June Carter Cash's Daughter Defends Beyoncé's Country Claim: 'She's One of Us Carter Women'

Beyoncé's new album Cowboy Carter has sparked some debate about whether it should be considered a “country”. But when it comes to Carlene Carter, there's no denying that Bey lives up to her mom: the late country icon June Carter Cash.

In a recent statementCarlene slammed the “negativity” she's seen in recent days Cowboy Carter arrived on Friday, bringing with it 27 new experimental country-inspired tracks. “As a Carter Girl myself and coming from a long line of Carter Girls, it moves me to ask why would anyone treat a Carter this way?” she asked.

“She's an incredibly talented and creative woman who obviously wanted to do it because she loves country music,” the 68-year-old singer-songwriter continued. “In my book, she's one of us Carter women, and we've always pushed the boundaries by trying whatever music was in our hearts and taking spirit-driven risks.”

Carlene is the daughter of June and Carl Smith, who divorced in 1956. The “Jackson” singer married Edwin “Rip” Nix in 1957 before divorcing in 1966, after which she famously married Johnny Cash in 1968.

Throughout her career as a country musician, June scored nine hits on the Hot Country Songs chart — a ranking Bey would become the first black soloist to top decades later with “Texas Hold'Em.” The single, along with “16 Carriages”, preceded it Cowboy Carterwhich features guest appearances from Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.

“I admire her and I love her and everything she does,” Carlene added, addressing the “naysayers” directly. “I'm glad to know that the Carter spunk is in her, just as it has been nearly 100 years since we Carters chose to follow our hearts, hearts that are full of love not just for country music but for all kinds of music. Here's a warm welcome to the Carter Girl Club!”

Carlene isn't the first country star to defend Bey's right to explore country music. Linda Martell, who appears in Cowboy Carter, wrote on Instagram that she is “proud” of the 32-time Grammy winner for “exploring her roots in country music,” while Rihannon Giddens said in a recent interview: “People can do whatever they want. Do they want to set a country record? Set a country record. Nobody's asking Lana Del Rey, 'What right do you have to make a country record?'”

Additionally, Queen Bey's mom, Tina Knowles, reminded critics ahead of the album's release that her daughter grew up in the heart of “cowboy culture” in Houston. “There's a huge black cowboy culture,” he said at the time. “Why do you think my kids have incorporated it into their fashion and art from the start? … We went to the rodeos every year and my whole family dressed up in western fashion … It was definitely part of our culture growing up.”