Beyoncé is the first black woman to top Billboard’s country albums chart

NEW YORK (AP) — Beyoncé has made history again. Her most recent album, the epic “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country albums chart, making her the first black woman to top the chart since its inception in 1964.

The album also reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart, which includes albums from all genres, becoming his eighth No. 1 album. According to Luminate, the industry data and analytics company, “Cowboy Carter” totaled the equivalent to 407,000 album units, a combination of net album sales and on-demand streaming, earned in the United States in its first week.

As a black woman claiming her space in country music, Beyoncé pushes back against the gender’s stereotypical associations with whiteness. The conversation surrounding Beyoncé’s country music explorations began when she arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards dressed as a cowgirl. Then, during the Super Bowl, she released two hybrid country songs: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” which ultimately led to the release of “Cowboy Carter.”

In February, “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart, making her the first black woman to top that chart.