performances. The event was even held in Nashville, which is known as Music City, according to the Washington Post. Beyonce took over the stage with a brass band tooting away on their horns and playing their string instruments. Some people argued about what Bey knows about Texas, but she hails from Houston.

Beyonce was not only born in Houston, but she also currently owns a house with husband, Jay Z, in New Orleans. She may not be a country music star or one you would think when you think of country music, but she brought back what’s missing in the country music atmosphere. Just because of the color of her skin, not everyone thought Beyonce was the perfect choice for the 2016 CMA Awards. If you can tell, the country music industry is overwhelmingly white and mostly men.

Some viewers argued that Lady Gaga would have been a perfect fit since she’s been rocking a pastel pink cowboy hat and sort of went country on her new album, Joanne. Meanwhile, others took to Twitter to remark that they were hoping to see more traditional country artists in the lineup. Not everyone is happy with Beyonce singing country music.

The ironic part in all of this is that country music is rooted in blues, which is derived from black culture. David Whiteis, the author of Chicago Blues, wrote in the Chicago Reader that most of the guitar styles heard in country music came from black influences.

“As the recording industry developed, what had been a relatively free exchange of musical ideas became more of a one-way street: recorded ‘influences’ were generally passed from black to white musicians, to the latter’s artistic and financial benefit. Bluegrass mandolin pioneer Bill Monroe has openly acknowledged his musical debt to a black Kentucky guitarist and fiddle player named Arnold Shultz, who apparently traveled freely in both black and white musical circles before his death in 1931; the western-swing standard ‘Steel Guitar Rag,’ popularized by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, was originally recorded as ‘Guitar Rag’ by another black Kentuckian, guitarist Sylvester Weaver, in 1920.”

In addition, there are places in Nashville where country artists and audience goers would often see some play some jazzy music. One Twitter user summed it up perfectly.

Beyonce came to remind country where it got its sound. Half this crowd looks like they weren’t ready to like it. Or to dance.

— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) November 3, 2016

The best endorsement came from the Grand Ole Opry’s Twitter account. They seemed overjoyed by Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks performing.

IS THIS REAL LIFE?! @Beyonce @dixiechicks #CMAawards50

— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) November 3, 2016

If you loved the performance, Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks released an audio version of “Daddy Issues” for streaming on SoundCloud, according to USA Today.

Let us know your thoughts. Do you like Beyonce’s performance with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards? Sound off below in the comments section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usgh5IpLulo

[Featured image by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for TIDAL]