Loved this article. Loved the love it portrayed.
And so impressed by Luke Combs for letting Tracy be the star and by his performance. Lettting his ego go.
The cried during this performance and found out that many others did also.
The Grammys felt like a homage to women power. 
I have these lyrics from the song on repeat in my head:
And I, I had a feeling that I belonged
I, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
It resonates with me. I imagine everyone wants to feel like they belong. Everyone wants to feel like they’re seen. Everyone wishes for a better future.
Me too! Those exact lines.
Great book! Hard to put down but you have to take mental health breaks from that one!
Agreed. His early stuff is much better.
Love this, thanks for sharing as I never would have come across it. The Promise is also one of my favorites.
Yes, so hard to put down and mental health breaks definitely needed while reading. Like Tracy Chapman, Barbara Kingsolver is an artistic genius who came come onto the scene in the 80s and still can move her audience to tears with her craft.
That’s what we call a real mench! 
I thought of this thread during yesterday’s Super Bowl when Beyonce announced her new country album. I hope this will educate more people about how country music has black origins. Love that Rhiannon Giddens plays banjo on the album.
I’m someone well aware of this, but I think Beyoncé sees where the money is right now and has adjusted accordingly.
Really don’t think Beyoncé is worried about money. This is more like Dolly Parton’s foray into rock-n-roll. When you have achieved as much as those women have sometimes you just wanna switch it up.
I agree. Variety is the spice of life.
Also, Beyonce has made country songs in the past (2-3 albums ago, she had the song Daddy Lessons). Did a spot on the CMAs with The Chicks for that song.
Artists are artists. Beyonce born and raised in the south. Not surprising that a southern woman would go back to her southern country roots as she explores her artistic talents.
Lil Nas X, also from the South, had that huge hit with Old Town Road.
There are quite a few black artists from outside the South.
Britney Spencer is from Baltimore. Not the South if you ask a Southerner. https://youtu.be/5Jn5lDvVoAw
Breland is from NJ. https://youtu.be/LoYKy92M-VA
Miko Marks was born in Flint MI and is based in Oakland now. https://youtu.be/j7Dd7nS0NPs?feature=shared According to the about section on her YouTube channel "In 2022, Miko Marks was named to the year’s CMT Next Women of Country class. She has also recently been featured in the Country Music Hall Of Fame Museum’s exhibition American Currents: State of the Music alongside one of her idols, Loretta Lynn. "
But country music is popular all over the world, including places like Nigeria! BBC Radio 4 - Seriously..., Seriously... - Why is country music a hit in Nigeria?
I remember the drama of many people not wanting to consider Old Town Road a country song. 
Lots of Black country singers, I’m thinking Mickey Guyton amongst others.
Thanks for sharing the Mickey Guyton video. And thanks @Sweetgum for all the links.
Don’t forget Charley Pride. I remember listening to him as a kid.
And Darius Rucker made the switch to country…
This is about to turn into the CC country music fan club up in here 
(not complaining).
We could also talk about the first cowboys being Black. American history and diaspora has depths many not aware of. Black History Month FTW.
And Jimmie Allen, who was the first Black man to win ACM’s Best New Male Artist a few years ago.
In case anyone is interested. 
This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.
