How ‘Cowboy Carter’ Changed My Life: Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy on Seminal Beyoncé Album

‘Cowboy Carter’ has not only been a historic effort for the singer, but it has put a spotlight on rising Black acts in the country genre. As Bey puts it: “When I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me.”

When Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot country songs chart, she became the first Black woman to achieve the feat in the chart’s 80-year history. The tune blending elements of country, Western music, pop and soul reigned supreme for 10 weeks as her Cowboy Carter album emerged as a cultural piece of art that sparked think pieces about Black artists reclaiming the genres they created to social media essays about Queen Bey’s next-level greatness and virtuosity.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” eventually dipped to No. 2, only to be supplanted by a new artist with a connection to Beyoncé: her two-time Cowboy Carter collaborator Shaboozey. The 29-year-old’s anthemic blend of country and rap on “A Bar Song (Typsy),” released two weeks after Cowboy Carter, danced to the top of the charts. And, for the first time in Billboard history, two consecutive Black artists held the No. 1 spot.

Shaboozey (PHOTO BY BRETT CARLSEN/GETTY IMAGES FOR SPOTIFY)

Now, Shaboozey has a Top 5 album on the pop charts with his third project, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, and he is a shoo-in best new artist Grammy contender. Part of his success can be attributed to “the Bey-effect.” Other breakthrough newcomers featured on her historic album — including Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts and Willie Jones — have also benefited, from earning first-ever placements on the Billboard charts to soaring streaming numbers and an expanded social media presence.

“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” Beyoncé tells The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

Shaboozey — who released his debut project six years ago and launched three songs from his new album before finding chart success with “A Bar Song (Typsy)” — is grateful for the push Cowboy Carter has given his music. “It’s been pretty great for her to put a lot of eyes on me at one time. Her being able to put a light on me at that time period helped my roll-out. She helped amplify what I was already doing in this space, and it’s really amazing [coming from] somebody that is really influential [and a] historic figure,” he tells THR. “It’s cool to see how far country music has reached since Beyoncé did her project. It’s cool to see the music reach all over the world.”

On Cowboy Carter, Shaboozey appears on “Sweet Honey Buckin’” and “Spaghetti,” which also features country music pioneer Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry whose legendary career is getting more attention thanks to her double appearances on Queen Bey’s album. Jones lends his vocals to “Just for Fun” while Spencer, Kennedy, Adell and Roberts harmonize on a Paul McCartney-approved cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”

Tiera Kennedy (PHOTO BY CATHERINE POWELL/GETTY IMAGES FOR CMT)

For Kennedy, who moved to Nashville eight years ago and has worked as a songwriter behind the scenes, being part of Cowboy Carter came at a significant time in her career.

“For me it’s so much deeper than the numbers. It was a change for my entire life. A few months before [Cowboy Carter] happened, I was dropped from my record deal, and I was on this trajectory of having the career that I had always dreamed of and then that was such a bombshell for me,” she explains. “And literally, immediately after the album came out my social numbers shot up. Ever since then, it’s been steadily growing and people are finding me and finding my music. And it’s been really cool, because I think this is coming at a very pivotal time for my career.”

Kennedy, who was signed to Big Machine Label Group, released the independent single “I Ain’t a Cowgirl” in April and said she’s “loosely” talking to major labels about deals. But she adds that Beyoncé emboldened her to create the debut album she truly wanted to make.