Beyoncé just dropped her newest album, “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” and it’s got some crazy cool surprises! She teamed up with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone on a couple of tracks, plus she’s covering Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” This album comes hot on the heels of her Grammy-winning “Renaissance” from 2022, and get this – it’s just the first part of a whole trilogy she’s cooking up.
Before Beyoncé dropped her album, she gave us a taste with two bangers: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” These tracks got us hyped for her dive into country music. The album’s got a whopping 27 songs, set up like a full-on radio show, giving a nod to that country vibe. And get this – she’s got legends like Dolly Parton jumping in for quick collabs, like one called “Dolly P.” It’s gonna be wild!
Honoring Legends
On Beyoncé’s album, there’s this slick move where Dolly Parton herself intros Beyoncé’s cover of “Jolene.” And get this, she’s dropping hints about Jay-Z’s past slip-ups, tying her own song to Beyoncé’s “Sorry.” Plus, country legend Willie Nelson jumps in on two tracks called “Smoke Hour” and “Smoke Hour II.” It’s like a whole vibe!
Beyoncé’s album, there’s this track called “The Linda Martell Show,” paying mad respect to the OG country artist who broke barriers as the first black woman to hit the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. And get this – Martell’s voice pops up again on another track called “Spaghetti,” where she teams up with musician Shaboozey. It’s all about honoring those who paved the way, you feel me?
Beyoncé’s album, there are some sick full-length tracks you gotta check out. Like “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus, who, fun fact, is Dolly Parton’s goddaughter. And then there’s “Levii’s Jeans,” featuring Post Malone, you know, the dude who rocked the Super Bowl stage with “America The Beautiful.”
Oh, and Beyoncé even flips a Beatles classic from ’68 into her own vibe, calling it “Blackbiird.”
But yo, there’s this super touching moment on the track “Protector” where Beyoncé’s six-year-old daughter Rumi Carter asks for a lullaby before the song kicks off. It’s real sweet, man.
Some other track titles on the album include “American Requiem,” “My Rose,” “Bodyguard,” “Daughter,” “Alligator Tears,” “Just For Fun,” “Flamenco,” “Ya Ya,” “Oh Louisiana,” “Desert Eagle,” “Riiverdance,” “II Hands II Heaven,” “Tyrant,” “Sweet Honey Buckin’,” and “Amen.”
Beyoncé’s Appreciation for Fans and Historic Achievements
Before the album hit, she was straight-up thankful to her fans, like, from deep down, you know? She was all like, “Big love to y’all from the bottom of my heart” for holding her down. And yo, she was feeling mad honored too – being the first black woman to hit the top spot on the US country chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and scoring the UK singles charts for the first time in almost 14 years. That’s some serious love from the fans right there!
Beyoncé opened up about how her album came to be, saying it all started when she felt unwelcome somewhere. That made her dive into the history of country music. And get this – it took her over five years to finish the whole thing!
Thinking back on her journey, Beyoncé talked about how music can unite people all over the world and highlight the voices of those who teach about musical history.
She also talked about facing criticism when she got into country music, but instead of letting it stop her, it made her more determined. She said “Act II” came from pushing herself and trying out different styles to make something totally original.
Beyoncé’s last album, Renaissance, was a huge hit! It topped charts all over the world, from the UK to the US.
Not only was it a commercial success, but it also got tons of praise from critics and won a bunch of fancy awards. Beyoncé scored a Grammy. For Best Dance/Electronic Album, plus nabbed trophies for Best R&B Song (“Cuff It”). Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Plastic Off The Sofa”), and Best Dance/Electronic Music Recording (“Break My Soul”).
