To everyone’s surprise, Beyoncé took home the Best Country Duo/Group award at the 67th Grammy Awards. Some claim this is a first, but with Black artists all over the country scene from the beginning, is that true?
We aren’t new to country music—we did create it, after all. But by the 1970s, almost all notable country award winners were white. In 1975, The Pointer Sisters entered the chat. Raised by parents from Arkansas, they grew up with a foundation in country music.
They started their career by recording country music and even played at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974, where they were jeered and booed by the all-white crowd — until they started singing.
At 17th annual Grammys, The Pointer Sisters won Best Country Duo/Group for their song 'Fairytale' —the first Black artists to do so.
Our incredible talents and adaptability showcase the boundlessness of Black creativity. Creativity should be about what moves us. Refusing to be boxed into a genre or label is a powerful statement against the limitations often imposed on us.