Oliver Anthony, who earned a two-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper with his song “Rich Men North of Richmond” in August 2023 and became a viral sensation, didn’t hold back in offering his thoughts on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album.
In a video he posted on YouTube on Wednesday (Dec. 4), Anthony spends much of it discussing his experiences with the music industry, including mentioning an unnamed management company that he had begun working with following the success of “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
“In their own words, it was like, ‘We gotta figure out how to make you cool,’” Anthony said, noting that one of the ideas an unnamed music industry member pitched to him involved having the singer-songwriter praise Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album — an idea Anthony rejected.
“One of the guys I worked with, he wanted me to make some stupid f–king post about Beyoncé’s country album, about how it was good, even though it was complete trash. It makes me just want to throw up,” Oliver said. He also disparaged Beyoncé’s reimagining of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene,” saying, “Even half trying to listen to the beginning of, like, her version of ‘Jolene,’ it’s just total cringe.”
Anthony added, “It represents how degenerative our society has become, that a song like a Beyoncé version of ‘Jolene’ can come out and anybody actually listen to it and think it’s not just complete trash. So I was supposed to make a post, basically trying to associate myself with Beyoncé in hopes of us doing some kind of song together, but you know, how many people do that? How many artists do you follow on social media that have never even looked at their social media, and you’re just reading words and posts and things that were written by somebody that you’ve never even met, that aren’t the artist, that don’t even necessarily work directly for the artist … It’s so much theatrics and illusion and characterizations that are built in this whole thing to like keep people hanging on for more.”
Billboard has reached out to Beyoncé’s rep for comment.
Elsewhere during his video, he noted that his approach of keeping his concert ticket prices affordable for fans has been monetarily successful, despite industry members who told him he would not be able to make a profit. “It’s ridiculous how greedy these people are. We did this whole tour for this year, we had a $25 ticket option at every show that I did that was mine, and everybody was like, ‘You can’t do that. You won’t make any money.’ I got so sick of listening to everybody who told me how stupid I was for trying to do it,” he said. “I mean, we made great money this year. I made enough money in one year of touring to never have to work again. So, you don’t have to charge $200 for a ticket. It’s just crazy how it is.”
In October, Anthony stated in a separate YouTube video that he was intent on walking away from aspects of the music business to focus on traveling ministry work, though he clarified that he would still be playing shows and making music. In that video, he stated how his involvement with the music business since the launch of “Rich Men North of Richmond” had “opened my eyes to how much control and how much visibility there is on the top down.”
He also said that upcoming music would come as part of his The Rural Revival Project, an organization that he noted would “be set up legally as a ministry,” while helping to revitalize farming and other rural communities. He noted as well his intent to set up his touring in a way that would allow him to visit towns “that haven’t had music in them in a long time. It stimulates their economy, showcases their culture, it uses local vendors and local musicians.” Added Anthony, “You’re not having to drive out to Pittsburgh to a concrete amphitheater to see a show. It’s done out on a farm or on a main street that desperately needs the economic impact.”
On Easter Sunday, Oliver Anthony released the project Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind, which featured a mix of songs and recitations of Bible verses. The set reached No. 13 on Billboard‘s Heatseekers chart.
In April, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200, marking her eighth No. 1 on that chart. Cowboy Carter also launched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts. Meanwhile, the album’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Cowboy Carter featured collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, while spotlighting country music trailblazer Linda Martell and highlighting the talents of Shaboozey, Willie Jones, Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer.
Beyoncé was also just named Billboard‘s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, and is up for several Grammys at next year’s ceremony, including album of the year and best country album.
See Oliver Anthony’s full video below:
