Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Includes Songs With Miley Cyrus & Post Malone

Ever since Beyoncé released Renaissance in July 2023, the world has not been the same — in the best way possible. Not only have listeners fallen in love with house music all over again, but the entire album charted onto Billboard’s Hot 100 list. As a sweet topper, the “Alien Superstar” herself confirmed that Renaissance is the first part of a trilogy. Now, she’s recently welcomed her second act: the stetson-studded Cowboy Carter.

Beyoncé first teased the new era with her Verizon Super Bowl commercial on Feb. 11. Shortly after, she revealed the album’s two lead singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” Nearly a month later, she shared several photos on social media, including one of a Cowboy Carter-decorated sash on a horse saddle. From that imagery to the historically rustic woes of her two singles, this era’s ultimate agenda was clear: We’re going to Beyoncé’s rodeo, baby.

Now, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is finally here. In the weeks leading up to the album’s release, she unveiled the cover art, its theme, the journey it took to bring this sonic moment to life, and the full tracklist. Let’s get into the details.

It’s Chock-Full Of Dream Collabs

Cowboy Carter officially dropped on March 29. The album features songs with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Tanner Adell, Shaboozey, Willie Jones, and Rumi Carter (Bey’s 6-year-old daughter). Bey also includes spoken intros from country icons Willie Nelson, Linda Martell, and Dolly Parton, plus covers of Parton’s “Jolene” and “Blackbird” by The Beatles.

The Album Cover Is A Rodeo Queen’s Dream

On Mar. 19, Beyoncé shared the album’s cover art on Instagram. Wearing a Cowboy Carter sash, the singer can be seen riding her horse — Reneigh’s little sister, Chardonneigh — while holding up a cutoff American flag.

This graceful shot caused a divisive conversation on social media, as the use of American iconography in music has been lauded as controversial for decades. However, the symbolism is far beyond that. This cover feels like a nod to the Rodeo Queens, who traditionally wear a similar attire (specifically, the sash) and wave the flag after winning their titles.

Cowboy Carter Is Genreless

In her Mar. 19 post, Beyoncé revealed that Cowboy Carter isn’t a country record. Instead, it’s another insight into her musically complex mind. She’s her own genre, after all.

“This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” she wrote in the caption. “I focused on this album as a continuation of Renaissance. I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.”

The Tracklist Is Kntry Radio Gold

On Mar. 27, Beyoncé revealed Cowboy Carter’s tracklist on Instagram. Clad on a vintage-style poster, the album features titles such as “American Requiem,” “Alligator Tears,” “Levi’s Jeans,” and more. There’s also nods to country legends like Willie Nelson (“Smoke Break”), Dolly Parton — who has been rumored to have ties to the album for a while — with “Dolly P” and “Jolene,” and Linda Martell, the first Black female country artist to play the Grand Ole Opry.

The Album Is A Response To That 2016 CMA Controversy

On Mar. 19, Beyoncé revealed she began recording Cowboy Carter after the backlash she received at the 2016 CMAs. That year, the singer performed her Lemonade track, “Daddy Lessons,” with The Chicks. She was met with a barrage of criticism from viewers, stretching from racist remarks to many discrediting her appearance since she “doesn’t sing traditional country music.”

Beyoncé never addressed the controversy until now. On Instagram, she wrote: “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.”

She continued, adding her five-year dedication to Cowboy Carter helped her realize how “music can unite so many people around the world.” She added, “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”