Global superstar Beyoncé has unveiled the highly-anticipated second act of her trilogy, act ii: Cowboy Carter, defying expectations and blurring genre lines as promised. Following the dance-centric act i: Renaissance released in 2022, Cowboy Carter showcases Beyoncé’s unparalleled artistic range, venturing into the world of country music with a distinctly “Beyoncé” twist.
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” the artist declared earlier this month on Instagram, setting the tone for the project. Cowboy Carter boasts a sprawling 27 tracks, including the chart-topping lead single “Texas Hold ‘Em” and its B-side, “16 Carriages.”
The album features a star-studded guest list, with legendary country artists like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and the late Linda Martell sharing the stage with rising stars like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Tiera Kennedy. Pop heavyweights Miley Cyrus and Post Malone also make appearances.
Production duties are handled by a who’s-who of music royalty, including The-Dream, Pharrell Williams, Raphael Saadiq, Swizz Beatz, and NO I.D., alongside a mix of established and emerging talent like Leven Kali, DIXSON, Nova Wav, and others.
“The joy of creating music is that there are no rules,” Beyoncé shared in a recent statement. “The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. With artificial intelligence and digital filters taking over, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones.” This dedication to organic sounds permeates the album, with stripped-down arrangements featuring raw instruments and even incorporating natural sounds like wind, snaps, birdsong, and farmyard noises.
While Cowboy Carter marks the second chapter in Beyoncé’s trilogy, it was actually completed before the release of Renaissance. “This album took over five years,” Beyoncé revealed. “It’s been great to have the time and grace to take my time with it. Originally, I planned to release Cowboy Carter first, but the pandemic created a heavy atmosphere. We wanted to dance. We deserved to dance. But I had to trust God’s timing.”
Following the critical and commercial success of Renaissance, which earned Beyoncé the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album in 2023 (a historic win for Black women in the category), Cowboy Carter promises to further solidify Beyoncé’s position as one of the most innovative and influential artists of our generation.
