Beyoncé, the reigning queen of pop, surprised fans by dropping her latest album, “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” on Thursday night. Hailing from Houston, Beyoncé’s venture into the country genre has sparked excitement and curiosity among her loyal fan base.
The album, which boasts a star-studded lineup including Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson, features 27 tracks, some of which are interludes. Notably, Beyoncé’s six-year-old daughter, Rumi Carter, also makes an appearance on the album.
Despite Beyoncé’s declaration that “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” the music industry is embracing the album as a significant contribution to the country genre. With collaborations that span generations and genres, “Act II: Cowboy Carter” is expected to draw new audiences to country music while igniting conversations about diversity within the genre.
The album features tracks like “Protector,” where Rumi can be heard requesting a lullaby, and “Smoke Hour,” an interlude featuring Willie Nelson as a disc jockey for “KNTRY Radio Texas: Home of the real deal.” Other notable collaborations include “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus and “Levii’s Jeans” with Post Malone.
Beyoncé pays homage to country legends such as Linda Martell and Dolly Parton, with Martell joining Beyoncé and emerging artist Shaboozey on the track “Spaghettii.” Parton herself references Beyoncé’s hit “Sorry” in the interlude titled “Dolly P,” linking it to her own iconic song, “Jolene,” which Beyoncé covers on the album.
In a nod to diversity within country music, Beyoncé features Black country singers/songwriters Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, and Brittney Spencer on a soul-stirring rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”
With “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé continues to push boundaries and redefine genres, solidifying her status as one of the most influential artists of our time.
