Loren Ryan: 'Beyoncé Has Made History In Country Music'

Beyoncé has made history in country music, with the most first-day streams on a country album from a female artist. Even if you don't like the album, your streams contributed to this win for Beyoncé.

The main themes on the album I found are female empowerment, black empowerment, humility and vulnerability. I've been listening to Cowboy Carter on repeat since 4 am Friday morning. I really love it.

The inclusion of Black female country artists who have been overlooked in the industry on the song Blackbird (perfect song choice for the point she was trying to make).

To hear her baby on one of the tracks made my heart sing, thinking of how similar it is to my song "Suddenly", which I wrote for my baby.

Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Linda Martell endorsing the album was a treat to hear and how the interludes get you excited for the following song. It's been a long time since I've heard an album put together like this with such thought and detail.

I love the duets with Willie Jones and Miley Cyrus!

We haven't even discussed the vocal performances on this record yet, absolutely stunning harmonies, vocal stacks and vocal arrangements. I love how Beyoncé has such an ear and talent for that, which originated from her time in Destiny's Child, where she did most of the vocal arrangements.

We consume music so differently these days; it's so shallow. With an honest answer, what is the last album you could say you enjoyed every single song, studied and learned the lyrics from cover to cover? It's probably been years.

Music is ever-evolving; I've been saying this for over a decade now. Every decade has its moment. 50s country music is different from 80s country music, as is the 90s, early 2000s, and even 2010s. It's exciting to see it change. Those artists who are successful through the decades are those who evolve. The ones who are shaping what country music sounds like today are those who are releasing music consistently.

Beyoncé is the prototype. I've always gravitated towards the best of singers, she is certainly one of the best singers this world has to offer, I am thrilled to have existed at the same time as her. I'm sure you hear this and can think of an icon of yours and say the same thing. How lucky we are to be alive right now? (A quote from Lin Manuel Miranda, my fav Songwriter of all time)

It's tough making music in a highly conservative genre. The words "assimilate, but God forbid you excel" have been ringing through my head for quite some time now.

Anyway, I'm proud of Bey for having the courage to release this album and sparking long-overdue conversations about genres, acceptance, racism in country music, and more.

Go listen to Cowboy Carter.

I would have made a video, but I'm in bed with tonsillitis and no voice at the moment. Happy Easter.

Love L.

This article was originally posted on Loren Ryan’s Instagram and Facebook and has been re-posted with permission.