Beyonce Is A Big Fan Of A Country Icon
On Friday, as you may have heard, Beyonce appeared at a Kamala Harris rally in Houston. She was there, along with her former Destiny’s Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland. Another singer who was on hand was country icon, Willie Nelson.
Beyonce shared a photo of the two of them to Instagram. She wrote, “The Great Willie! You are the coolest! I admire you, and I sincerely thank you for being the pioneer you are. Thanks for your impactful music, your advocacy, and the gracious way you appreciate and celebrate other artists! You are 1 of 1. You were so kind to me and the girls of Destiny’s Child when we fanned out meeting you years ago.
And you greeted me with the same kindness 20 years later! You are one of our national treasures.”
Nelson cameoed on Beyonce’s latest album, Cowboy Carter; he doesn’t sing. Instead he appears as a radio DJ on the interludes “Smoke Hour” and “Smoke Hour II.” It was a fitting role: before he made his breakthrough as a musician, he worked as a DJ at a Fort Worth country radio station, KCNC, in 1954. (The album also features similar cameos from other country icons: Linda Martell and Dolly Parton).
Nelson performed at the rally, while Beyonce didn’t (to the chagrin of some). To be fair, Nelson is constantly touring; Beyonce isn’t currently on tour and doesn’t have a band at the moment. Beyonce noted that she wasn’t there as a music superstar. In her speech introducing Vice President Harris, she said, “I’m not here as a celebrity; I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother. A mother who cares, deeply, about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. A world where we’re not divided. Our past, our present, our future merge to meet us here.”
She added, “It’s time to sing a new song. A song that began 248 years ago. The old notes of downfall, discord, despair no longer resonate. Our generations of loved ones before us are whispering a prophecy, a quest, a calling, an anthem. Our moment is right now. It’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a song of unity. They sing a song of dignity and opportunity. Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new American song? Because I am.”
