Beyoncé recently released her eighth album, Cowboy Carter, as part of a three-part project that began with 2022’s Renaissance. The album includes 27 songs and features a mix of genres, with nods to country music through collaborations with artists like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Despite the country influences, Beyoncé insists that Cowboy Carter is not a country album. The album was announced during a Verizon commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, and two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” were released the same night and hit the Top 10 on the country charts. Cowboy Carter serves as Beyoncé’s musical plea for musicians to break down genre boundaries while performing music and for fans to do the same when listening.
Cowboy Carter is available to stream on various platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal. The album features a diverse track list with titles like “Ameriican Requiem,” “16 Carriages,” “Protector,” “My Rose,” and more. Beyoncé collaborated with a range of artists on the album, including Black female artists Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, and Brittney Spencer on a cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Other guest stars include Rumi Carter, Miley Cyrus, Rhiannon Giddens, Willie Jones, Post Malone, Linda Martell, Shaboozey, and various producers like Raphael Saadiq, The-Dream, Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder, and Swizz Beatz.
In addition to the original tracks, Cowboy Carter contains various Easter eggs for fans to discover. The album is structured like a fantasy radio station with the call letters KNTRY, featuring snippets from songs like Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” and Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” Beyoncé also includes interpolations of songs like The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces,” and an 18th-century Italian aria Caro Mio Ben. Fans can enjoy the music videos for the singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” on YouTube, along with lyric videos for the other tracks on the album.
For those interested in exploring more of Beyoncé’s work, her musical films like “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” and “Black Is King” are available to stream on platforms like Netflix and Disney Plus. Fans can also look forward to the release of “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” based on her most recent tour. Additionally, Beyoncé has acted in movies like “Carmen: A Hip Hopera,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Cadillac Records,” which can be found on various streaming services with a premium subscription. Overall, Cowboy Carter showcases Beyoncé’s versatility as an artist and her ability to transcend genres while delivering a powerful musical message.
