Tre Little, a 22-year-old from the Atlanta area, found himself on stage at the BET Awards preshow this summer, two-stepping in his cowboy boots. Overwhelmed with emotion, he reflected, “I used to watch this on TV every year, and I’m now performing. I started crying … tears of joy.”
Little joined forces with Southern soul artist 803Fresh to showcase their viral hit, “Boots on the Ground.” Released in December, this trail ride-inspired track and its accompanying line dance have become staples at various African American gatherings, including family reunions and weddings.
The dance, characterized by the rhythmic clacking of folding hand fans as participants chant “Where them fans at?,” originated during a lunch break when Little casually experimented with a routine after hearing a snippet on TikTok. “I usually get my little six views from my family … I took a nap and when I woke up, it was at 100K,” he recounted. Now, he travels nationwide teaching line dance classes and hosting events, even receiving requests to create new dances. “It’s bringing people together to do a dance and share laughter,” he added.
Beyoncé has embraced this dance in her record-breaking “Cowboy Carter” tour, with notable figures like former First Lady Michelle Obama and Shaquille O’Neal joining in. While line dances have long been popular, the rapid rise of “Boots on the Ground,” which topped both Billboard’s adult R&B airplay and R&B digital song sales charts, can be attributed to several factors.
Recording artist Cupid, known for his hit “Cupid Shuffle,” noted, “With the new energy toward country music and trail ride music and African Americans’ presence in it, I think that opened up America’s eyes to what we’ve been doing down in Louisiana and Texas and Mississippi and Alabama for years.” He emphasized that line dancing fosters unity among participants.
Line dancing involves groups performing synchronized movements in unison, appealing to all ages and skill levels. Its origins are debated; some historians link it to African tribal dances while others attribute it to European folk traditions. The genre encompasses both country tunes and soul music.
Alongside classics like DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide” and V.I.C.’s “Wobble,” “Boots on the Ground” has introduced trail ride line dancing to a broader audience beyond the Southeast. Trail rides themselves are social horseback processions that embody a festive atmosphere filled with food, music, and dancing.
Jakayla Preston, a professional dancer from Houston, remarked on the newfound interest in line dancing following the song's popularity. “People didn’t really know about it. … When something is trending, it makes everybody get on the bandwagon,” she said. After launching her own line dance classes this year due to demand from her TikTok followers, she discovered that attendance often transcended mere dance steps. “I have people who are struggling and battling with a lot of things … they’ll even sometimes cry and thank me for hosting the class there,” she shared.
Preston attributed part of this surge in interest to Beyoncé’s influence through her “Cowboy Carter” album, which has sparked discussions about African American contributions to country music. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo saw record attendance this year, with many attendees expressing their desire to experience what Beyoncé celebrated in her music.
Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, chair of African American and Diaspora Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, highlighted Beyoncé's broader cultural impact. “Country western music: the sound, the banjo, the violin, all those things are African instruments,” she stated. “She’s bringing it to the world to let the world know, no, we’re not just getting into country — we are country.”
Sinegal-DeCuir also suggested that the political climate may have indirectly fueled interest in line dancing and songs like “Boots on the Ground.” She pointed out that 92% of Black women voted against President Trump, whose policies have disproportionately affected Black communities. “We know how to survive these things because we lean on family, we lean on community, and this joy,” she explained. “The world is burning down, and we’re sitting here learning a new line dance because we’re tired of the political atmosphere … it’s a form of resistance.”
Cupid recalled a significant moment during the social justice movement following George Floyd's death when his song played at protests to ease tensions. “I realized the importance of it, as far as connecting two people that don’t even see eye to eye,” he said. He is preparing to release an all-line-dance album next month. “If you had to pick three songs that could bring people on two opposite sides of the fence together for a moment, then line dancing is definitely those types of songs.”
“I don’t think there’s any other genre more powerful than line dance,” he concluded.
