“Part of a beautiful American tradition”: A music theory expert explains the country roots of Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ‘Em, and why it also owes a debt to the blues

Released in March 2024, Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album is hotly-tipped to win big at this weekend's Grammy Awards. One of its two singles was Texas Hold 'Em, which is nominated in the Record of the Year category, and here we'll be taking a look at the theory behind what became one of the biggest hits of the year.

I’ll talk more about the song as a cultural phenomenon in a minute, but first let’s consider it as a piece of music. Beyoncé made my analysis easier by releasing the instrumental and acapella versions.