Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter continues to wrangle in success. Even here in San Antonio.
Cameron Elementary School, a school part of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), recently used lyrics from the 42 year old Grammy Award winner’s hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em”, as motivation for the upcoming STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) assessments.
According to a 2024 Press Release, “The school’s version, “Cameron Show ‘Em,” reminds students that they have the knowledge to take the STAAR assessment with confidence. STAAR assessments begin next week. Some of the lyrics include the following:
This is Cameron, and we’re gonna show ‘em
We’re the best around, round, round
So grab your breakfast, and be well rested
Let’s take that STAAR Test down, down, down
Cause we’ve got Math, Science, and Reading, too
Who’s gonna use those strategies? YOU!
It’s a real life challenge and a real life throwdown
Don’t be afraid, come show what you know now!
Watch the Teachers at Cameron Elementary Below
”Cameron Show ‘Em,”
This news coincides with the recent news of the success of sales of the 27 track album. Writer Keith Caulfield, in his 2024 article for Billboard, “Beyoncé Achieves Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With ‘Cowboy Carter”, writes, “debuting with 407,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 4…it’s the superstar’s eighth No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200… Cowboy Carter also launches at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. She’s the first Black woman ever to have led the Top Country Albums list, dating to its January 1964 inception.”
Cowboy Carter features an ensemble collaborative list including country icons Linda Martell, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson, as well as upcoming female country artists Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, and Tanner Adell. Similar to 2022’s Renaissance, the album is arranged as a continuous cycle personifying a radio broadcast. In only one week of its release, the album has ignited several conversations surrounding Black/African American’s contributions to country music. Everyone from Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood to the daughter of the late June Carter Cash, Carlene Cash, has had positive responses despite the backlash.
The release of Cowboy Carter is more than just about Beyonce. Yet that is all that many media outlets can focus on. This is about shining a light on the often overlooked history of country music, which is largely centered in the African American community. According to Billboard data, Black/African American artists make up approximately less than 2% of artists played on country radio stations. Is that a coincidence? Absolutely not.
Regardless of one’s opinion of Beyonce’s last foray into country music, it is undeniable that her influence will forever change the role racism has played, and continued to play, in the genre.
