North Carolina native Rhiannon Giddens plays on new Beyoncé track

Background: Giddens was born in Greensboro and raised partially in the rural Piedmont.

• She attended the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham before earning a degree in vocal studies at Oberlin College in Ohio.
• Her work, both with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and as a solo artist, has earned her multiple Grammys as well as a MacArthur "genius grant." She's worked throughout her career to draw attention to the African origins of the banjo and the ways African-American musicians shaped the country and folk genres.
• Last year, she won a Pulitzer Prize for "Omar," an opera about the enslaved African scholar Omar ibn Said that she co-produced with UNC's Carolina Performing Arts.

Driving the news: Giddens plays the banjo and viola on the new Beyoncé track, Variety reports.

• Beyoncé's next album "Act II" is set to arrive March 29 and reportedly will have more country music influences.

What she's saying: In a Facebook post, Giddens said the timing of the Sunday release took her by surprise — she secretly worked with Beyoncé on the song two years ago.

• "My only hope is that it might lead a few more intrepid folks into the exciting history of the banjo," Giddens wrote.

Zoom out: Mainstream pop stars have been diving headfirst into the country genre recently, Axios Nashville's Adam Tamburin writes.

• Lana Del Rey and Post Malone previously announced their next musical projects will come with a country angle.