Ranking Beyoncé’s Most Award-Worthy Country Songs

The People’s Choice Country Awards are going live tonight, and Beyoncé is up for quite a few noms. Most of those nominations are for the song “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Cowboy Carter as a whole, but we think a few songs from that album deserve some credit for being darn good country-pop tunes. Let’s look at six of Beyoncé’s best country (and country-adjacent) songs from her newest album!

1. “Daughter”

“Daughter” clocks in at the top of our list of Beyoncé’s best country songs simply because of its overall vibe. Country music has had its share of outlaw murder storytelling, and Beyoncé is clearly paying homage to that subgenre of country music with “Daughter”. It’s one of the most ear-catching songs on Cowboy Carter, and brings to mind influences like “Goodbye Earl” or “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia”.

2. “Riiverdance”

“Riiverdance” has a square dance/country-pop vibe; but it does lean more toward dance music than classic country. But in Bey’s words herself: “This ain’t a country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”

This particular track has some ambitious elements to it, most of which you won’t find in mainstream country or pop music. It’s an addictive, cyclical song that has the kind of formula you’d expect from an electronic dance track as well as a classic square dance tune.

3. “Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin” (with Shaboozey)

This particular track drew a lot of attention to alternative country artist Shaboozey. And that attention is well-deserved. “Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin” has some serious spiritual energy to it and doesn’t lose its country vibe, though it definitely has elements of house music. The use of Patsy Cline’s famous tune “I Fall To Pieces” fits it perfectly.

4. “Blackbiird” featuring Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts

Paul McCartney wrote the OG “Blackbird” about black women in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement as an anthem of sorts, so it only makes sense that the Beatles classic would be reimagined by Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter. “Blackbiird” is a really touching tribute, complete with a laundry list of collaborators who make it even better.

5. “Jolene”

Beyoncé could not have made a country album without at least a few nods to and collaborations with Dolly Parton. “Jolene” is one of the best. It takes on a much fiercer approach than Parton’s original softly-sung yet passionate tune.

6. “Texas Hold ‘Em”

“Texas Hold ‘Em” is by far the most well-known single from Cowboy Carter, so it’s worth noting on this list. However, in the context of all of the other great pieces of work on this album, it isn’t at the top of the list. Still, it’s quite addicting.

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

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