“There’s always room for creativity and fresh takes,” Strait admits, acknowledging the possibility of cross-genre pollination. It is a reality that music changes with time.
However, there must be equilibrium. We must embrace new ideas while preserving the essence of country music.
Within the country music world, Strait’s comments have sparked a heated discussion and a firestorm.
The mythology is fiercely supported by traditionalists, who contend that Beyoncé cannot get a seat at the country table by only adding a few twangy components.
As a celebrity dipping her toes into a well that is deep with decades’ worth of effort and tears, they see her study of the genre as cultural appropriation.
However, other fans argue that music should not be restricted by genre and see Strait’s remarks as gatekeeping. They contend that Beyoncé, or any artist for that matter, is entitled to pursue her artistic goals and experiment with various musical genres.
