From Beyonce to Lil Nas X, 10 singers who broke boundaries with crossovers into country music
10 singers who broke boundaries and transitioned to country music
While pop and country music may appear as two opposite genres, they are quite similar in terms of their musical content, emotion, and storytelling. Certain musical stars have further bridged the gap between the two genres through their expertise in both categories.
1. Beyonce
Beyonce recently announced the entry to her country music era by using a Super Bowl commercial on February 11 to inform her fans about her latest music release. Beyonce, who holds the record for the highest number of Grammy wins, has recently dropped two country-inspired songs - the up-tempo romp 'Texas Hold ‘Em' and Americana-flavored ballad '16 Carriages', per Billboard. Both the two songs have topped Apple Music’s country songs list with 'Texas Hold ‘Em' holding the number one spot on Spotify’s country playlist as well.
2. Lil Nas X
Rapper Lil Nas X forayed into country music through his 2019 single 'Old Town Road' which had elements of both country and hip-hop. He also featured the country legend Billy Ray Cyrus on the remix version. The song went on to win two Grammy awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, per Country Music UK.
3. Taylor Swift
The pop sensation Taylor Swift started her career in the music industry as a country singer-songwriter. She debuted with a country hit album in 2006, Her second album 'Fearless' - also in the country genre - earned her four Grammy Awards. Some of her popular songs like 'Love Story', and 'You Belong With Me' are songs belonging to both the country and pop categories.
4. Post Malone
Post Malone made his first Country Airplay chart entry last year by performing with Joe Diffie on a “duet” version of Diffie’s 'Pickup Man'. He has, however, teased his own country album during the 2023 CMA Awards. In an interview with Access Hollywood, when he was asked about whether he has any country music album in the cards, he replied, "I think so…yes.”
5. Faith Hill
One of the most popular female artists of all time, Faith Hill successfully ventured into country music through her fourth studio album 'Faith' released in 1998. The signature song of the album 'Breathe' became the most popular single of the year on both the country and pop charts. She also received three Grammys, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
6. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley had a tremendously successful career in both country and pop. His early songs like 'That’s All Right', 'Mystery Train', and 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' featured elements of both country and R&B.
7. Dolly Parton
One of the stalwarts of country music, Dolly Parton too has ventured into the genre of pop music with the release of her 1977 album 'Here You Come Again'. The album not only showcased to the world her multifaceted talent, but the title track of the album also went on to achieve a place in the top ten pop hits.
8. Darius Rucker
As the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker received various accolades until he ventured into country music in 2008 and released his first album as a country solo artist. His 2008 album 'Learn to Live' had three number-one singles on the country charts - 'Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It', 'It Won’t Be Like This for Long', and 'Alright'. He also won a Grammy award for Best Country Solo Performance for his cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel in 2013.
9. Lana Del Rey
On January 31, pop artist Lana Del Rey announced her next album 'Lasso' (expected to be released in September), and revealed that it will have a country-infused sound. From the stage of the Billboard and NMPA Songwriter Awards, she further said, ”If you can’t already tell by our award winners and our performers, the music business is going country. We’re going country. It’s happening,” and added, “That’s why Jack [Antonoff] has followed me to Muscle Shoals, Nashville, Mississippi, over the last four years.”
10. Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is yet to release his own country music album. While he has performed with Luke Combs on 'Life Goes On' during the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards, he has shared with Billboard that he would “love to transition into country,” and added, “I love the culture of it, I just love the songwriting. It’s just like brilliant songs.”
