Beyoncé Makes ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Her Ninth No. 1 Single
Beyoncé hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her debut country song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” It’s now her ninth single to reach that status.
On February 11, Beyoncé released her first-ever country songs during a Verizon commercial. “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” have taken the charts and fans by storm, garnering mass acclaim. Both tracks are part of her upcoming March 29 album, temporarily titled Act II.
When “Texas Hold ‘Em” debuted, it started at Number 2 on the Top 100. Billboard reports that it has now made its way to the top spot. This is Beyoncé’s first Number 1 single since “Break My Soul” from her Renaissance LP in 2022. According to Rolling Stone, if we include her music with Destiny’s Child, it’s her thirteenth chart-topper hit.
In addition, a week before it hit the top spot on the Hot 100, “Texas Hold ‘Em” rose to No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Country Songs survey. Making this is incredibly historic because no Black woman had ever accomplished this before Beyoncé.
American Country Singer & Songwriter, Joel Adam Russell, says Beyoncé’s delve into country music is great for the genre. And that her new songs ‘TEXAS HOLD EM’ & ‘16 CARRIAGES’ sounds more country than most country songs on the country radio.
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There has been debate surrounding the country genre legitimacy of Beyoncé’s new music. However, there is no doubt that “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” are authentically country. American country singer and songwriter Joel Adam Russell did a deep dive into the technique of the two tracks and confirmed that they possess all the elements of country music. When referencing “Texas Hold ‘Em,” he states, “It uses real instruments in the recording, as opposed to the digital beats a lot of modern pop country artists are using. So it’s actually more authentic than a lot of what’s already being played.”
Furthermore, the chart performance and critical acclaim of “Texas Hold ‘Em” have cemented it as a country success. You can listen to the single here.
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