Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' features Linda Martell: What you should know about the Black country music pioneer

Linda Martell is a country music trailblazer though she never became a household name. The release of Beyoncé's latest album could change that.

Martell became the first female Black artist to crack the Top 25 of Billboard's country charts in 1969 and was the first Black woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry stage, making 11 appearances between 1969 and 1975.

Beyoncé, who last month became the first Black woman to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, features Martell in the interlude "The Linda Martell Show" on her new album "Cowboy Carter." Martell introduces a song that "stretches across a range of genres." She is also featured on a song titled "Spaghettii," along with crossover artist Shaboozey.

Here's what to know about Linda Martell's brief country music career and why she's considered a country pioneer.

What happened to Linda Martell?

Born in Leesville, South Carolina, Linda Martell got her first hit with her debut single "Color Him Father" in 1969. She released her debut album, "Color Me Country," in 1970 on Plantation Records. It would be her only album.

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After the record's release, Martell left her label after being uncomfortable with the label's name and the owner's decision to focus on the career of "Harper Valley P.T.A." singer Jeannie C. Riley.

Martell has said in interviews that she tried to sign with other labels after fulfilling her contract with Plantation but the owner, Shelby Singleton, threatened to sue labels pursuing her, effectively blackballing her from country's mainstream.

By the mid-'70s, Martell ended up retiring from country music.

From country's lost pioneer to widespread influence

While she hasn't released any new material since the '70s and remained largely unsung through the rest of the 20th century, a new wave of Black country artists have highlighted her importance in the genre.

Mickey Guyton and Kane Brown have sung her praises and artist/podcaster Rissi Palmer named her Apple Music country show "Color Me Country" in her honor.

At the 2021 CMT Music Awards, Martell, now in her 80s, was honored with the second annual CMT Equal Play Award recognizing her legacy as one of country's first prominent Black female artists.

Martell's granddaughter is working on a documentary about Martell's brief country music career. The project, funded through a GoFundMe campaign, is still in progress amid difficulties with the rights holders of Martell's master recordings.

Beyonce's eight album, "Act II: Cowboy Carter," features Martell herself on two tracks - both highlighting the variety of genres. On "Spaghettii," Martell's spoken voice talks about genre's being a "funny little concept" that have a simple definition but could leave some artists feeling confined.

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Later on the album, Martell introduces "Ya Ya" in an short interlude mentioning how the track stretches across several genres, making for a "unique listening experience."

Caché McClay contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who is Linda Martell? Beyoncé features her on 'Cowboy Carter' album