What you need to know about the event and the singer’s links to it

Beyoncé shocked the world when she released two country singles and made history as the first black woman to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. But her recent dip into the genre certainly isn’t the singer’s first rodeo on the country scene.

The Houston native grew up surrounded by cowboy culture and has performed at events such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which have a huge impact on H-Town’s food, culture and music.

As the annual event gets underway, here’s a closer look at the Texas classic and the superstar’s connection to it.

About the Houston Rodeo

The livestock show and rodeo was first held in 1932. Since its inception, the event has aimed to promote agriculture by cultivating a family-friendly live entertainment experience that “educates the public , supports Texas youth and highlights Western heritage,” according to the rodeo website.

The event attracts more than 2.5 million people and includes livestock auctions, rodeos in a 70,000-seat stadium, competitions, a carnival, a barbecue and nightly concerts that have seen artists like George Strait, Bon Jovi, Selena, Taylor Swift, Janet Jackson. and more.

This year, the nearly three-week event will take place from February 27 to March 17. The rodeo officially begins Tuesday with performers including Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, 50 Cent, Jelly Toll, Luke Bryan and Lainey Wilson set to grace the stage. each night.

Beyoncé and the Houston Rodeo

Hailing from Houston, Beyoncé is no stranger to Southern events. She performed at the Houston Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007.

In 2001, she took the stage with her fellow members of Destiny’s Child. The girl group also performed at the rodeo the following year, with Beyoncé telling the Houston Chronicle that she was “coming home.”

In March 2004, Beyoncé performed excerpts from her debut solo album “Dangerously In Love” after entering the stadium on horseback. And she returned to the stage in 2007, as a preview of her solo tour “The Beyoncé Experience”.

Beyoncé’s history with country music

Musically, Beyoncé has already tried her hand at the country genre. In 2016, she released her hit “Daddy Lessons” on her highly acclaimed album “Lemonade”.

The same year, she performed a collaborative version of the song with the Chicks at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, otherwise known as the heartland of country music.

Of course, Beyoncé released two new country songs, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” and announced a full-length album “Act II” earlier this month, during a Super Bowl commercial.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” became an instant hit among fans and reached Billboard’s Country Airplay chart within a week. Due to the song’s success, Beyoncé became a first in many ways, including the first black woman to top Billboard’s county sales chart.

Most recently, country music icon Dolly Parton sang Beyoncé’s praises saying she was very excited about Beyoncé creating country music.

Beyoncé’s full album “Act II” will be released on March 29.

Follow Caché McClay, USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, Tic Tac And X as @cachemcclay.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What you need to know about the annual Houston Rodeo and Beyoncé’s ties to it.