Beyoncé’s latest album “Cowboy Carter” has not only proven it deserves a place in the country music genre but has also gone the length to show why it is deserving of the positive reviews it is generating.
The singer roped in music legend Stevie Wonder for her “Cowboy Carter” album among other impressive collaborators. At the iHeartRadio Music Awards held in Los Angeles on Monday, Beyoncé, honored with the Innovator Award, showered praises on Wonder, who presented her with the prestigious accolade, as reported by the New York Post.
“Now, Beyoncé is once again changing music and culture,” Wonder said of her latest record. “And when she’s not changing music, she’s changing the world, fighting the good fight.”
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After the singer received the award, she thanked the “I Wish” hitmaker for “making a way for all of us.”
“And thank you for playing the harmonica on ‘Jolene,’” she added.
“Tonight, you called me an innovator, and for that, I’m very grateful,” the 32-time Grammy winner said. “Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream and that role can be very bumpy. Being an innovator is saying what everyone believes is impossible.”
“Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. Being an innovator is leaning on faith, trusting that God will catch you and guide you,” she added.
Beyoncé addressed labels, radio stations, and award shows to be “more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions.”
The singer mentioned the contributions of several black artists, such as Rosetta Tharpe, Linda Martell, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Wonder, who are committed to creating transformative change through their art.
She expressed gratitude to her husband, Jay-Z, and their children. The singer’s new country music-inspired album was released on Friday. The highly anticipated eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter,” features a variety of guest singers and surprise collaborators, such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. This album follows her previous release in 2022 titled “Act I: Renaissance.”
Beyoncé’s latest album features tracks like “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “16 Carriages,” “Bodyguard,” and “Oh Louisiana”. She recently shared that her motivation for this new music stemmed from her 2016 CMA performance with the Chicks, which was poorly received.
