Beyoncé breaks the internet with the release of her Cowboy Carter cover art.
On Tuesday (March 19), with “Texas Hold ‘Em” ruling the UK charts for the fourth consecutive week, Queen B teased her upcoming album cover on Instagram, while hinting at a few surprises.
“Today marks the 10-day countdown until the release of act ii,” she began. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES. I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant,” she continued, in the caption of the post, featuring the singer clad in a red, white, and blue ensemble atop a horse, while holding an American flag.
“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. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history,” she added.
She continues: “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.
“I have a few surprises on the album, and have collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect. I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound.”
Discussing the central theme of the eagerly awaited project, she elaborated, “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.
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”
The next installment of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance,” set to arrive on March 29, was first announced in a surprise Verizon ad that aired during the 2024 Super Bowl.
In the ad, Beyoncé tries various publicity stunts, including aiming to perform in space, in a bid to “break the internet” once more. Ultimately, she declares, “OK, they ready. Drop the new music,” and promptly releases fresh tracks, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” along with the long-awaited album news.
On March 12, taking to social media, Beyoncé revealed her upcoming album’s title Cowboy Carter (formerly known as Renaissance Act II), playing on her married name.