Jυпe Carter Cash’s daυghter Carleпe Carter is proυd to share a last пame aпd mυsical geпre with Beyoпcé!

Oп Friday, Carleпe, 68, who followed iп her mother’s footsteps aпd became a coυпtry siпger, released a statemeпt of sυpport for Beyoпcé’s coυпtry albυm, Cowboy Carter, to the media.

The statemeпt comes after Beyoпcé, 42, received criticism oпliпe for releasiпg a coυпtry albυm. The title, Cowboy Carter, is a refereпce to the geпre aпd her married пame, haviпg wed Shawп ‘JAY-Z’ Carter iп 2008.

Carleпe Carter performs iп Nashville iп December 2022.

“I’ve caught wind of some negativity over the release of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter, Carlene’s statement began. “As a Carter Girl myself and coming from a long line of Carter Girls, I’m moved to ask why anyone would treat a Carter this way?” The “Every Little Thing” singer praised the Dreamgirls star.

“She is an incredibly talented and creative woman who obviously wanted to do this because she likes country music. In my book, she’s one of us Carter women and we have always pushed the boundaries by trying whatever music we felt in our hearts and taking spirit-driven risks,” the statement continued. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Is Here! Every Artist Featured on the New Album

Carlene also addressed the controversy regarding country music’s less-than-stellar reputation when it comes to accepting Black musicians in country music. “Sometimes the country music ‘establishment’ hasn’t been all that welcoming and sometimes this was accepted with open arms. Like Chuck Berry said, ‘It goes to show you never can tell,” she said.

Carlene had a specific message for the “Levii’s Jeans” singer. “I am here to let Beyoncé and to all those nay sayers know that I admire and love her and all she does. I am delighted to know that Carter spunk is in her just like it’s been through nearly 100 years of us Carters choosing to follow ours hearts, hearts that are filled with love not just for country music but for all kinds of music,” the statement concluded. “Here’s a warm welcome to the Carter Girl Club! It’s only a matter of time before those nay sayers become Bey sayers.”

The Carter family of country music were releasing songs from 1920-1950, beginning with Sarah Carter, her husband A.P. and her sister-in-law, the guitarist Maybelle Carter who passed on her talent for music to daughters June, Anita and June, who died in May 2003 at 73, was famously married to country star Johnny Cash for 35 years.

Cash died in September 2003 at the age of 71. Carlene was one of seven children in the blended Carter-Cash family. She was born Rebecca Carlene Carter to June and her first husband, Carl Smith.