5 Bold and Inspiring Black Country Artists Revolutionizing Modern Country Music Sound
It is Black History Month, and black country artists are taking the country music genre by storm. Recently, the wave of black artists singing country music and gaining commercial success is reminding music listeners that African Americans have deep roots in country music that was once forgotten or shamed for not fitting the “norm” of what country music should sound like.
If you are looking for new songs to add to your Friday night playlist, keep reading for five black country artists to check out this month.
Kane Brown
Kane Brown is a current chart-topping black country artist with hit songs like “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina, “Miles On It,” and “One Thing Right.” If you are just starting your black country music artist playlist, Brown is a safe choice. Brown sound is a blend of country music, R&B, and a little Pop.
Brown’s deep voice and heartfelt lyrics will have you adding multiple songs to your playlist. One of the “My City” singer’s country music highlights as an African American is being the first black country artist to win the Video of the Year at the ACM Awards in 2021.
Tanner Adell
Tanner Adell is the black country artist to check out if you want upbeat country music to dance to. Adell is another safe choice when starting a black country music playlist, as her music blends country, pop, and trap hip-hop. The instrument and vocal arrangement in Adell’s songs will have you double-checking the genre.
The “Trailer Park Barbie” singer’s career took off when her song “Buckle Bunny” went viral on social media, introducing her to new fans. In an interview with Variety, Ardell explains her take on blending country sound with pop,
“Some people have a hard time agreeing that pop should even be included in the country conversation when it comes to blending genres,” she notes. “But I mean, that’s what it is. I’ve got a country heart, a country soul. I write lyrically very country. And it just happens to be my foundation. But I want it to be able to reach outside of the walls of Nashville.”
Charley Pride
In honor of Black History Month, you have to take the time to give flowers to the legendary black first country singer superstar Charley Pride. Born in 1934, Pride took the country world by storm in the 60’s.
After playing several years of semi-pro baseball, Pride headed back to Montana and Nashville to pursue a music career. Pride music sounds like the music you think of when you think of classic traditional country with a splash of Blues.
According to the “Just Between You and Me” singer’s official website, Pride’s musical achievements that etched his legacy as the father of American country singers are, “Between 1967 and 1987, he amassed no fewer than 52 Top-10 Country hits and went on to sell tens of millions of records worldwide.” The website continues,
His #1 crossover hit “Kiss An Angel Good Morning” sold over a million singles and helped him to win the Country Music Association’s (CMA) “Entertainer of the Year” award and the “Top Male Vocalist” awards of 1971 and 1972. It also brought him a “Best Male Country Vocal Performance” GRAMMY Award in 1972.
Linda Martell
New fans of country music by black artists probably think Beyoncé is the first woman of black country music, but in reality, it is Linda Martell. Martell is a leading lady and a pioneer of the genre for African Americans. The “Bad Case of the Blues” singer’s career milestones include being the first black woman country artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and achieve commercial success.
In 1969, Martell charted number 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, holding the spot for the highest-peaking single by a black female country singer until dethroned by Queen B. Martell’s fame reignited when she was featured on the song “Spaghettii” and “The Linda Martell Show” on Beyonce’s 2024 Cowboy Carter album.
Shaboozey
Shaboozey is another Grammy-winning black country artist currently redefining and challenging people’s idea of country music. Shaboozey “A Bar Song Tispy” was a summer anthem in 2024, going viral and sung by people of all ages and races.
Shaboozey is good at using his lyrics to tell a story, and an instrumental blend of traditional country guitar sound, infused with a modern beat, is what helps his music stand out as a current top-selling black country artist.
With the quick success of his 2024 hit, people think Shaboozey rose to success overnight. But in reality, Shaboozey did not build a large fan base for his blend of country and hip-hop music until he was working on his third album and Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter.
Country Music Has No Rules
There are no golden blueprints or rules for what country music should sound like. Artists like Kane Brown, Shaboozey, and Tanner Andell are black country artists who push the boundaries of the music genre that was paved by black country music legends Charlie Pride and Linda Martell. All the artists’ music above is available on Spotify.
