Ciara Miller’s world keeps getting bigger. The Summer House star has officially entered her cowgirl era with the release of Shaboozey’s new video for “Cowgirl,” and she’s swapping Hamptons drama for a dusty stretch of the Wild West.
In the cinematic visual, Miller plays a grieving gunslinger looking for justice five days after the death of Sheriff Lee. Heartbroken? Maybe. Defeated? Not on her watch. She strolls into a saloon and out-drinks, out-shoots and out-toughs every cowboy in sight. It’s a role that’s tailor-made for Miller, and right on time.
For the past few years, Black culture has been reclaiming the American West in plain sight. Beyoncé gave us Cowboy Carter. Shaboozey turned a country anthem into one of the biggest songs in the world. Black rodeos are drawing new attention. Cowboy hats have returned to brunches, concerts and our Instagram feeds. Woven into the fabric of our history, historians estimate that roughly one in four cowboys in the American West was Black after the Civil War. And if Hollywood has yet to tell the story, it’s coming alive again in our music.
If “Cowgirl” has you ready to saddle up, here are five more songs that will bring some confidence and swagger to your weekend playlist.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” — Beyoncé
As soon as Beyoncé saddles onto the screen and pulls a finger gun out of her holster, we knew country music would never be the same. She turned dance floors, cookouts and line-dancing lessons into one communal experience, proving that country music can be both rooted in tradition and completely reimagined.
“Buckle Bunny” — Tanner Adell
Adell makes it very clear this is not the Hamptons, then swings and swaggers into the what it takes to be a “buckle bunny.” It’s not about fitting anyone else’s expectations. She’ll steal your man and the spotlight and leave you hanging in her dust.
“Wildflowers and Wild Horses” — Lainey Wilson
A song for anyone who’s been underestimated, Wilson delivers an anthem that celebrates resilience and independence. And just like a stallion running free, that kind of empowerment can’t be taught.
“American Dream” — Willie Jones
Released after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Jones blends country, soul and hip-hop influences to remind us that the Black experience has always been a different kind of American dream.
“Black Like Me” — Mickey Guyton
When you think about defining country songs of the past decade, this one by Guyton immediately comes to mind. Stripped down, the powerful ballad does all the work as she sings about identity and belonging, sparking real conversations about who gets to be seen as part of country music’s fabric.
“Somebody’s Gotta Do It” — Tony Evans Jr.
Bringing a mix of neo-traditional and 2000s mainstream vibe, Evans Jr.’s baritone twang on a song about stepping up to the plate after her man did her wrong is exactly the kind of energy Miller deserves right now.