Beyoncé is dropping COWBOY CARTER — the follow-up to 2022’s RENAISSANCE and Act II in the superstar’s three-act series — next Friday, March 29, but exact details on the album have been slim besides lead singles “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES” and whispers of a Dolly Parton cover.
Today sees one secret revealed in the album’s cover art. Following the precedent set by RENAISSANCE’s Reneigh (that’s the disco-ball encrusted horse on the album’s cover), COWBOY CARTER’s newly revealed artwork also features Beyoncé sitting astride a horse, this time in some patriotic cowboy garb, waving an American flag that’s been cropped tastefully out of view.
Alongside the artwork reveal, Beyoncé has also shared a statement about the upcoming album, writing that COWBOY CARTER “ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.” She also writes about the experience that spurred her to create the album; though she doesn’t name it explicitly, it seems likely that she’s referencing her performance of “Daddy Lessons” with the Chicks at the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2016. “I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she writes.
Read the full statement below.
Today marks the 10-day countdown until the release of act ii. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of "TEXAS HOLD ‘EM" and "16 CARRIAGES." I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. 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.
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, 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. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.
I have a few surprises on the album, and have collaborated with some 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.
I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.
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!
