Dana Daly

Pop culture icon Beyoncé is looking to spread her portfolio into the realms of country music and already has two songs, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" on the airwaves. But Beyoncé, who was born in Houston, Texas, has become the center of an intense debate following her new country material, with John Schneider being a particularly vocal critic. "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages' act as co-lead singles in Beyoncé's upcoming, currently unnamed, country album. The former made its debut during the Super Bowl as a surprise release. "16 Carriages" has gained praise from music critics for its musical expression and Beyoncé's harmonious vocals. Schneider of Dukes of Hazzard fame has slammed the new releases and likened it to a dog trying to pee on every tree in a park. Beyoncé's new country music content makes explosive waves https://twitter.com/jussatto/status/1757444577416417579 Upon release, Beyoncé's new country songs received widespread critical acclaim, with one writer from Variety saying they channel some of the artist's best tracks from the height of her success. Billboard called "16 Carriages" a "vulnerable yet empowering autobiographical ballad" that creatively explores growing up by examining the changing relationship between a parent and child. As for "Texas Hold 'Em," named after the card game, Chris Willman with Variety called it "genre-embracing and -transcending," insisting that Beyoncé is not guilty of "genre tourism," but is instead taking an authentic approach to country music. The album these songs are on is listed as Act II of the Renaissance trilogy of albums and is reported to be "country-themed." This is her first country album, but her first foray into songwriting and singing came with 2016's "Daddy Lessons." RELATED: ‘The Masked Singer’ Donut Revealed As Beloved ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Actor So great has been the fervor surrounding Beyoncé's new country music that one fan requested Oklahoma station KYKC 100.1 FM play "Texas Hold 'Em." They shared their experience online after their request was denied, with the station emailing in response, "We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station." The artist's scores of fans, known as the BeyHive, converged online to insist the station adjust its decision. On a Wednesday interview with TODAY, KYKC’s general manager Roger Harris explained the station's initial decision, which has since been reversed. "We initially refused to play it in the same manner if someone requested us to play the Rolling Stones on our country station," Harris explained, also noting "We are not a 'big boy' station and getting record companies to service us is tough." Harris added, "Fact is we play Beyonce’ on TWO of our other stations and love her...she is an icon. We just didn’t know about the song." Schneider wishes he didn't know about it either. John Schneider slams Beyoncé's new country music as an invasion, sparking a massive viral debate Dukes of Hazzard alum John Schneider has slammed Beyoncé for putting together a country album and releasing country songs / ImageCollect Following the release of Beyoncé's debut foray into country music, 63-year-old New York native Schneider sat for an interview with One America News Network to slam the artist and her new work. The segment's host said, "The lefties in the entertainment industry just won't leave any area alone, right? They just have to seize control over every aspect, don't they?" Schneider agreed with the host's words and added, "They've got to make their mark, just like a dog in a dog walk park." He went on, "You know, every dog has to mark every tree, right? So that's what's going on here." An excerpt on Twitter also has Schneider, who insists, "I know a little something about country music," saying that outsiders coming into country music is different from Shania Twain transitioning from country into pop. Both new releases have received high praise from critics / YouTube screenshot Harris revealed that there has "been some backlash" against the station from its more "traditional" followers "who don't think the song deserves airplay." Harris counters, "But to us it's all about good music." The Bobby Bones Show host Bobby Bones also listed Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, and other newcomers who did not face such controversy in years past. Online, artist Ray Charles is being touted for his work as a genre-transcending master thanks to his crossover success with multiple genres, including country, pop, and R&B. Historically, country music has a unique, diverse history that represents the creative union of many styles, from Appalachian music to folk tunes, with a strong foundation in blues. Symbolic of America's rich success of many forces coming together to make something great, its origins came about due to circumstances that brought styles from Europe, Africa, and even the Mediterranean Basin to the South to lay the foundation for a genre that, hundreds of years later, would manifest into a longlasting, broad-reaching style of musical expression.