Beyoncé has announced her ninth studio album Cowboy Carter, immediately releasing two songs on the country-themed portfolio, ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages’. It will be released March 29, 2024.
The album’s being spruiked as Renaissance: Act II, the second instalment after the success of her prior Grammy-winning album, which was released on 29 July 2022. The album, which will feature sixteen tracks, was announced mid-way through the 2024 Super Bowl.
Beyoncé attended the cult sporting event, alongside her husband Jay-Z and their two daughters, 12-year-old Blue Ivy and 6-year-old Rumi. Rumi’s twin brother Sir did not appear to be at the event.
While the star made her name in pop music and R&B, it’s not Beyoncé’s first foray into country twangs, with ‘Daddy Lessons’ from her 2016 album Lemonade being very much in this wheelhouse.
To celebrate her new music, Beyoncé posted a short trailer for the music video of ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’. Filmed in the style of an old country and western movie, it features yodeling, a southern soul and blues lilt and is filmed on the dusty plains of a desert.
In it, Beyoncé appears on a sign in the desert that says ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’, watched by a litany of local men, dressed in a bikini and cowboy hat.
If fans were unsure just how country the new album would be, this song’s prominent banjo and arrangement prove that she is not about to do a country genre-change by halves.
While we still don’t know a lot about the album, there was an Easter Egg in the ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ teaser trailer, with another sign reading “Radio Texas 100,000 Watts of Healing Power”. What this healing could refer to remains shrouded in mystery.
The album announcement follows Beyoncé’s country-themed appearance at the 2024 Grammys, where she wore a cowboy hat and outfit by Louis Vuitton, foreshadowing for this announcement.
Alongside the announcement, Beyoncé shared two album artworks. The first for ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ featuring the starlet in a silver pointed bra and belt with suspenders, cowboy hat and oversized earrings. In the second single artwork, for ’16 Carriages’ she rocks a short, blown out bob, buttoned up Western shirt and (of course) a cowboy hat.
Beyoncé Supports Black Female Country Singers: “We’re Tolerated, Not Celebrated”
Since announcing the album, Beyoncé has spoken out online about the poor attitudes towards black women in country music. Marking 10 days until the album comes out, the singer was simultaneously celebrating being named the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart.
“My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant,” she says. “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world.”
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
The star also let slip that she has a few ‘surprises’ on the album, including collaborations with “brilliant artists who I deeply respect.”
“I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound…This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii Cowboy Carter, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”
Speaking to the BBC the founder of Black Opry, Holly G, said that it’s been hard to see how little support black women in country receive.
“For somebody who loves country music so much, to go so long and not see yourself in it, I just got to a point where I got frustrated with that,” she says.
“I think the way that Beyoncé is being celebrated should be the rule for all of the black women that are trying to work in this space. They’re being more tolerated recently than they have been in the past, but they’re still not being celebrated.”
Dolly Parton Says Beyoncé Recorded ‘Jolene’ For New Album
It’s one of — if not the — best country-pop song of all time. Now, it seems Beyoncé is releasing her own take on Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ for her new album.
Dolly herself spilled the announcement, telling a US news outlet, Knox News, she thinks the new record is coming.
“I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that,” she said. “I love her! She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
When Will Beyoncé’s Country Album ‘Cowboy Carter’ Be Released?
Two songs from Beyoncé’s country album have already been released, ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages’. The rest of the album will be released on March 29, 2024.
What Is The Full Track List For Beyoncé’s New Album Cowboy Carter?
Beyoncé has officially released what appears to be a track listing (or at the very least a whole bunch of hints) for her new album Cowboy Carter. The star announced it on a rodeo-style billboard, posted to her Instagram, with 27 ‘song titles’, but we’re not sure yet if they’re in order.
The items listed are as follows:
- Ameriican Requiem
- Blackbiird
- 16 Carriages
- Protector
- My Rose
- Smoke Hour Willie Nelson (it’s not clear at this stage if he will feature)
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- Bodyguard
- Jolene
- Dolly P (it’s not clear at this stage if she will feature)
- Daughter
- Spaghetti
- Alliigator Tears
- Smoke Hour II
- Just For Fun
- II Most Wanted
- Levii’s Jeans
- Flamenco
- The Linda Martell Show
- Ya Ya
- Oh Louisiana
- Desert Eagle
- Riiverdance
- II Hands II Heaven
- Tyrant
- Sweet Honey Bucklin’
- Amen
You’ll note that in the spelling there are a lot of double i’s (II), which some fans have taken to be a reference to the fact this is part two of Renaissance.
It is interesting that the star has chosen to include “And The Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit” on the billboard. For those unaware, the Chitlin’ Circuit was a collection of performance venues that provided commercial and cultural acceptance of African-American talents (musicians, comedians and other entertainers) during segregation.
It’s a meaningful call-back that illustrates the legacy exclusion that black people face from music, and specifically country music, ongoing.
Fans online are loving the track listing, but have pointed out that they are still *quite* confused about whether we’re actually getting 27 songs or if perhaps they could be hints about the upcoming album. One user said it well:
Is Beyoncé’s New Album Part Of Renaissance?
In July 2022, Beyoncé announced that Renaissance was part of a three-act project, but didn’t further elaborate on exactly what that would encompass.
Fans thought that the next big thing from Beyoncé might be another visual album, like Lemonade or Beyoncé, but alas, it is not to be.
