King family praises Beyoncé for "reaffirming" country album

Zoom in: The 27-song track list released last week includes previously released singles "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages," which have already garnered hundreds of millions of plays on Spotify.

• "Texas Hold 'Em" also reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to top the chart.
• The album also features a cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird," a song written by Paul McCartney in 1968 about the Civil Rights Movement.
• Beyoncé invited Black country singers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts to join her on the cover.

What they're saying: "I'm grateful because she brings all of this to me personally but also in our home. And it's joyous, It's positive. It's reaffirming," Martin Luther King III tells Axios.

• King said his mother, Coretta Scott King, mainly listened to classical but occasionally put on some country music. His father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., loved all music.
• "Beyoncé is bringing the conversation to the actual origins of country music in the black community," King III's wife, Arndrea Waters King, tells Axios.
• She called Beyoncé "courageous" for stepping into the country scene that recently has produced artists accused of promoting gun violence and racism.

State of play: "Cowboy Carter" comes as a growing number of Black country artists have been organizing to get more recognition in an industry that gives them little airtime and attention.

• They've helped create the Black Opry, an American music website and touring revue.
• Mickey Guyton became the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2021 and her song "Black Like Me" garnered attention during the 2020 national racial justice protests.

The intrigue: On Thursday, McCartney posted on Threads that he was happy with Beyoncé's cover of "Blackbird."

• "I think she does a magnificent version of it, and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place," he wrote.
• "I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out."

Yes, but: Beyoncé has faced criticism from some white country music fans for using explicit lyrics in her new album.

Reality check: A number of country music artists, from Wheeler Walker Jr. to Trey Lewis, have sung songs with explicit lyrics.

The bottom line: Beyoncé is earning respect and support from other Black country artists like Julie Williams for highlighting other Black country musicians and bringing attention to Black country history.

Go deeper: Harris hails Beyoncé: "Your music continues to inspire us all"