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Michelle Obama took to Instagram to praise Beyoncé's latest album Cowboy Carter for its groundbreaking impact on the music industry.
In a heartfelt post shared on Tuesday, the former First Lady lauded Beyoncé for redefining the country music genre and influencing societal norms. But she didn't stop at musical accolades: she also used the opportunity to urge her followers to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming presidential election.
Emphasizing the power of individual voices, she encouraged everyone to use their talents and votes to address critical issues such as equal pay, racial justice, reproductive healthcare, and climate change.
She wrote:
[Beyoncé] you are a record-breaker and history-maker. With Cowboy Carter, you have changed the game once again by helping redefine a music genre and transform our culture. I am so proud of you!"
"Cowboy Carter is a reminder that despite everything we’ve been through to be heard, seen, and recognized, we can still dance, sing, and be who we are unapologetically. This album reminds us that we ALL have power. There’s power in our history, in our joy, and in our votes — and we can each use our own gifts and talents to make our voices heard on the issues that matter most to us."
"Together, we can stand up for what we believe in, and we must do that at the ballot box this year. The issues that impact us most are on the ballot across the country — from equal pay and racial justice to reproductive healthcare and climate change. And as Queen Bey says at the end of Ya Ya, we need to “keep the faith” and “VOTE!”"
The former First Lady also highlighted the importance of civic engagement, directing her followers to the When We All Vote website to register, saying the process can be completed "in the time it takes you to listen to your favorite song on the album."
You can see her post below.
Beyoncé's recent accolades, including receiving the Innovator Award at the iHeart Radio Music Awards and her chart-topping single "Texas Hold 'Em" on Billboard's country songs chart, further underscore her influence in the music industry.
As the first Black woman to reach the top spot on the country music chart, Beyoncé is an early favorite to win the Album of the Year Grammy at next year's ceremony, which, if it comes to fruition, would mark her first win the category despite a record 32 prior Grammy wins.
Michelle Obama also posted her poignant message to her official X account, prompting many to praise her activism.
This call to action from the former First Lady aligns with her previous expressions of concern about the state of leadership in the country and as reports surface that her husband, former President Barack Obama, is becoming more involved in President Joe Biden's campaign.
Back in 2020, Michelle Obama also stumped for the Biden campaign, urging Americans to vote “like your lives depend on it” as part of a video message in which she praised Biden and admonished former President Donald Trump for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through her voting rights group When We All Vote, she threw her support behind vote-by-mail to boost election turnout during the crisis, noting at the time that there is "nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country; making the democracy we all cherish more accessible; and protecting our neighbors, friends and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life."