Tiera Kennedy Shares Her Unbelievable Experience Collaborating with Beyonce on 'Cowboy Carter'

Tiera Kennedy Says Working With Beyonce on Cowboy Carter Has Been Absolutely Insane

Tiera Kennedy, Beyoncé Chris Saucedo/WireImage/Getty Images;Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Tiera Kennedy, 26, is thrilled with the success of Beyoncé's Country Carter album. She contributed to two songs on the No. 1 album. Kennedy worked with Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, and Tanner Adell on "Blackbiird." She also lent her vocals to the background of "Tyrant," a song featuring Dolly Parton.

Kennedy expressed her excitement about working on the historic project at the CMT Awards on Sunday, April 7, telling E! News, "It's absolutely insane. I've seen this happen for other artists but to actually be in it is absolutely crazy."

Cowboy Carter made history as the first album by a Black woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album also debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, selling 407,000 album units during the first week of April. Beyoncé now holds the fourth-most No. 1 hits among women, following Taylor Swift (13), Barbra Streisand (11) and Madonna (nine).

Kennedy expressed, "Beyoncé is the biggest artist in the world. It was truly special and cool to collaborate with her."

Starting her solo recording journey in 2020, Kennedy has supported country artists like Kelsea Ballerini and Danielle Bradbury. Despite facing multiple rejections, she finally found success when she was asked to work on Country Carter.

"I used to hear 'no' constantly for years," she shared. "But I'm grateful I didn't give up because I eventually received a 'yes' that meant everything to me."

Beyoncé had mentioned before that Cowboy Carter was influenced by her own feelings of being turned down. In a post on Instagram in March, she explained that Cowboy Carter was created from a time in the past when she felt excluded by the music industry.

Beyoncé mentioned that her album took more than five years to create, which may be a reference to her previous venture into country music with "Daddy Lessons" in 2016. Despite the song's popularity, the Recording Academy's country committee did not consider it for Grammy Awards in the country categories. To address this, Beyoncé collaborated with The Chicks to perform "Daddy Lessons" at the 50th annual Country Music Association Awards, which sparked further discussion and debate.

In response to these events, Beyoncé expressed that she delved deeper into the roots and extensive music history of country music.

Kennedy, along with Spencer, 35, Roberts, 26, Adell, 27, and other Black female country artists, is looking to Cowboy Carter's success to open doors for them in the industry. When Cowboy Carter's album was released on March 29, Kennedy expressed her excitement about Beyoncé's new music.

Reflecting on her nearly 8-year journey in Nashville pursuing her country music dreams, Kennedy shared her thoughts on Instagram. She mentioned the ups and downs she faced and how being featured on Beyoncé's album was a dream come true. Growing up listening to Beyoncé's music and practicing her vocal techniques, Kennedy always considered Beyoncé her ultimate dream collaboration, even though it seemed like a distant possibility.

Kennedy expressed her gratitude, saying, "I couldn't be more thankful." She thanked Beyoncé for sharing her light and emphasized the significance of the album. Kennedy believes it will not only impact country music but the music industry as a whole. She eagerly anticipates witnessing its influence unfold. Kennedy concluded with multiple expressions of gratitude, saying "Thank you thank you thank you thank you."

Editor's P/S:

Tiera Kennedy's journey is an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance and the transformative influence of collaboration. Despite facing rejections, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of country music, a genre historically dominated by white artists. Her contributions to Beyoncé's "Blackbiird" and "Tyrant" mark a significant milestone for Black representation in country music, challenging industry norms and paving the way for future artists.

Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter" has ignited discussions about the exclusionary nature of the country music industry and the need for greater diversity and inclusion. By delving into the genre's roots and collaborating with Black female artists, Beyoncé has not only created a groundbreaking album but also sparked a movement that will undoubtedly shape the future of country music. Kennedy's involvement in this historic project underscores the importance of mentorship and support in empowering underrepresented voices and creating a more equitable music landscape.