Ten days out from the March 29 release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” her eighth studio album, Beyoncé Knowles Carter has offered a statement regarding not just the album but an unprecedented reflection on her past eight years in relationship to country music’s mainstream.
On Instagram, she noted that while she was “honored” to be the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, she hopes for a day when “the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”
The release’s new imagery — Beyoncé in a red, white and blue Western suit carrying an American flag while astride a white stallion — continued to hearken to her Houston and rodeo-loving roots.
She states that “Cowboy Carter” is an album five years in the making — and one also borne of her negative experiences in the country music genre. She’s likely referring to 2016’s Country Music Association awards, where she, in a surprise, performed her “Lemonade” album track “Daddy Lessons” alongside The Chicks.
“(This album) 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 on 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.
“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.”
Regarding the album’s content, she’s noted that collaborations — with “brilliant artists” she deeply respects — will be present alongside “my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound.”
“I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE,” she wrote. “I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.”
She ended with a declaration.
“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!”
Carol Dennis is an entertainment aficionado with an eye for all things pop culture. She dives into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, from movie premieres to music festivals. Carol’s passion for storytelling extends beyond her reporting, as she’s an aspiring screenwriter in her free time.
