This February, Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to ever take home the Grammy for Best Country Album. Her eighth studio record, Cowboy Carter, beat out fellow crossover act Post Malone, along with genre mainstays Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. To some, like Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson, the pop diva’s groundbreaking victory marked a triumphant shift, a nod to the oft-forgotten Black pioneers of country music. To others, including country music duo Thompson Square, Beyoncé’s success signaled a regrettable departure from Nashville’s roots.

“It’s just sad that we’re turning our back on ourselves as a genre,” Keifer Thompson told Taste of Country as his wife, Shawna nodded in agreement.

Meeting at a Nashville singing competition, Keifer and Shawna Thompson tied the knot in 1999. Both worked as solo artists before forming Thompson Square, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2011. They scored their first No. 1 hit with “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” the record’s second single.

Keifer Thompson said the duo did not have an easy road to country music success. And he believes that artists should have to put in the work, rather than simply capitalize on 15 minutes of social media fame.

“It’s not supposed to be, ‘Everyone’s welcome.’ Everyone’s not welcome. And if you think about it now, that sounds harsh, but everyone’s not,” he said. “If you don’t put any time in, and you don’t love it, and you don’t work it, and you didn’t grow up like this, and you don’t have that passion for it, you’re just like, ‘Man, I can sneak in there and maybe try to get some money.’ … It should be hard to get in. If it’s just easy to get in, what’s the point then?”

Not only do I disagree, but given their shading of Beyoncé and (based on the details of their comments about CMA Fest) Kashus Culpepper, I believe Thompson Square has a problem with Black people in country music. Why did ToC not follow up on their dog whistles?

— Will Herman (@W1llHerman) June 19, 2025

Personally, Keifer thinks country is doing just fine on its own. “And I wish that we could look at it ourselves and go, ‘We’re cool enough, man,’” he said.

Of course, Beyoncé isn’t the only artist currently exploring her country era. Rapper Post Malone released his country debut, F-1 Trillion, last year to much fanfare. For Thompson Square, the “I Had Some Help” crooner is an example of the right way to transition to Nashville. Speaking with Taste of Country, Keifer Thompson likened Malone’s crossover to that of Hootie and the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker.

“He’s embracing the community. He loves country music,” said the two-time ACM Award winner. “I’m not sure the Beyonce’s busting out some Haggard in her car, you know.”

Featured image by Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock