Beyoncé Unveils Tracklist for Highly Anticipated Country Album “Cowboy Carter”
Beyoncé sent her fans into a frenzy on Wednesday as she dropped the tracklist for her much-anticipated country album, “Cowboy Carter,” in a vintage-inspired social media post. The post, reminiscent of old-school concert advertisements, showcased red, white, black, and blue-colored graphics alongside text boxes featuring the album’s title and release date – Friday, March 29.
While the pop icon had previously revealed the album’s title and cover art, the latest teaser hinted at an extended name for the record: “Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit.” With a whopping 27 titles listed, assuming they’re all tracks, the album promises to be Beyoncé’s longest to date.
The announcement of “Cowboy Carter” came during the 2024 Super Bowl, where Beyoncé described it as “act ii” of a three-part project that commenced with her critically acclaimed “Renaissance” album in 2022. Accompanying the announcement were the releases of two singles – “16 Carriages” and the chart-topping “Texas Hold ‘Em,” making Beyoncé the first Black woman to clinch a No. 1 country hit on Billboard’s charts. The latter single later secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well.
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Both “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” feature on the album’s tracklist, alongside several other intriguing titles. Notably, there’s a reference to Dolly Parton’s classic hit “Jolene,” with speculation that it might appear on the new album. Additionally, there seems to be a track titled “Dolly P” and a potential collaboration with country icon Willie Nelson on a song named “Smoke Hour.” Other tracks include “Tyrant,” “Desert Eagle,” and “Amen,” with a nod to Linda Martell, the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in country music.
In an Instagram post last week, Beyoncé shared insights into the album’s creation, revealing that it had been over five years in the making. She reflected on her experiences, including her appearance at the 2016 Country Music Awards, where she felt unwelcome. “act ii” represents her journey of blending genres and challenging herself creatively.
“I have a few surprises on the album, and have collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect,” Beyoncé wrote, concluding her message with a poignant declaration: “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”