The recent clash over Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album and country music controversy has reignited debates within the music industry, with Megyn Kelly responding publicly to her mention during Beyoncé’s world tour. Competing narratives about the album’s intent and reception have fueled ongoing discussion about authenticity, genre boundaries, and the direction of Beyoncé’s music career.
World Tour Sparks Fresh Dispute
Beyoncé’s current world tour features dramatic video displays, one of which includes a clip of Megyn Kelly, sparking Kelly to address the situation openly. Kelly, a well-known political commentator, noted her surprise and amusement at being singled out by Beyoncé on stage. As she remarked in a recent video,
“Beyoncé, who’s on some world tour right now reinventing herself as a country star, is running videotape during the show of yours truly.”
—Megyn Kelly, Political Commentator.
This public reference has drawn attention not just to Kelly herself, but also to lingering controversies surrounding Beyoncé’s musical choices and the response they’ve provoked from across the industry.
Questions Surrounding Reinvention in Country Music
Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter is being positioned by some as a deliberate shift toward country, yet those close to the artist assert it is a one-time experiment as part of a broader renaissance project. Despite speculation that Beyoncé might be
“reinventing herself as a country star,”
her fans know that she embarked on Cowboy Carter as a single chapter, not a permanent direction. In fact, Beyoncé herself has declared, “This ain’t a country album,” distancing her work from rigid genre definitions and making clear that blending styles was her true aim.
The album includes brief appearances by country icons such as Linda Martell, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. However, these contributions have been often mischaracterized. As reported,
“found Bey exploring her love for country music across 27 tracks, including collaborations with icons such as Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.”
—Billboard.
Yet, these artists only feature in short voice memos or spoken introductions, not as partners in song. Only Rhiannon Giddens collaborated instrumentally with Beyoncé on the track “Texas Hold ‘Em,” making the frequent claims of collaboration misleading.
Industry Response and Ongoing Media Misconceptions
The relationship between Cowboy Carter and the country music establishment remains contentious. Some outlets report that the album earned
“zero nominations at the CMA Awards and country radio did not embrace any tracks.”
As Billboard states,
“Many parts of the industry were unwelcoming — the album earned zero nominations at the CMA Awards and country radio did not embrace any tracks.”
—Billboard.
However, the facts reveal a more nuanced reality. When “Texas Hold ‘Em” was officially offered to country radio on February 20, 2024, it quickly became the most added song at that format, logging 79 station adds and debuting at #33 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Beyoncé’s label celebrated this achievement with an advertisement in Billboard’s Country Update trade magazine, highlighting the success that contrasts with the narrative of total rejection.
Despite the promising start, by May 2024, promotional support for “Texas Hold ‘Em” was withdrawn from both country and pop radio. The song never climbed higher than #33 on the country chart, nor beyond #7 on pop, raising questions about label strategy and the broader reception among industry gatekeepers. With continued reporting errors and misunderstandings, myths about the album’s impact persist, compounding the rivalry and confusion surrounding Beyoncé’s foray into country sounds.
Public Reactions and Enduring Tensions
Megyn Kelly’s reaction to being featured in Beyoncé’s show has been marked by a mix of exasperation and bemusement, as she questioned the motivation behind being cast as an adversary. However, the ongoing media coverage has failed to clarify the heart of the dispute—namely, Beyoncé’s wish to subvert genre boundaries, not to fully embrace country music conventions. The debate is further complicated by other artists like Post Malone, who has also pursued a country direction and generated his own share of speculation and commentary within the music world.
As the controversy endures, many voices in the industry and among fans continue to debate what constitutes country authenticity and whether artists from outside traditional boundaries can find acceptance or success. For now, as the conversation continues, time may ultimately reveal Beyoncé’s intentions and the true legacy of Cowboy Carter as an album that sought to transcend labels and challenge expectations.
