From the early days of country to the present day, Black artists have always shaped the genre. Despite their talent and influence, some of these artists remain underrecognized in the genre today.
Country music is currently having a surge in popularity and recognition with the release of “Cowboy Carter,” which brought attention to not only the genre, but Black artists within the community.
Here are some of our favorite country songs by Black artists.
‘Pan American Blues,’ DeFord Bailey
Becoming huge in the 1930s, Bailey was known for his harmonica playing abilities. He was incredibly popular on the radio, but due to licensing issues in 1941, his songs were unable to be played on the radio, according to Charles Wolfe and David Morton in their book “DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music.”
The beauty of this song lies in the raw recording of it. Unmastered, you can feel and hear the impact he had on country music and how timeless his music is.
Bailey died in 1982 but wasn’t inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame until 2005.
‘Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,’ Charley Pride
Maybe heartbreak was always a part of country music?
Pride was country music’s first Black superstar, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and is credited with influencing many modern artists, like Darius Rucker.
‘Wagon Wheel,’ Darius Rucker
One of the most identifiable songs for any kid that grew up listening to country during the 2010s, this cover dominated the radio for what seemed like months — for a good reason.
Not only is the song insanely catchy, but it won Rucker his first solo Grammy Award for best country solo performance.
‘I Will Follow,’ Chapel Hart
After being contestants on America’s Got Talent in 2022, this group of three women have since released their own album, gone on tour and recorded a feature for Darius Rucker.
‘Bad Case of the Blues,’ Linda Martell
The first Black female artist to play at the Grand Ole Opry, Martell held the highest chart-topping single by a Black female artist at No. 22 for over 50 years until 2024 with Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ’Em” debuted at No. 1.
Ironically, this song is the one that ended her career. The song underperformed, leading to her label dropping her. However, it has stood the test of time, becoming one of her most popular songs.
‘SPAGHETTII,’ Beyoncé, Linda Martell, Shaboozey
Genres really are a funny little concept. Although this song has strong Brazilian funk influences, it features country great Martell and up-and-coming country artist Shaboozey.
With her newest album “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé uplifted other Black voices in the country music industry.
‘Vegas,’ Shaboozey
Discussing leaving behind a life for something new and regretting it, this song is featured on Shaboozey’s new album, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.”
Shaboozey has found fame after being featured on “Cowboy Carter” and his song, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” going viral on TikTok.
‘BLACKBIIRD,’ Beyoncé, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts
A recreation of The Beatles hit about Black women during the Civil Rights Movement, Beyoncé once again lifts up other Black country artists through this harmonic song.
‘Buckle Bunny,’ Tanner Adell
Only releasing her first album in 2023, Adell recently won best new artist at the BET Awards. She also performed “Buckle Bunny,” at the awards making her the first Black female country artist to do so.
‘Hit ‘Em up Style,” Carolina Chocolate Drops
Songs like this make you feel patriotic. The fact that music like this was made in America is incredible.
A folk and bluegrass-inspired version of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!),” this song is featured on Carolina Chocolate Drop’s 2010 album “Genuine Negro Jig.”
Carolina Chocolate Drops’ banjo player Rhiannon Giddens was also featured on “Cowboy Carter” as a banjo player in “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
‘Old Town Road – Remix,’ Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey, Young Thug
You can’t talk about influence over country music without talking about “Old Town Road.”
Even if you don’t enjoy country music, it’s likely you have heard this song. A combination of rap and country music, this song made waves in the country genre, sparking debates as to whether or not it really is country.
The remix featured both country with Cyrus, rap with Young Thug and Walmart yodeling with Ramsey.
‘Fast Car,’ Tracy Chapman
Although this song isn’t strictly country, country artist Luke Combs brought the song to a new generation and back into the spotlight.
In 2023, Chapman won the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year, making her the only Black woman to do so.
Chapman and Combs performed a duet of “Fast Car” at the Grammy Awards earlier this year.
‘Sweet Symphony,’ Joy Oladokun (with Chris Stapleton)
Folk singer Oladokun released her first album “in defense of my own happiness” in 2021. Since then, she has collaborated with artists like Noah Kahan and is currently touring with Hozier.
‘XXX’s And OOO’s,’ Caroline Randall Williams
Based on the story behind Trisha Yearwood’s hit song “XXX’s And OOO’s (An American Girl),” this spoken song pays tribute to Alice Randall, Williams’ mom and the writer of the song.
This song was released in an album to go along with Randall’s book “My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future,” about Black country artists.
Randall herself wrote several recognizable songs like “XXX’s And OOO’s (An American Girl),” which was about her own life, and led her to be the first Black woman to co-write a number one country hit.
‘Still Here,’ Rissi Palmer, Miko Marks
This song is about resilience in the face of adversity. Palmer herself discusses the resilience it takes to stay in the country scene as a Black woman on her podcast “Color Me Country.”
Despite all the adversity and erasure Black country artists have faced since the genre’s inception, they are still here and they are still thriving.
