One Queen to Another: Why Dolly Parton’s Co-Sign of Beyoncé’s Country Era Matters

Dolly has spoken!

Last week, Dolly Parton posted a message to social media congratulating Beyoncé for her first Hot Country Songs chart-topper with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” writing, “I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album! Love, Dolly.”

Parton is affectionately known as the Queen of Country, but she’s no stranger to crossing genre lines herself, from her pop music in the 1970s and ’80s to her most recent album Rockstar, which she made in response to her 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; the project topped Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Top Country Albums charts.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast (listen below), we’re talking about why Parton’s endorsement of Beyoncé’s country era is so significant — and so fitting.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how “Texas Hold ‘Em” lassos the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, marking Beyoncé’s ninth chart-topper. Plus, Doja Cat scores her eighth No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart as “Agora Hills” hits the top of the list, while Taylor Swift surpasses a Billboard 200 record long held by The Beatles.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)