One year after being featured on Beyoncé's monumental eighth album, “Cowboy Carter,” country musician Willie Jones relishes in the LP’s Grammy-winning achievements and fondly recalls his origins. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Jones’ early country influences were Taylor Swift, Darius Rucker and Kacey Musgraves, all of whom he kept in a playlist rotation that included pop and gospel artists. But even when critics questioned if Jones’ sound was authentically country, which he addressed in his 2021 debut, “Right Now,” nearly four years later, he’s completely secure in his position as an artist.

“I have been in the game for a long time,” Jones tells BET.com. Although this is my third [release], I came on a scene doing country music back in 2012 on “X-Factor” and just to see the growth as a musician, as a man, I'm excited for people just to see.”

But after collaborating with Beyoncé on “Cowboy Carter” track “Just for Fun,” he’s preparing a new EP led by club-ready single “Silverado.” On the bouncy, country-trap driven song, Jones rides high with “gold teeth” in his Chevrolet Silverado and flexes being so clean that it looks like he “hit the lotto.” “Silverado” makes a strong comeback anthem for Jones, who released his sophomore album, “Something to Dance To” in 2023. While Jones was rooted in country music on the LP above, he also sought for it to have diverse appeal while not wanting his image to be whitewashed, attracting listeners of all backgrounds.

“‘Something to Dance To’ had a lot of different vibes on it. I had some country radio-type songs. I had some Afrobeat. So it could live in that world,” he says. “It's Willie Jones–I have my own vibe, but we’re raising the production volume.”

Jones upping the music has directly influenced Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s country music-rooted album that featured breakout acts in the genre like Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, Brittany Spencer and Tiera Kennedy. Last month, Cowboy Carter scored Grammys for Best Country Album and Album of the Year, marking Jones’ first two Grammy nods as contributing artist. The success makes a huge feat for Jones, who was tapped as a “Cowboy Carter” artist just days before the album was released.

“Listening to ‘Cowboy Carter' and hearing how Beyoncé didn't hold anything back and dipped her toes in all different kinds of things definitely gave me the confidence to do me,” he says.

“The whole album from top to bottom–you can't listen to one song without listening to the one that follows,” Jones continues. “She definitely pushed the envelope. Winning the Grammy for Album of the Year and Country Album, I think, definitely put a fire underneath everybody involved in the album, as well.”

The invitation to join Beyoncé was particularly meaningful. Jones attended stops on her previous Mrs. Carter World Tour, Renaissance World Tour, and one of her headlining Coachella (aka ‘Beychella’) shows in 2018. Although he’s mum on whether he’ll perform during the Cowboy Carter Tour, which begins in April, but notes “Ameriican Requiem” and “Tyrant” as two of his current top tracks–Jones assures BET.com that he’ll attend a show.

“I've been day one for real, so even that, it's just such a full circle moment to be involved in a country album and being a fan of her music and her artistry for so many years,” Jones shares. 

“For that to happen, [it inspired] so many people, especially Black people in the genre to just do them and not fit in a box,” he adds. “Being in Nashville, I kind of boxed myself in a bit just to try to fit the mold of country radio, but now, she's just broken open that box.”

Jones plans to be even more out-of-the-box on his forthcoming EP, including “Silverado,” the colorful Western-themed music video showing the musician surrounded by women, a horse, and his truck.

“I got some EDM type vibes, some bluesy, but they're definitely all in the world of Willie,” Jones explains about his new project. “So, it's definitely still cohesive, but I'm inspired by all different kinds of music. Living in Nashville, [coming] back and forth to LA from Louisiana, it's just a gumbo.”

On country music gatekeepers who aren’t enthused about the Black artist reckoning, Jones tells them to get used to it, as his takeover is approaching. In pushing country music forward, Jones welcomes us to the party, and wants to make “Silverado” and his forthcoming EP enjoyable for all.

“Those who are uncomfortable, it’s like, screw ‘em. We can do everything,” Jones declares. “Especially now with how music is put out in all these different playlists and things, people's playlists are just as diverse. I feel like it has opened up people's ears and minds to checking out different s**t.”