Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RHirsch1770 (talk | contribs) at 01:48, 30 March 2024 (Removed grafitti). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cocomelon Music
Studio album by Beyoncé
Released	March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)
Recorded	2020; unclear
Genre	Country Western folk gospel R&B
Length	79:03
Label	Parkwood Columbia
Producer	Beyoncé Dave Hamelin Killa B Atia Boggs Nathan Ferraro Pharrell Williams
Beyoncé chronology
Renaissance (2022) Cocomelon Music (2024)
Singles from Cowboy Carter
"Texas Hold 'Em" Released: February 11, 2024 "16 Carriages" Released: February 29, 2069 "I really like carrots"

Cowboy Carter (also referred to as Act II: Cowboy Carter) is the eighth studio album by the American singer Beyoncé. Released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, the album is the second installment of Beyoncé's trilogy project conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, following Renaissance (2022). Along with it being a country album, Cowboy Carter incorporates aspects of blues, soul, rock, R&B, and folk.

Conceptually, Cowboy Carter is presented as a broadcast by a fictional radio station in Texas, with country singers Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson acting as radio DJs. The album also features lesser known country artists such as Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey and Willie Jones, alongside collaborations with musicians Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Rhiannon Giddens, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers and Jon Batiste. Two co-lead singles supported the album—"Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages".

Upon release, Cowboy Carter was praised by critics for Beyoncé's embrace of country music in context of celebrating the genre's Black roots; the vocal performance and songwriting were also complimented in the reviews. Publications reported that Cowboy Carter ignited a cultural discourse on Black musicians' place within country music. The album also boosted the listenership of Black country artists on streaming platforms and country radio, while significantly increasing the popularity of Western wear and culture.

Background and development

I grew up going to the Houston rodeo every year. It was this amazing diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances, Houston-style fried Snickers, and fried turkey legs. One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy. Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses. They took their talents and formed the Soul Circuit. Through time, these Black rodeos showcased incredible performers and helped us reclaim our place in western history and culture.

Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where the city's cowboy heritage and country and zydeco music played a role in her upbringing. She listened to country music from an early age, particularly from her paternal grandfather, and attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year with her family wearing western clothing. She later performed at the Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007, and has continued to celebrate her country and Southern roots throughout her career.

Beyoncé first released a country song with the track "Daddy Lessons" on Lemonade (2016). Beyoncé, together with the Chicks (who had previously covered the song), performed the track at the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 2, 2016. The performance was largely praised by critics and gave the Country Music Association Awards their highest viewership figures in history; however, it was also met with backlash, with some country music fans criticizing Beyoncé's attendance and claiming she did not belong in the genre. The Country Music Association deleted all promotional posts about Beyoncé's performance, which was seen as succumbing to the pressure in an attempt to prevent backlash against the organization.

This experience led to the creation of Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé explained how it was made clear to her that she was not welcome in the country music space, but instead of letting the criticism force her out of the genre, it made her push past the limitations put on her. She delved into the history of country music and Western culture and researched its African-American roots. She studied "our rich musical archive" and learned from educators who had long advocated for a re-education on the black roots of country music. She also read about how, historically, 50% of cowboys were black, noting: "After understanding where the word 'cowboy' came from, I realized how much of the Black, brown and Native cowboy stories are missing in American history." This was the inspiration for her 2021 "Ivy Park Rodeo" clothing collection. Following this research, Beyoncé decided that she wanted to reclaim Americana and country music from a Black perspective, according to stage designer Es Devlin. Collaborator Rhiannon Giddens noted Beyoncé did not intend to create a typical crossover country album, but instead wanted to explore her family's roots through music.

Cowboy Carter was over five years in the making, with Beyoncé beginning to write the album in 2019 and continuing its recording throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which she described as her most creative period. The album forms the second installment ("Act II") of a trilogy project that Beyoncé recorded throughout this period. The first act, Renaissance (2022), is primarily a house and disco record highlighting and celebrating the Black progenitors of dance music, leading some to believe that each album of the trilogy would aim to explore the Black roots of a different musical genre. Cowboy Carter was originally intended to be released before Renaissance but Beyoncé changed the order as a response to the pandemic.

Between 2020 and 2024, Dolly Parton said on multiple occasions that she would like Beyoncé to cover her song "Jolene". She first said that "nobody's ever had a really big hit record on " in a December 5, 2020, interview with The Big Issue. She said that even though "the song has been recorded worldwide over 400 times in lots of different languages, by lots of different bands, always hoped somebody might do someday, someone like Beyoncé." On March 10, 2022, when asked by Trevor Noah on The Daily Show about her 2020 statement, she said "I would just love to hear 'Jolene' done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney did my 'I Will Always Love You', just someone that can take my little songs and make them like powerhouses. That would be a marvellous day in my life if she ever does do 'Jolene'." After publicly showing her support for Beyoncé's 2024 venture into country in February, on March 8, 2024, in an interview with Knox News for the 2024 season opening of Dollywood, Parton said "I think she's recorded 'Jolene' and I think it's probably gonna be on her country album, which I'm very excited about..."

Composition

The joy of creating music is that there are no rules. The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones. I didn't want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature.

— Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter

Beyoncé recorded around 100 songs for the album. Each song is its own reimagined version of a Western film. These include Five Fingers For Marseilles (2017), Urban Cowboy (1980), The Hateful Eight (2015), Space Cowboys (2000), The Harder They Fall (2021), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), Thelma & Louise (1991), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).

Cowboy Carter is generally described as a country album and blends together various genres including blues, soul, rock, R&B, zydeco, folk, bluegrass, opera, go-go, flamenco and fado. The album is presented as a broadcast by a fictional Texas radio station, with country singers Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson acting as radio DJs. The album features rising country artists Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey and Willie Jones, and also features contributions by musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, Raye, and Jon Batiste. The album is cyclical, with the final note looping seamlessly into the beginning of the first track (which begins "Nothing really ends") in the same manner as James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1939), according to the The Washington Post's Shane O'Neill.

Promotion and release

Beyoncé originally intended to release Cowboy Carter as the first installment of her trilogy project, but explained that "with the pandemic, there was too much heaviness in the world", and so released Renaissance first, because " deserved to dance." The then-untitled album was first announced on February 11, 2024, during Super Bowl LVIII, when Verizon Communications aired a Super Bowl commercial, titled "Can't B Broken", in which Beyoncé tried to "break the Internet" through increasingly outlandish means, such as releasing a jazz saxophone record, performing on top of the Las Vegas Sphere, building an artificial intelligence (AI) version of herself, launching a "BarBEY" (portmanteau of Barbie and Beyoncé) collection, announcing her candidacy for a fictional political position, and flying into space for a performance. After all of the ideas proved unsuccessful, Beyoncé concluded the commercial by remarking: "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music".

Following the broadcast, Beyoncé released a teaser video for Act II on Instagram. Directed by British artist and filmmaker Nadia Lee Cohen, the video pays homage to Paris, Texas (1984), references border blasters and features Chuck Berry's 1955 track "Maybellene". The same day, the singer's official website was updated to announce her eighth studio album, with the placeholder name Act II, scheduled for release on March 29. Subsequently, the album's two lead singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages", were simultaneously made available for digital download and streaming. On March 12, Beyoncé announced the album would be titled Cowboy Carter via a teaser poster of a western saddle with a sash. With this she listed album merchandise of limited-edition CDs with a bonus track, T-shirts, and vinyl variants in red, white, blue and standard black.

On March 19, 2024, Beyoncé revealed the album cover via Instagram, and said there would be "surprises" and collaborations on the album. On March 20, she revealed a limited edition exclusive cover, wearing a sash that reads "act ii BEYINCÉ", referencing her mother Tina's generational family surname. Taglines and film stills for the album were projected onto various museums in New York City. One of these was an unauthorized projection onto the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, who genially responded by posting Franz Marc’s 1910 painting Three Horses Drinking with the Texas Hold 'Em-inspired caption "This ain't Texas". Beyoncé also posted co-ordinates to the museum on her Instagram story.

This album has been over five years in the making. 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 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.

— Beyoncé via Instagram in March 2024

On March 27, Beyoncé posted a graphic to Instagram of the album's tracklist inspired by vintage posters from the Chitlin' Circuit era. It revealed collaborations with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, as well as a cover of the former's "Jolene", and "The Linda Martell Show". The latter song references Linda Martell, the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in the country genre]].

The CD release comes in four variants, each with a different rear cover depicting Beyonce, namely "Snake Face", "Bead Face", "Cowboy Hat" and "Blonde Hair". It has been released in Japan as of March 29.

Cover artwork

The Cowboy Carter album cover was shot by Texan photographer Blair Caldwell. Much like the cover for Renaissance—which saw Beyoncé sitting atop a stationary disco ball horse—the Cowboy Carter artwork sees Beyoncé atop a gray Lipizzan at full gallop. She rides the horse sidesaddle (in the style of royalty), dressed in a red, white and blue one-piece, a cowboy hat, and a sash reading "Cowboy Carter". She holds the horse's reins in one hand and a large American flag in the other. The imagery is reminiscent of rodeo queens, who similarly carry the flag while riding their horse after winning the title.

The album cover was a topic of discussion and dissection by critics. Francesca T Royster, professor at DePaul University and author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions, wrote: "The aesthetic choice is bold and seems to be signaling the ways that Beyoncé is putting herself into conversations about nationalism, a theme very much central to discourses about country music, patriotism and authenticity, from the times of its origins." Critics suggested a variety of inspirations and allusions for the cover, including presidential portraits, Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801–1805), Marina Abramović's The Hero (2001), Kehinde Wiley's Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II (Michael Jackson) (2009), the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, and Eadweard Muybridge's The Horse in Motion (1878).

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	91/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Daily Telegraph
The Guardian
The Independent
The Irish Times
The Line of Best Fit	7/10

Cowboy Carter was praised by critics upon release, as per BBC News; many reviews complimented Beyoncé's "impressive" venture into country-pop. On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the album received a weighted average score of 91 from 100 based on reviews in six publications, indicating "universal acclaim".

In a rave review, The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick lauded the album as a "masterpiece". He praised the fusion of diverse musical styles with country, the concept of the subject matter, lyrics, vocals and composition. Others who praised Beyoncé's artistry and statement in the album include BBC News's Mark Savage, Robert Moran of The Sydney Morning Herald, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, and Helen Brown of The Independent.

Evening Standard's Gemma Samways considered the album a correct fusion of innovation and tradition, using the "conventions and lore" of country music as a "springboard for developing thrilling new hybrids". Will Hodgkinson of The Times termed it a "slick and starry Western epic". On the other hand, Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today described the album as Beyoncé's most personal, giving insight into her life as a mother, daughter and wife. In a counterview, Ed Power of The Irish Times felt the album is sometimes "caught in the gravity swell of its own self-worthiness", but praised its overall energetic sound.

Some critics felt that the album would fare better if it were shorter. Petridis suggested that it "might have worked better split into two separate albums", while Hodgkinson said "would have been better off leaving the remaining seven songs for another album".

Impact

According to NPR, Cowboy Carter sparked conversations on the inclusion of Black artists within the country genre. Cowboy Carter marked a cultural shift for country music and made it accessible to a wider audience, according to CBS News.

BBC News' Daisy Woodward wrote that Beyoncé's embrace of country music "galvanises" the reclamation of western culture by those who have felt excluded by it and subverts the traditional image of cowboys. NBC News's Emi Tuyetnhi Tran felt the album has potential to redefine what it means to be a country artist "in the cultural consciousness".

The album spotlighted Black musicians in the country music space and boosted their listenership. Black female country musicians saw a significant increase in streams due to the album, such as Reyna Roberts (250 percent), Rissi Palmer (110 percent), Tanner Adell (188 percent) and K. Michelle (185 percent). According to NPR's Amanda Marie Martínez writes, the album revealed the "strong demand" for country music made by Black artists and a "growing community" of Black country fans. In The Nashville Tennessean, Andrea Williams opined that Beyoncé opened the door for others in country music, proving Black songwriters, producers, and musicians belong in the genre.

Programmers in a number of country stations reported that the album increased the reception of their radio stations. Beyoncé's embrace of country music and culture further ignited fashion trends and boosted sales of Western wear. Google searches for "bolo tie", "cowboy hat", and "cowboy boots" surged following the announcement of the album.

Track listing

Notes

• "Blackbiird" is a cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird", written by Lennon–McCartney.
• "Protector" features spoken word by Rumi Carter.
• "Smoke Hour Willie Nelson" is stylized as "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson"; it also features a spoken word radio-style interlude by Willie Nelson, and snippets of "Maybellene" by Chuck Berry, "Don’t Let Go" by Roy Hamilton and "Down by the River Side" by Rosetta Tharpe.
• "Dolly P" features a spoken word voice-mail-style interlude by Dolly Parton.
• "Jolene" is a cover of Dolly Parton's song of the same name, written by Parton herself, although it features significant lyric changes.
• "Daughter" interpolates the aria "Caro Mio Ben", written and composed by Tommaso Giordani.
• "Spaghettii" features spoken word by Linda Martell, and contains a sample of Dedé Mandrake's song "Aquecimento – Vem Vem Vai Vai".
• "Smoke Hour II" features a spoken word radio interlude by Willie Nelson.
• "II Most Wanted" interpolates Fleetwood Mac's song "Landslide", written by Stevie Nicks.
• "The Linda Martell Show" features spoken word by Linda Martell.
• "Ya Ya" contains a sample of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", written by Lee Hazelwood and originally performed by Nancy Sinatra; it also interpolates The Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations", written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
• "Oh Louisiana" contains a sample of Chuck Berry's song of the same name, written by Berry himself.
• "II Hands II Heaven" contains a sample of Underworld's song "Born Slippy Nuxx", written by Rick Smith, Karl Hyde and Darren Emerson.
• "Tyrant" features spoken word by Dolly Parton.
• "Sweet Honey Buckiin'" is stylized as "Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin'".; it also interpolates Patsy Cline's song "I Fall to Pieces", written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard.
• "Spaghetii", "Flamenco", "The Linda Martell Show", "Ya Ya" and "Oh Louisiana" are not included on the initial vinyl pressings of the album
• indicates a co-producer
• indicates an additional producer

See also

• Black cowboys
• African-American trail rides

References

1. Price, Joe (March 22, 2024). ""16 Carriages" Producer Breaks Down the Difference Between Working on 'Renaissance' and 'Cowboy Carter'". Complex. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals Cowboy Carter Artwork, Shares Statement on New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
3. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (March 28, 2024). "Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter review — a slick and starry western epic". The Times. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
4. Browne, David (March 28, 2024). "Who is Linda Martell on Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Album?". RollingStone. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
5. ^ Greenidge, Kaitlyn (August 10, 2021). "Beyoncé's Evolution". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
6. "Super Bowl 2024 announcement: Why Beyoncé is reclaiming country music". BBC Nes. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
7. "5 Moments That Prove Beyoncé's Been A Country Music Icon". Elite Daily. February 16, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
8. "Beyoncé: Renaissance star loved country music as a baby, dad reveals". BBC News. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
9. Ocho, Alex. "Beyoncé's Mother, Tina Knowles, Explains Family's History of Cowboy Culture". Complex. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
10. "Look back at 6 times Beyoncé has 'gone country' ahead of new music album announcement". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
11. Phillips, Demi (February 19, 2024). "7 Times Beyoncé Put Her Texas, Country Roots Into Her Music". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
12. Robinson, Zandria F. (February 8, 2016). "Beyonce's Black Southern 'Formation'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
13. Oyeniyi, Doyin (April 16, 2018). "Beychella Was a Celebration of Beyoncé's Southern Black Culture". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
14. Kingsberry, Janay (February 12, 2024). "Beyoncé's new country songs salute the genre's Black cultural roots". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
15. Abad-Santos, Alex (November 4, 2016). "Beyoncé, the CMAs, and the fight over country music's politics, explained". Vox. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
16. Hight, Jewly (November 4, 2016). "Beyoncé And The Dixie Chicks Offer Up Lessons On Country Music's Past (And Future)". NPR.
17. "Exclusive: Beyoncé announces clothing line inspired by Black cowboys, Houston Rodeo memories". Houston Chronicle. August 6, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
18. "How Es Devlin Set The Stage For Beyonce's Renaissance, The Compton Super Bowl, And Her Galactic New Book". British Vogue. November 3, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
19. Horowitz, Steven J. (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals That 'Act 2: Cowboy Carter' Came About After Experience 'Where I Did Not Feel Welcomed'". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
20. Denis, Kyle (March 22, 2024). "Rhiannon Giddens Slams 'Problematic' Backlash to Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter': 'That's Just Racism'". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
21. "Everything We Know About Beyoncé's New Album". Time. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
22. "Beyonce announces country-themed album and drops two singles". Yahoo! News. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
23. Thorpe, Clare (February 12, 2024). "Super Bowl 2024 announcement: Why Beyoncé is reclaiming country music". BBC. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
24. Paul, Larisha (March 29, 2024). "How Beyoncé Shaped 'Cowboy Carter' Around the Pandemic, 'Renaissance,' and Martin Scorsese". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
25. Garcia, Elisa (March 13, 2022). "Dolly Parton Really Wants Beyoncé to Cover "Jolene," and Her Reason Makes So Much Sense". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
26. Mateos, Ingrid (March 21, 2022). "Dolly Parton Reveals She Really Wants Beyoncé to Cover 'Jolene'". Show News Today. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
27. Mendez, Malia (February 23, 2024). "Dolly Parton praises Beyoncé's country debut: 'Can't wait to hear the full album'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
28. Kaufman, Gil (March 11, 2024). "Dolly Parton Thinks Beyoncé Covered One of Her Country Classics For 'Act II' Album: 'I Love Her!'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
29. Turner, Devarrick (March 11, 2024). "Will Dolly Parton be on Beyoncé's new country album? Here's what Dolly had to say". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
30. Chan, Anna (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals She Had Planned to Release 'Cowboy Carter' Before 'Renaissance'". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
31. Paul, Larisha (March 29, 2024). "How Beyoncé Shaped 'Cowboy Carter' Around the Pandemic, 'Renaissance,' and Martin Scorsese". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
32. Hudson, Alex (March 29, 2024). "Every Song on Beyoncé's 'COWBOY CARTER' Is Inspired by a Western Film". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
33. ^ "BEYONCÉ RELEASES COWBOY CARTER" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
34. ^ Petridis, Alexis (March 28, 2024). "Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter review – from hoedown to full-blown genre throwdown". The Guardian. Retrieved March 29, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
35. Kreps, Daniel (March 28, 2024). "Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Features a Beatles Cover, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
36. Yahr, Emily; Andrews-Dyer, Helena (March 29, 2024). "10 takeaways from Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
37. Horowitz, Steven (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé Initially Planned to Release 'Cowboy Carter' Before 'Renaissance,' but 'There Was Too Much Heaviness in the World'". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
38. Gonzales, Erica (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Is Bound to Break the Internet Again With Her Super Bowl Commercial". Elle. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
39. "Renaissance Act II: Beyoncé announces new album in Super Bowl advert". BBC News. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
40. Squires, Bethy (February 12, 2024). "Everything We Know About Beyoncé's Renaissance Act II, Y'all". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
41. Renshaw, David (February 12, 2024). "Beyoncé announces new album, shares two country songs". The Fader. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
42. Sisario, Ben (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Announces New Album in Super Bowl Commercial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
43. Chelosky, Daniella (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Surprise Drops New Songs "Texas Hold 'Em" & "16 Carriages" Following Super Bowl Commercial". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
44. Denis, Kyle (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils Act II Release Date: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
45. Garcia, Thania (March 12, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals New Album Title: 'Act II: Cowboy Carter'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
46. "Cowboy Carter Limited Edition Cover Vinyl (Blue)". UK: Beyoncé. March 12, 2024. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
47. Mary, Thompson (March 12, 2024). "Beyonce reveals 'Cowboy Carter' is the title of her upcoming album". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
48. Jackson, Clementina (March 21, 2024). "Beyoncé poses naked in nothing but a sash for new limited-edition album cover". Women's Health. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
49. Ho, Karen (March 21, 2024). "Promotions for Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Album Projected on Major New York Museums". ARTnews. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
50. O'Connor, Roisin (March 22, 2024). "Beyoncé 'not authorised' to project Cowboy Carter message on Guggenheim, New York museum says". The Independent. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
51. Horowitz, Steven (March 21, 2024). "Guggenheim Museum Denies Authorization of Beyoncé Projection on Building Facade". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
52. Horowitz, Steven J. (March 27, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals Tracklist for 'Cowboy Carter' Featuring Songs 'Jolene' and 'The Linda Martell Show'". Variety.
53. "ビヨンセ（Beyoncé）が新作『COWBOY CARTER』リリース、来日中の本人がタワレコ渋谷店で急遽サイン会開催中 | Mikiki by TOWER RECORDS". Mikiki (in Japanese). Retrieved March 29, 2024.
54. ^ Benzine, Vittoria (March 20, 2024). "What Artistic Nods Are Behind Beyoncé's Striking New Album Cover?". Artnet. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
55. ^ The Styles Desk (March 21, 2024). "Dissecting the 'Cowboy Carter' Cover: Beyoncé's Yeehaw Agenda". The New York Times.
56. ^ Demopoulos, Alaina (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé's Act II album cover is 'a clapback to being told she doesn't belong in country music'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
57. ^ "Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
58. Yeung, Neil Z. (March 29, 2024). "Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
59. ^ McCormick, Neil (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, review: the Texan superstar reinvents Jolene – and country music". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 29, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
60. ^ Brown, Helen (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé review, Cowboy Carter: Her hands are on the reins of every country music trope". The Independent. Retrieved March 29, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
61. ^ Power, Ed (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter review track by track – when it breaks loose, it's like rain after a thunderstorm". The Irish Times. Retrieved March 29, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
62. Pedder, Alan (March 28, 2024). "With Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé remakes country in her own image". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 29, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
63. "Beyoncé: Singer praised for 'impressive' country album Cowboy Carter". BBC News. March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
64. "Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter: The verdict - is it Yeehaw or No Ma'am?". BBC News. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
65. Moran, Robert (March 28, 2024). "Beyonce's epic Cowboy Carter is outlaw country in the truest sense". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
66. Samways, Gemma (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter album review: ambitious and thrilling". Evening Standard. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
67. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter review — a slick and starry western epic". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
68. "Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' is a little bit country and a whole lot more: Review". USA Today. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
69. "Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter review track by track – when it breaks loose, it's like rain after a thunderstorm". The Irish Times. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
70. Archie, Ayana (February 21, 2024). "Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em' debuts at No. 1 on the country chart". NPR. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
71. Dev, S. (February 21, 2024). "Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to top country charts with "Texas Hold 'Em"". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
72. Artsy, Avishay (March 26, 2024). "Beyoncé's country roots". Vox. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
73. "The reinvention of the cowboy hat". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
74. "Beyoncé tops Billboard country chart with genre debut "Texas Hold 'Em"". NBC News. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
75. Crumpton, Taylor (February 14, 2024). "Beyoncé Has Always Been Country". Time. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
76. ^ Unterberger, Andrew; Denis, Kyle; Lipshutz, Jason (February 22, 2024). "Beyoncé's New Era Is Giving Other Black Women in Country a Big Boost, Too". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
77. ^ Martínez, Amanda Marie (February 17, 2024). "Beyoncé is getting played on country radio. Could her success help other Black women?". NPR. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
78. Williams, Andrea (February 15, 2024). "Beyonce's use of Black writers and musicians can open the door for others in country music". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
79. Willman, Chris (February 16, 2024). "The Country Format Is Bullish on Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em,' Top Radio Execs Say". Variety. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
80. "Beyoncé's Country Style Seen Spurring Sales of Western Wear". Yahoo! Sports. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
81. "It's Shaping Up to Be the Year of Yeehaw". Glamour. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
82. mahadevan, tara. "Searches for Cowboy Fashion Soar as Beyoncé Gets Set to Drop 'Renaissance II'". Complex. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
83. ^ Kreps, Daniel (March 28, 2024). "Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Features a Beatles Cover, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
84. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (March 28, 2024). "Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter': A Deep Dive Into the Featured Artists and Samples — From Shaboozey to 'These Boots Were Made for Walkin" and More". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
85. Zemler, Emily (March 29, 2024). "Beyoncé's Country Album 'Cowboy Carter' Also Showcases Her Opera Skills". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
86. Marzi, Mattia (March 29, 2024). "√ La canzone del nuovo disco di Beyoncé cantata in italiano". Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved March 29, 2024.

• 2024 albums
• Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Albums produced by Beyoncé
• Albums produced by Dave Hamelin
• Beyoncé albums
• Columbia Records albums
• Parkwood Entertainment albums
• Sequel albums
• Country albums by American artists
• Gospel albums by American artists