{"id":6197,"date":"2025-10-11T03:59:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T03:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/31\/write-of-passage-lessons-for-life-and-writing-taken-from-the-beyonce-bowl\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T03:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T03:59:22","slug":"write-of-passage-lessons-for-life-and-writing-taken-from-the-beyonce-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/10\/11\/write-of-passage-lessons-for-life-and-writing-taken-from-the-beyonce-bowl\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: Lessons for Life and Writing Taken from the Beyonc\u00e9 Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6197-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/153708932\/6be2651438bfbf6778d93f51d0af5023.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/153708932\/6be2651438bfbf6778d93f51d0af5023.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/153708932\/6be2651438bfbf6778d93f51d0af5023.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>As a writer, I believe in using words to tell stories. As a reader, I get very excited when a book transports me to the time and place of the novel. I want to feel like I\u2019m there, all while enjoying the safety and comfort of my home, in my favorite chair.<\/p><div id=\"vanes-2650095802\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>A visual performer does the same thing. Beyonc\u00e9 Giselle Knowles-Carter is not just a singer\u2014she\u2019s a master of the arts of sound and motion, of textures and hues and imagery. <\/p>\n<p>On Christmas Day, she showcased her unparalleled talent during the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans&#8217; playoff game. Writers can draw valuable lessons from Queen B\u2019s performance:<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Craft a Story That Resonates:<\/strong> Create a narrative that connects with your audience on a deep level.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Layer Your Message:<\/strong> Evoke a range of emotions and sensory delights to keep your audience engaged.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Use Your Platform:<\/strong> Elevate causes and ideas you care about, using your voice to make a difference.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Show Up (Period):<\/strong> Deliver with all guns blazing\u2014give your absolute best effort.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Those are the easy takeaways. But this is Beyonc\u00e9, after all. She deserves an in-depth analysis.<\/p>\n<p><p>Subscribe for free. Get Vanessa&#8217;s take on publishing, challenges, and opportunities, drawing from her journey as an indie author turned traditionally published powerhouse: 25 novels and counting.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Owning Your 13 Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fifteen minutes of fame? That\u2019s outdated. In today\u2019s fast-paced world, it\u2019s all about maximizing the 13 minutes you\u2019re given and making them unforgettable. Beyonc\u00e9 didn\u2019t just perform during the NFL halftime show\u2014she transformed those 13 minutes into a cultural and historical statement that will resonate for decades.<\/p>\n<p>When Beyonc\u00e9, riding a Lipizzaner and dressed in white, appeared on Netflix for the World Wide Stage, she wasn\u2019t just performing\u2014she was storytelling. Every writer, including myself, needs to take note. On Christmas Day in the year of our Lord 2025, Beyonc\u00e9, one of the most famous people in the world, a cultural icon, and a legendary artist, arrived at NRG Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Riding in-hand amid an American Requiem\u2014solemn graveyard of stilled Cadillacs, veiled singers bathed in white light, and cowboys standing shoulder to shoulder with rodeo men and women before a plastic-wrapped flag\u2014Beyonc\u00e9 delivered an iconic, thematic performance. It was the pinnacle of symbolism and storytelling that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest halftime shows in history.<\/p>\n<p>13 Minutes<\/p>\n<p>Thirteen minutes is 780 seconds, countless steps, innumerable costumes, and cameras capturing every angle. Beyonc\u00e9 took command of Netflix and reminded everyone that she is country\u2014that country music was built on the backs of Black entertainers. She showcased Black cowboys and the rich traditions of Black rodeo culture. If anyone needed a lesson about belonging, she gave one in a defiant celebration of Black identity and pride. The presentation was audacious and bold\u2014a finger in the eye of a genre and spaces that tried to exclude her&#8230; exclude us.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Origins<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2016, Beyonc\u00e9 and The Chicks performed &#8220;Daddy Lessons&#8221; at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, only to face backlash questioning her \u201ccountry credentials.\u201d Despite, or perhaps in spite of, that rejection, Beyonc\u00e9 began writing, dreaming, and crafting an album\u2014<em>Act II: Cowboy Carter<\/em>. Her eighth studio album, released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, has topped charts in the US and abroad. It\u2019s genius.<\/p>\n<p>Then, the CMA decided to be petty. They didn\u2019t invite her or nominate Beyonc\u00e9 for any awards at their 58th Annual awards show. The event, hosted in November, drew 6 million live viewers who tuned in to see pretty much the same old guard circle their wagons.<\/p>\n<p>When this was announced, Beyonc\u00e9 didn\u2019t cry for a performative boycott. I call it a &#8220;performative boycott&#8221; because some of these actions are feel-good movements that don\u2019t address the real issues, instead offering excuses for reckless voting, buying, or other problematic behaviors. Instead, she built her own stage, crafted her own story, and invited others to celebrate with her at the Beyonc\u00e9 Bowl\u2014the Christmas Day halftime show. Beyonc\u00e9 secured 27 million viewers, even more than the football game\u2019s audience. Her unapologetic artistry eclipsed the CMA\u2019s viewership and shortsighted attitudes.<\/p>\n<p>But let\u2019s take a moment to discover the roots of the matter\u2014or why \u201cpetty\u201d feels prejudiced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Black Contributions to Country Music<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Black people are not just coming to country music in 2024\u2014we began it.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Banjo Music, 17th Century<\/strong>: The akonting, the forerunner of the banjo, is a traditional instrument of the Jola people in Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Enslaved Africans reconstructed similar instruments for their entertainment and that of their masters.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Fisk Jubilee Singers, 1871<\/strong>: Introduced spirituals and gospel music that influenced the emotional storytelling we find in country music.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>DeFord Bailey, 1927<\/strong>: The first African American to perform on Nashville radio station WSM\u2019s Grand Ole Opry, known for his harmonica skills and often referred to as a &#8220;harmonica wizard.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Ray Charles, 1960<\/strong>: His album <em>Modern Sounds<\/em> became his first to top the Billboard 200, and also made him the first Black musician to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record label.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Charley Pride, 1966<\/strong>: Outsold Elvis and John Denver for RCA Records. He had 30 No. 1 hits and 52 Top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming one of the most successful country artists of all time.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Linda Martell, 1969<\/strong>: The first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Kane Brown, 2018<\/strong>: The first artist to top five US country charts simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Lil Nas X, 2019<\/strong>: Released &#8220;Old Town Road,&#8221; which sparked debates about the definition of country music. It spent 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, breaking records.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Mickey Guyton, 2021<\/strong>: Became the first Black female solo artist nominated for a Grammy in a country category.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Shaboozey, 2024<\/strong>: His hit &#8220;A Bar Song (Tipsy)&#8221; tied with &#8220;Old Town Road&#8221; for the longest-running No. 1 on the Hot 100.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Beyonc\u00e9, February 2024<\/strong>: Her single \u201cTexas Hold \u2019Em\u201d reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart, making her the first Black woman to achieve this milestone.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Beyonc\u00e9, March 2024<\/strong>: Her album <em>Act II: Cowboy Carter<\/em> became the first by a Black woman to top the Billboard country albums chart since its inception in 1964.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, with country music&#8217;s Black origins, why are we still seeing \u201cfirsts\u201d? Upon being given the Innovator Award by iHeart Radio, Beyonc\u00e9 said, \u201cMy hope is that we\u2019re more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art without preconceived notions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>13 Minutes of Defiance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Obviously, the roots and Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s achievements weren\u2019t enough. Some still say she doesn\u2019t belong in country music. The CMA snub gave all the haters\u2014those less innovative\u2014a moment to gloat. Beyonc\u00e9, with 13 minutes, proved you don\u2019t need to be accepted by aged, fearful, or wrong-thinking gatekeepers. She didn\u2019t ask their permission\u2014she reached out and owned the moment. Her performance was an unapologetic declaration of belonging.<\/p>\n<p>Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s defiance can be defined in layers:<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Historical nods<\/strong>: Her floral carriage evoked early Juneteenth parades and all white, representing Juneteenth parties of celebration.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Black excellence<\/strong>: The choreography showcased line dancing, cultural dances, and the inclusion of HBCU bands like Texas Southern\u2019s Ocean of Soul.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Symbolism<\/strong>: Riding a Lipizzaner horse\u2014a breed born black and turning white with age\u2014served as commentary on the whitewashing of country music\u2019s Black roots. She featured Ja&#8217;Dayia Kursh, Arkansas\u2019s first Black rodeo queen, alongside veiled singers referencing the Yoruba Eyo Festival.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Nods to Houston<\/strong>: <em>Still Tippin\u2019<\/em> (2004) played by a violin while showcasing Black cowboys and Black rodeo is a nod to Houston via the song, where &#8220;tippin\u2019&#8221; refers to being on 4s, wrapped in four Vogues. These are rims on 1994 Cadillacs (slabbin\u2019). It\u2019s also a reference to the Acres Homes area of Houston, Texas\u2014the &#8220;fo-fo&#8221; comes from the 44 Metro bus that services the community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Elevating Others<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Watching Beyonc\u00e9 sing with Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, and Brittney Spencer\u2014all beautiful women in white\u2014was mesmerizing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blackbird singing in the dead of night<\/strong><strong>Take these sunken eyes and learn to see<\/strong><strong>All your life<\/strong><strong>You were only waiting for this moment to be free<\/strong><strong>You were only waiting for this moment to arise.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Beyonc\u00e9 didn\u2019t just own 13 minutes\u2014she shared it. She gave everyone who rocks with her a moment to arise and be free:<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>The Blackbirds Ensemble<\/strong>: Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s group of powerful women performed a reimagining of the Beatles\u2019 <em>Blackbird,<\/em> a song written by Paul McCartney and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement. The harmony and sisterhood were palpable as they sang. I could feel their support as they stood behind her, holding her up as she walked on, head held high, ready to finish the show.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Small businesses<\/strong>: Latina entrepreneurs behind ASN Hats created her iconic white hat, a piece now featured on billboards and in advertisements worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Young artists<\/strong>: Rising country singers shared the stage, including Shaboozey, whose chart-topping country song\u2014snubbed by the CMAs\u2014finally received its moment to shine. Post Malone also joined Beyonc\u00e9 on stage, grinning and reveling in the energy of the moment.<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Legacy<\/strong>: Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s daughter, Blue Ivy, performed beside her, continuing the tradition of Black cultural storytelling for a new generation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We\u2019re Not in Competition With Ourselves<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Island Queen<\/em>, my first historical fiction novel, recounts the extraordinary true story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas\u2014a Black woman who purchased her own freedom and that of her family before building a business empire across the West Indies. Released in 2021, it was my 17th or 18th book, yet some hailed it as my first \u201cserious\u201d work. Ah&#8230; but that\u2019s a topic for another podcast.<\/p>\n<p>Translated\u2014or soon to be translated\u2014into Italian, Russian, and Hungarian, <em>Island Queen<\/em> is one of my most widely circulated titles. I still remember the goosebumps coursing through my arms when it was picked as a <em>GMA<\/em> Buzz Pick. The magical moment of seeing my book on air and T.J. Holmes, George Stephanopoulos, and Robin Roberts discussing <em>Island Queen<\/em> was thrilling. And when they declared they were \u201call in\u201d with my characterization of Dorothy as Dolly Parton, Gloria Steinem, and Oprah wrapped in Regency lace; bang, I shot to the moon.<\/p>\n<p>But then came a troubling question. An acquaintance, let\u2019s call her, Devilena, asked, <em>How do you top this, Vanessa?<\/em> She followed up with\u2014oh the pressure. She could never dream of writing something better.<\/p>\n<p>I must admit, the notion of topping anything left me a little paralyzed. How does one top <em>that<\/em>? After all, where does one find another powerhouse combination of Dolly, Gloria, Oprah\u2014and lace?<\/p>\n<p>But this is the wrong mindset.<\/p>\n<p>Follow Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s lead. For Beyonc\u00e9 Bowl, she could have sung <em>Crazy in Love,<\/em> the 2003 hit that launched her solo career. It\u2019s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Or she could have drawn from her rich catalog of award-winning, global hits:<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Irreplaceable<\/strong> (2006)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Single Ladies <\/strong>(2008)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Halo<\/strong> (2009)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Love on Top<\/strong> (2011)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Run the World <\/strong>(2011)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Partition<\/strong> (2013)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Drunk in Love<\/strong> (2013)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Formation<\/strong> (2016)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Cuff It<\/strong> (2022)<\/p>\n<p>Beyonc\u00e9 could reach back to her Destiny\u2019s Child days and give us hits like:<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Bills, Bills, Bills<\/strong> (1999)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Say My Name<\/strong> (1999)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Survivor<\/strong> (2001)<\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Bootylicious<\/strong> (2001)<\/p>\n<p>But she didn\u2019t. She didn\u2019t Coachella us. Instead, she performed songs from her <em>current<\/em> country album, <em>Act II: Cowboy Carter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not about topping the past\u2014it\u2019s about sharpening your craft. Beyonc\u00e9 isn\u2019t resting on her laurels; she\u2019s working every aspect of her artistry. <em>Bang. Here it is. Bang. Here I am.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When I write, I must remember I\u2019m not competing with others\u2014or even myself. My goal is to create the most compelling work I can. At its core, every artist\u2014whether working with audio, written words, or visual media\u2014is in competition against time. Everyone has a finite number of hours to create, share, and leave a legacy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>With Your 13 Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Be like Beyonc\u00e9. Focus on the story you want to tell. Make it intentional. Make it bold. Make it better. Make it characteristically yours. Execute. Build your table, invite those who celebrate with you to rock with you. And remember to use your gifts to lift others as you rise. You\u2019re Blackbirds, after all.<\/p>\n<p><em>All your life<\/em><em>You were only waiting for this moment to be free.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Blackbirds\u2014writers, singers, artists\u2014fly.Blackbird, take flight. Be free.<\/p>\n<p>Special thanks to the Thread Beehive Scholars: @thelovelyp @candiceobeauty @latinaspoderosas @jadayiakursh @hellofelicia_murell @underthedesknews @hereswhykevin<\/p>\n<p>And historians: Jon Marc Smith and Katie Kapruch, Texas State University<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#038;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"rop\"><small>Originally posted 2024-12-31 14:15:00. <\/small><\/p><div id=\"vanes-1152439766\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a writer, I believe in using words to tell stories. As a reader, I get very excited when a book transports me to the time and place of the novel. I want to feel like I\u2019m there, all while enjoying the safety and comfort of my home, in my favorite chair. A visual performer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/8217a1f588d6526df8e8ccc7ba67b76d-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}