June Carter Cash’s Daughter Carlene Welcomes Beyoncé to Country Music: ‘She’s One of Us Carter Women’

June Carter Cash’s daughter Carlene released a statement on Friday addressing controversy over Beyoncé’s country album ‘Cowboy Carter’

Carlene Carter; Beyoncé. PHOTO: JASON KEMPIN/GETTY; BLAIR CALDWELL

June Carter Cash’s daughter Carlene Carter is proud to share a last name and musical genre with Beyoncé!

On Friday, Carlene, 68, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a country singer, released a statement of support for Beyoncé’s country album, Cowboy Carter, to the media.

The statement comes after Beyoncé, 42, received criticism online for releasing a country album. The title, Cowboy Carter, is a reference to the genre and her married name, having wed Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ Carter in 2008.

Carlene Carter performs in Nashville in December 2022.ERIKA GOLDRING/GETTY

“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.

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.” 

Carlene Carter with stepfather Johnny Cash and mom June Carter Cash.ROBERTA BAYLEY/REDFERNS/GETTY

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 Helen.

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.