It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYc,

welcome back, happy,

It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYC.

Welcome back, happy Friday everybody.

I'm Bridget Bergen filling in for Brian today.

Beyonce's latest album, Act 2, Cowboy Carter hit Number One on the Billboard Country Albums charts this week,

making her the first black woman to ever top that chart.

And with the news came an outpouring of black artists, writers, and historians who are all saying that

country music wouldn't be what it is without its roosts in African American culture.

Joining us now to discuss the legacy of black country music and trace its roots to today's historic achievement is novelist and songwriter Alice Randall.

Her new book is titled My Black Country A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future.

Welcome to WNYC, Alice.

Wonderful to be with you and this historic week.

And listeners, we can take your calls on two tracks here.

If you're a black fan of country music,

call in and tell us what about it you love about country music in the genre, who are your favorite

artists, what do you think of Beyoncé's new album, and if you're a fan of Black Country

music, will invite you to answer the same questions the number

two one two four three three W ny c that's two one two four three three nine six

nine nine nine two and of course we'll'll invite Beyonce fans.

How much of a departure do you think this genre-bending album is from Beyonce's previous work?

What do you like about it?

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