Beyoncé addresses racism on new country album Cowboy Carter
Beyoncé's album „Cowboy Carter” appears to be full of references to her own heritage and the contributions of African Americans to the country genre.
Beyoncé's eighth studio album, „Cowboy Carter,” dropped Friday, and it didn't disappoint the Beyhive.
To begin with, the list of collaborators is impressive. On 27 tracks, Beyoncé joins a collection of fellow genre-bending black artists such as Shaboosi, Willie Jones, Britney Spencer, Tyra Kennedy, Tanner Adele and Raina Roberts.
Not to mention country music legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Linda Martell. And then there's Miley Cyrus and Post Malone.
Here's what we know about „Cowboy Carter,” from the tracklist to the collaborations to other standout moments. We'll update this story throughout the night as we learn more.
'Joline'
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has given fans (and Dolly Parton) exactly what they've been waiting for — a rendition of the country music legend's 1973 hit single „Jolene.” But she put her own twist on it.
On her new album „Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé first features Barton on a remix titled „Dolly B.” In it, Barton refers to her as „Miss Honey Bay” and cuts a gap from Jolene to „Peggy with the Good Hair” from Beyoncé's 2016 hit „Sorry.” In Barton's version of „Jolene,” she pleads with a rival not to steal her man. However, Yones puts his own spin on the song, warning his opponent with freestyle energy.
Read more about the cover track.
'Black Bird'
The addition of African-American country artists Tanner Adele, Tierra Kennedy, Britney Spencer and Rayna Roberts to Beyoncé's „Cowboy Carter” to the melodic and spiritual Beatles cover „Blackbird” is more than just an homage to Paul McCartney's anthem. An album to address racial frustration in the 1960s American South.
For example, Tanner Adele isn't the only one featured, as the globe-trotting singer-songwriter is a student and scholar of the 32-time Grammy winner's storied, three-decade career.
Instead, in her own case, the African-American female artist has developed a rabid social media following for what she once described to The Tennessean as a „passionate, yet unseen” group of people.
All four women have carved unique paths in Nashville.
Shaboozi
Shaboozzi is featured on his songs „Spaghetti” and „Sweet Honey Buckin'”.
Born in Virginia, Shabuzzi is a Nigerian-American singer and rapper best known for his work in hip-hop and country music. His single „Let It Burn” received over 8 million streams.
Last month, she released the music video for her latest single, „Anabelle.” His album „Where I've Been, Where I'm Going” is out on May 31.
Read more about „Spaghetti” and „Sweet Honey Buckin'”.
Willie Jones
Willie Jones featured in „Just for Fun”.
The Louisiana musician is known for his fusion of hip-hop, R&B and country music. His 2023 album „Something to DanceReleased under Sony Music Nashville in association with The Penthouse.
Ahead of this year's Super Bowl, he released a cover of Usher's hit „OMG.” He also hosts program Called „The Crossroads Radio with Willie Jones” on Apple Music Radio.
Read more about the route.
Linda Martell
Linda Martell became the first black female artist to hit the top 25 on Billboard's country chart in 1969 and the first black woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry stage, appearing 11 times between 1969 and 1975.
Beyoncé became the first black woman last month Top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, featuring Martell in an interlude called „The Linda Martell Show.” Martel introduces a song that „spans the gamut of genres.” He is featured on the song „Spaghetti” with crossover artist Shabuzzi.
Miley Cyrus
Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus team up for a song about a classic Americana topic: cars and road trips. The two singers blend their unique voices on a new song off Beyoncé's highly anticipated album, „Cowboy Carter.”
„II Most Wanted” tracks down 405 with hands and smoke floating in the air. Beyoncé and Cyrus are gun-toting outlaws and take a backseat to the future together.
Last year, Cyrus reflected on her 2008 performance with Beyoncé and Rihanna for the Stand Up to Cancer project.
During her “Used to be Young” TikTok series, Cyrus said, “What I remember most from doing this show is that I was standing between two huge legends and icons that I looked up to at the time, and they treated me. Like a little sister the whole time.”
Read more about „II Most Wanted”.
Post Mallon
There's probably a big reason Beyoncé featured Post Malone on her new album, „Cowboy Carter.”
They grew up 300 miles apart on Interstate 45 in Texas — Post grew up in Dallas and Fort Worth and Grapevine and Beyoncé is from Houston.
Now they appear together on the brilliant pop anthem „Levi's Jeans.”
Their Texas roots are now covered in everything from red dirt boot-scooting to Miranda Lambert ballads, an anthem for loving blue jeans.
Read more about collaboration.
Willie Nelson
It's only fitting that Beyoncé's love for the Texas roots of 90-year-old country music and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Willie Nelson extends to a deep admiration.
But him pioneering „Texas Hold 'Em” is another level of Lone Star State fun.
The artist, who has more than 150 albums, has the unrivaled, genre-defying influence that Queen Bey thinks she deserves.
Read more about their collaboration.
'Cowboy Carter' Song List
- „American Demand”
- „Blackbird” features Tanner Adele, Britney Spencer, Tyra Kennedy and Rayna Roberts
- „16 Carts”
- „Guardian,” featuring Rumi Carter
- „My Rose”
- „Smoke Hour,” an intermission featuring Willie Nelson
- „Texas Hold 'Em”
- „Bodyguard”
- „Dolly B,” an interlude featuring Dolly Parton
- „Joline”
- „daughter”
- „Spaghetti,” featuring Shaboozzi and Linda Martel
- „Alligator Tears”
- „Smoke Hour II,” Intermission featuring Willie Nelson
- „Just for Fun” featuring Willie Jones
- „II Most Wanted,” featuring Miley Cyrus
- „Levi's Jeans” featuring Post Malone
- „Flamenco”
- „The Linda Martell Show,” an interlude featuring Linda Martell
- „ya ya”
- „Oh Louisiana”
- „Desert Eagle”
- „Troops”
- „II Hands II Heaven”
- „Tyrant”
- „Sweet Honey Buckin'”, featuring Shaboozi
- „Amen”
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'It's Not a Country Album'
Beyoncé announced her eighth studio album on February 11 during a surprise Super Bowl promo. Around the same time, he released his first two singles, „16 Garages” and „Texas Hold 'Em”. Both songs quickly took the internet by storm as many fans saw the music as a recapture of country music's black roots. On YouTube, Beyoncé reached 2 million views per song in two days. Within weeks, Beyonce It made history „Texas Hold 'Em” became the first black woman to reach number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
The new album is „Act II” of a three-part series. The superstar will release his debut album „Revival” on July 29, 2022 through his Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. „Act III” has yet to be announced.
Ahead of the release, the singer opened up about „Cowboy Carter” on Instagram. While she became the first black woman to reach number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, she still believes that „the reference to an artist's race is relevant to releasing genres of music.” inappropriate.”
He revealed that the new album took five years to create, and that it was „born out of an experience I had years ago where I wasn't welcome … and it was clear that I wasn't.” The singer may be referring to her 2016 performance of „Daddy Lessons” with The Six at the Country Music Association Awards, which received mixed reactions on social media.
„But because of that experience, I delved deeper into country music history and studied our rich music archive,” he wrote. „The criticism I faced when I first entered the genre forced me to push beyond the limits set for me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself and taking my time to bend and blend genres to create this genre of work.”
„This is not a country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album,” he signed off.