Texas Hold ‘Em: Can You Ace This Country Music Quiz?

photo collage of different black artists and bands

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Do you have a favorite country artist or song? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Beyoncé recently made history, topping Billboard’s country music charts with the single, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and making her the first Black woman artist to do so. Beyoncé stands on the shoulders of many Black women in country music, most of whom have received little public notoriety for their contributions.

With a new album, Cowboy Carter, dropping, Beyoncé’s second act is all about reclaiming a music genre that began with Black people. Standing on the shoulders of country greats like Charley Pride, Cleve Francis, and Lionel Richie, Beyoncé’s influence is encouraging a new crop of country music enthusiasts around the world. Country music has come a long way. And African Americans, in particular, have historically laid the groundwork in this genre.

We’re shining the spotlight specifically on Black women legends and memorable moments in country music. See how well you do on this quiz.

In 1992, she recorded Dolly Parton’s 1974 chart-topping country music hit, “I Will Always Love You” for the blockbuster movie The Bodyguard:

Mariah Carey

In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded a rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” which was released as a single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album. The record was an international hit and spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020 “I Will Always Love You” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry, and in January 2022 it was certified Diamond by the RIAA.

Natalie Cole

Kelly Price

Whitney Houston

Which artist was the first African American woman to write a number-one Billboard Hot Country Singles hit? [Hint: It was “XXXs and OOOs (An American Girl)” by Trisha Yearwood]

Dionne Farris

Alice Randall is a songwriter, producer, lecturer, and author who was discovered by Steve Earle at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. In 1992, she wrote the screenplay for Reba McEntire’s narrative music video “Is There Life Out There” which won video of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Tameka Cottle

Alice Randall

Mary J. Blige

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Who is the “Color Me Country” singer and first Black woman solo artist to perform at The Grand Ole Opry, appearing there a dozen times?

Toni Braxton

Linda Martell, born Thelma Bynem, was the first Black woman country artist to gain commercial success. Her country cover, “Color Him Father” hit the country music charts, gaining much acclaim before her debut album “Color Me Country” was released in 1970.

Linda Martell

Alice Randall

Chanté Moore

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Rhiannon Giddens, who is featured on Beyoncé's new country album, is best known for playing which instrument?

flute

Rhiannon Giddens is a folk music legend and founding member of the band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Although she sings and plays the fiddle, Giddens is best known for playing the banjo. Giddens has also spent many years chronicling and sharing the banjo’s roots in African and Black culture.

ukulele

harmonica

banjo

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Name the mother and daughter country music duo with ties to Wu-Tang Clan:

O.N.E. The Duo

Tekitha and Prana are mother and daughter duo who make up their band O.N.E. The Duo. Prana Supreme is the daughter of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA. The pair have an eclectic style that is a unique fusion of country and R&B.

The Albertsons

The Clark Sisters

The Judds

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In 2022, which country music trio who took America’s Got Talent by storm?

Blanco Brown

In 2021, two sisters and their cousin, a family singing trio, was inducted to the CMT’s Next Women of Country. Hailing from Poplarville, Mississippi, the group named themselves “Hart’s Chapel” after their community church and catapulted into stardom after appearing on America’s Got Talent.

The War and Treaty

Chapel Hart

The Staple Singers

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After a 2024 Grammy performance with Luke Combs, which one of Tracy Chapman’s songs got 637,000 streams the day after?

Telling Stories

Tracy Chapman first performed “Fast Car” at the 1989 Grammys where she won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 35 years later, Chapman performed at the 66th Grammy Awards alongside Luke Combs, who released a cover of the single. The memorable performance earned “Fast Cars” a number one spot on the iTunes chart the day after.

Fast Car

Give Me One Reason

The Promise

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A few of this iconic rock star’s most memorable music moments include recording country covers by Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Hank Snow. She is…

Bessie Smith

Tina Turner, a native of Brownsville, Tennessee, was heavily influenced by country music. In 1974, she released her solo debut album, Tina Turns the Country On!, where she pays homage to country music’s influence by singing covers of classic country songs.

Tina Turner

Diana Ross

Dionne Warwick

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In 2023, after four decades blazing trails, which singer/songwriter and once co-leader of the Black Country Music Association, celebrated a debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry?

Tracy Chapman

Frankie Staton made a debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. After moving to Nashville in 1981, Staton championed Black artists and songwriters – and also, with Cleve Francis – helped to launch the now defunct Black Country Music Association in the 1990s. Despite being met with opposition from Nashville’s music industry, Staton spent several decades performing in and around Nashville’s top music venues, also making history by creating the first Black Country Music Showcase at the Bluebird Cafe in 1997. Staton was featured in The Black Opry in the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum's exhibit series, American Currents: The State of the Music - Unbroken Circle

Cleve Francis

Thelma Bynem

Frankie Staton

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Her song, “Black Like Me” was released in June of 2020, amidst nationwide George Floyd protests. The song is about her navigating life’s experiences as a Black woman and country music artist. Who is she?

Julie Williams

Guyton’s song “Black Like Me" received a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. She was the first Black woman to receive a Grammy nomination in that category.

Mickey Guyton

Allison Russell

Brittney Spencer

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Coined “Music City,” which Southern city is the home of many country music artists?

Birmingham

Nashville has a long history of being a Southern hub of music making. From the 1800s when the Fisk Jubilee Singers made international history to the 1930s-60s emergence of R&B on Nashville’s historic Jefferson Street, Nashville is home to several historic venues and country music artists.

Houston

Nashville

Memphis

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Which girl group, hailing from Oakland, California, had a country music hit in the 1970s.

The Supremes

According to Essence.com, The Pointer Sisters 1974 album That’s a Plenty included the hit country single “Fairytale.” The song hit the country music charts, which followed with The Pointer Sisters becoming the first Black women group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

The Pointer Sisters

Sister Sledge

The Marvelettes

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Releasing eight studio albums, who is “the first lady of country soul?”

Candi Staton

Born Petrella Ann Bonner, she is a songwriter, producer, and country music singer. Many of her songs have appeared on the Top 100 Country Music charts and, in 1994, she was named Songwriter of the Year by the Tennessee Songwriters Association. Her memorabilia are included in the collection at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.

Miko Marks

Petrella

Rissi Palmer

Do you have a favorite country artist or song? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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About the Author

Tonya Abari

Tonya Abari is multigenre freelance writer, editor, and digital content guru. She enjoys spending time with family, discovering new places, collecting healing crystals, and unschooling her inquisitive and free-spirited daughter. You can find Tonya online at www.tonyaabari.com or hanging out on IG @iamtabari.

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