"Daddy Lessons" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade. The song was written and produced by Wynter Gordon, Beyoncé, Kevin Cossom and Alex Delicata. The song's music video is part of a one-hour film with the same title as its parent album, originally aired on HBO. A remix featuring Dixie Chicks was released as a promotional single on November 2, 2016.
Critical reception
Naming "Daddy Lessons" the best song on Lemonade, Carl Wilson for Slate writes that the track is "certainly the best country pastiche ever heard on a contemporary R&B album, and it could be the countrysong of the year, period. It’s reminiscent in theme and tone of classic Nashville mama/papa ballads by the likes of Dolly Parton or Tom T. Hall but, of course, from an utterly distinct vantage point."
Recognition and accolades
"Daddy Lessons" and its performance at the CMA Awards won "Collaboration of the Year" and "Most Unforgettable Moment of the Year", respectively, at the 2017 Golden Boot Awards. Slate placed "Daddy Lessons" in its top 31 songs of 2016 list, while NPR considered the track the 63rd best song of 2016.
Impact
The song has been credited as starting a trend of "pop stars toying with American West and Southern aesthetics," as well as setting the precedent for "The Yeehaw Agenda," the trend of reclaiming black cowboy culture through music and fashion.
Commercial performance
After the release of Lemonade, "Daddy Lessons" debuted and peaked on the BillboardHot 100 chart at number 41 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart at number 26. In overseas charts, the song entered in digital charts in top 10 in Netherlands and Sweden.
Remix
On November 2, 2016, Beyoncé released a remix of "Daddy Lessons" featuring American country band Dixie Chicks free of purchase on her website. On November 20, 2016, the song was released as a promotional single on iTunes and multiple streaming services. The song samples the Dixie Chicks song "Long Time Gone".
Cover versions
"Daddy Lessons" was added in the setlist of American country band Dixie Chicks during their DCX MMXVI World Tour. On April 30, 2016, the song was covered for the first time at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, and remained in the setlist throughout the remainder of the European leg in addition to the North American leg of the tour. Billboard describes the performance as "faithful" to the original song. In 2019, the song was covered in the episode "Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Secret of Harvest House" from the third season of the television seriesRiverdale, performed by Camila Mendes.
Live performances
"Daddy Lessons" is part of the set list of The Formation World Tour with the first performance taking place in Miami at the Marlins Park on April 27, 2016. Beyoncé and Dixie Chicks also performed the song with excerpts from the band's "Long Time Gone" at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards on November 2, 2016. A studio version was released after the performance.
