Country singer Darius Rucker said in a recent interview that country music still carries the “stigma” of racism.
“The 2021 op-ed is a testament to the fact that the 1970s has been a major turning “The Tennessean” Country music is haunted by “the stigma of the rebel flag and racism.”
In the latest issue of CNN “Who’s talking to Chris Wallace?During the segment, host Chris Wallace asked Rucker whether this stigma still persists within the genre.
“You know, it’s still there. You still see it everywhere and I don’t think it’s ever going to go away,” the “Beards and Sunshine” singer said.
Pressed further, Rucker added that the stigma is “still” part of the country and he “definitely believes it’s still there.”
He also touched on Beyoncé’s latest and first country album, “Cowboy Carter,” after she became the first black woman to release a country album earlier this year. Become number one It ranked high on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
“I can’t even begin to describe what she’s done – she’s brought so much attention to the genre. One of my favorite things about Beyoncé is that when I started making country music and having hits, African-American women and men would come up to me and say, ‘I love country music, but now I’m finally able to say it because you’re playing it,'” Rucker said.
“And I think she brought more attention to the genre, more people took notice, and more black people were like, ‘OK, I like country music.’ I always say I want country music to be more American, and I think she’s been a big part of that,” he added.
