As Beyoncé continues to break down barriers and reinvent American music with Cowboy Carterthe singer thanked those who paved the way by defying “whatever label they were given”.
While accepting the Innovator Award from Stevie Wonder at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night, Beyoncé addressed the crowd. “Tonight you called me an innovator, and for that I am very grateful,” he said. “Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy. Being innovative means seeing what everyone else thinks is impossible. Being innovative often means being criticized, which will often test your mental strength.”
In turn, the star dedicated the award to “all the innovators who have dedicated their lives and their art to creating change.” She continued, “Thank you for your sacrifices, your loud voices and your fearless spirit. Thank you to Rosetta Tharpe, Miss Tracy Chapman, Linda Martell, Prince, Stevie Wonder, André 3000, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and many others who defied every label they were given. Thank you for making your dream come true for all of us to follow.”
Beyoncé also expressed her hope that “every record label, every radio station, every award show” will be more “open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art without prejudice.”
In presenting the honor, Wonder called the 32-time Grammy winner “a true visionary.” Beyoncé thanked him in response and also revealed that she contributed harmonica to her new album version of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'.
Following the release of Cowboy Carter last week, Rolling rock revealed that music streams for artists featured on the LP — including Willie Nelson, Linda Martell and Dolly Parton — skyrocketed. Linda Martell, whose 1970 LP, Color Me Countrywas the first major country album released by a black woman, and saw a nearly 127,430 percent jump in Spotify's catalog streams last weekend.
In February, Beyoncé became the first black female artist to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in modern country music history, thanks to her single “Texas Hold 'Em.” The track later topped the Hot 100 chart, marking the singer's ninth time at the top of the chart as a solo artist. Last Friday, Spotify was announced that Cowboy Carter It currently holds the record for the most streamed album in one day in 2024.
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