CNN —Before there was conversation over whether Beyoncé is country enough for country music, there was the Black Opry, holding space for music lovers and artists of color in the genre. “I’m super, super excited about that because that’s the single piece that’s been really, really difficult for us to figure out. Courtesy BeyoncéHolly G. started the Black Opry in an attempt to find country fans of color, who like her, did not feel welcomed. “I try to be careful to make the distinction when I talk about country music, between country music and the mainstream industry and country music the art form and genre,” she said. “I got my first tour with Sara Shook & the Disarmers and Joshua Ray Walker thanks to the Black Opry,” Vance told CNN.

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Persons: CNN FlashDocs, Max, Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, ”, Holly G, “, it’s, They’ve, Aaron Vance, Mickey Guyton, Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, Vance, Sara Shook, Joshua Ray Walker, ” Vance, It’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, Nashville’s, Black Opry, The, Opry Locations: Beyoncé, Nashville, Mississippi