Beyoncé has pulled out all the stops for her latest album, Cowboy Carter, gathering an eclectic lineup of talent including Miley Cyrus, the chart-topping Post Malone, and country icon Dolly Parton.
According to Variety, the project, which recently made its international debut in markets like New Zealand and Australia, is brimming with unexpected guest appearances (plus that highly-anticipated “Jolene” cover we’ve all been waiting for).
Alongside collaborations with the “Teen Queen” of the 2000s era (“II Most Wanted”), Post Malone (“Levii’s Jeans”), and Shaboozey (“Spaghettii”), the album boasts another iconic cover: The Beatles’ classic “Blackbird.”
The next installment of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance,” slated to release in the U.S. on Friday (March 29), was first announced in a surprise Verizon ad that aired during the 2024 Super Bowl.
In the weeks since, Bey has shed light on the inspriation behind her major musical pivot, sharing her journey began five years ago, following an incident where she did not feel “welcomed.”
Fans speculated that the 42-year-old is alluding to her 2016 Country Music Association Awards performance, alongside the Dixie Chicks. The appearance sparked controversy among country music fans, particularly on social media, with some expressing dissatisfaction over her prominent role at the event.
“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,” she wrote via Instagram. “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 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.
“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!,” she concluded.
View the full tracklist below:
- “Ameriican Requiem”
- “Blackbiird” (feat. Tanner Ardell)
- “16 Carriages”
- “Protector”
- “My Rose”
- “Smoke Hour” (Willie Nelson intro)
- “Texas Hold ‘Em”
- “Bodyguard”
- “Dolly P.” (Dolly Patron intro)
- “Jolene”
- “Daughter”
- “Spaghetti” (feat. Shaboozey)
- “Alligator Tears”
- “Smoke Hour II”
- “Just For Fun”
- “II Most Wanted” (feat. Miley Cyrus)
- “Levii’s jeans” (feat. Post Malone)
- “Flamenco” (a picture of what appears to be a reference to Selena is under this title)
- “The Linda Martell Show” (intro by Linda Martell)
- “YaYa” (feat. Willie Jones)
- “Oh Louisiana”
- “Desert Eagle”
- “Riverdance”
- “II Hands II Heaven”
- “Tyrant” (feat. Dolly Parton)
- “Sweet Honey Buckin’”
- “Amen”