Before Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter,’ There Was Ray Charles’ ‘Modern Sounds’ – Though His Country Embrace Didn’t Begin or End There

Paul Grein

May 30, 2024

Billboard

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Discover how Ray Charles' 'Modern Sounds' influenced country music and Beyoncé's genre-defying album 'Cowboy Carter.' Explore their musical legacies and impact on the industry.

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A split image featuring a Ray Charles smiling man in sunglasses and a suit on the left, and a joyful Beyonce in a wide-brimmed hat on the right, both in black and white.

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Mason Poole

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Ray Charles, Beyoncé, Modern Sounds, Cowboy Carter, genre exploration

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