How the Black Opry helped elevate artists of color in country music

How the Black Opry helped elevate artists of color in country music

Before there was a conversation about whether Beyoncé was country enough for country music, there was the Black Opry, holding a space for music lovers and artists of color in the genre.

The organization billed as “a home for black artists, fans and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues and folk music” has gained traction since Beyoncé dropped her country-inspired “Act II: Cowboy Carter.”

“The really interesting thing that’s happened since Beyoncé’s release is now we have a whole group of Black fans that have stepped forward and started getting involved,” Holly G., who first launched the Black Opry in 2021 as a blog, told CNN. “I’m very, very excited about that because that’s the only piece that’s really hard for us to think about. If and when we put a Black artist on stage, whether it’s at one of our shows or at any country music festival that popular, it’s still hard for Black people in particular to ignore the fact that the industry has told them that they don’t belong in this space and want to get out and be involved.”

Not everyone shares his joy.

Both Beyoncé and her album have been criticized by some as not being country at all. And while jumping with both feet into the genre may be new, conversations about country music, race and contributions by people of color predate the superstar singer.

Holly G. started the Black Opry in an effort to find fans of country color, who like her, didn’t feel welcome.

“I try to be careful to make a distinction when I talk about country music, between country music and the mainstream industry and country music as an art form and genre,” he said. “Because black people always make this style of music. They’ve always been in the style space, but the industry has actually been very good at keeping black people out of it.”

What he discovered was that Black country music artists craved community as much as those who listened to the music.

“Honestly, I didn’t really intend to interact with the artists other than featuring them on the blog,” said Holly G.. “But once I launched it and they saw some of the artists I featured in the beginning, a bunch of different artists started contacting me and connecting. ”

Aaron Vance is one such artist.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has toiled for years, trying to break into an industry not known for embracing diversity, despite the success of artists like Mickey Guyton, Darius Rucker and Kane Brown.

Raised on a farm in Mississippi, Vance has the life experiences that make for great country songs – a love of country, a work ethic that says you keep at it because everything has a “season”, and a knack for three chords and truth.

Yet the industry so far hasn’t welcomed him with open arms, which is why he’s excited to learn about the Black Opry.

“I got my first tour with Sara Shook & the Disarmers and Joshua Ray Walker thanks to the Black Opry,” Vance told CNN. “I was one of the first people to show up at [the Black Opry reunion]. It was very rewarding.”

And inspiring.

Vance said it became “a lot easier for me to be in my skin” after connecting with others like him, those who may not look like most country music artists or his fans, but who nevertheless share a similar passion for the genre.

“I think it’s a good attention despite what some people say it’s not,” he said. “That’s good because when you say something that’s not something, it causes people to go to it and listen and see for themselves.”

That’s why the singer said she’s glad that a superstar like Beyoncé has turned her attention toward the contributions of artists of color in country music, creating opportunities for new audiences to discover artists like Vance and others that Holly G. and her organization support. for.

The Black Opry holds concerts to help increase the visibility of performers. Along the way, Holly G. has learned that it’s not just people of color who are grateful for the work that she and the Black Opry do.

“There are people from all backgrounds coming forward and saying they’re grateful to have a space where they can celebrate country music without a culture that makes them feel uncomfortable,” he said. “There’s a lot of white people who are like, ‘We feel guilty for enjoying country music because we know the culture isn’t welcoming.’ So this is the space for he did that and didn’t feel guilty about it.”

That was music to his ears.