Beyoncé has made a bold entrance into the country music scene with her debut country album, Cowboy Carter, featuring hit singles like “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The album boasts collaborations with country legends Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, among others.
The album’s arrival follows Beyoncé’s promotional appearance during the 2024 Super Bowl in February, where she starred in a Verizon commercial and surprised fans with the release of the lead singles.
In a statement shared ahead of the album’s arrival, Beyoncé revealed that the project has been in the making for over five years now. Revealing how the album came to be, she said, “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.” This sentiment likely refers to the backlash she faced after performing “Daddy Lessons” from Lemonade with the Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards.
Cowboy Carter not only pays homage to the history of country music but also highlights its Black roots. The track “The Linda Martell Show” shines a light on the first Black female solo artist to play the Grand Ole Opry, whose promising career was cut short by racism from audiences and industry executives.
“I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Beyoncé explained. “It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” Beyoncé added. “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 reactions to the album on the internet have been positive, with one fan writing, “I see you’ve all made it to Ya Ya! She’s taking it! #COWBOYCARTER.” Another wrote, “There is something very cinematic about the musicality of #CowboyCarter.” A third comment post on X read, “Did I just finish that album… or did that album just finish me? #COWBOYCARTER.” A fourth user wrote, “What a masterpiece #CowboyCarter! Loved it”
