大象传媒

Beyonc茅 has become the first black woman to ever top Billboard鈥檚 Hot Country Songs chart in the modern history of country music, thanks to her country debut, Texas Hold 鈥楨m.

Where country music's relationship with black artists has often been difficult, black communities in America have been reacting to Beyonc茅's success and seeing it as a significant moment and possible turning point.

After Beyonc茅's surprise release of Texas Hold 鈥楨m and 16 Carriages during the Super Bowl, fans and industry insiders speculated if the music would be embraced by the traditional country industry.

But before Beyonc茅 took the top spot in the charts and made history there's been a handful of black women in the country music scene who've had chart success. Rissi Palmer is one of them - she was the first African American woman to chart a country song since Dona Mason in 1987, breaking a 20 year wait.

She's been opening up about Beyonc茅's chart success and the struggles black women still face in the country music world.

(Photo: Rissi Palmer performing. Credit: Chris Charles)

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