Beyoncé obsessives have been frantically searching for any information they can find on the star’s new album Cowboy Carter. From fan theories about the title to demands for country radio to put her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” into rotation, the BeyHive has gone into overdrive to support the queen in recent weeks. All that searching has led many of them to a tracklist that appears to have come from her website which seems to confirm that Beyoncé really did cover Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” for the album.
Unfortunately for those fans, that tracklist is a phony. For reference, you can check it out below, and compare it to Beyoncé’s actual website:
So, does this mean Beyoncé’s album won’t have a “Jolene” cover as rumored? Well, it’s hard to say. According to Dolly herself, Beyoncé apparently did record a cover of her biggest hit, and if such a cover were to be released anywhere, Beyoncé’s upcoming country album would be as good a place as any. However, Dolly also acknowledged a reality of the recording industry: not every song recorded makes the album. Just look at Prince’s expansive vault of unreleased tracks.
Besides, Beyoncé’s whole thing with this current run of albums is reclaiming the history of Black influence on country music. Not to demean the illustrious Ms. Parton but well… she’s not exactly a Dahomey warrior, y’know? Anyway, we’ll find out at some point whether the rumor is true or not. Cowboy Carter is due on March 29 via Parkwood and Columbia.
Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed the name of her upcoming country album, Cowboy Carter. While the title may reflect both the album’s country music leanings and Beyoncé’s married name (courtesy of Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter), fans who did a little digging unearthed another potential meaning behind the phrase.
This information comes by way of a TikTok creator’s deep dive, so take it with a grain of salt as stan social media is rife with conspiracy theories and “explanations” about our favorite artists that often come to nothing. But according to this creator, there could be a deep meaning associated with the phrase “Cowboy Carter.”
One of the earliest country music acts to rise to stardom was The Carter Family from Virginia. Their recordings, made from 1927 to 1956, were among the first to become commercially successful and also influenced country, bluegrass, folk, and more for decades to come.
The group’s patriarch, A.P. Carter, traveled around southwestern Virginia to find new songs after the success of their first recordings in 1930. He befriended a Black guitar player from Tennessee named Lesley “Esley” Riddle, who composed a number of the group’s songs, and his guitar technique was adopted by Maybelle Carter. That technique eventually became known as “the Carter scratch,” which is about how things work in America — if you know, you know.
Now, if this all sounds like a stretch, that’s probably because it is, but that also doesn’t mean it can’t be a little bit true. Ultimately, this fan theory is based in a belief that Beyoncé’s upcoming album will be an attempt on her part to reclaim the history of Black musicians’ influence on country music, the way Renaissance did for electronic dance music originally pioneered by Black, queer DJs in warehouse raves across urban America.
While Beyoncé might not have been thinking specifically about Esley Riddle when she named “Act II” Cowboy Carter, she certainly was thinking of a rich history that has been whitewashed by generations of effort on the part of radio DJs, record executives, and music historians who either ignored, overlooked, or erased Black artists’ contributions to a genre and American culture.
Cowboy Carter is out on March 29 via Parkwood and Columbia.
We have the latest update on the album title for Beyoncé’s Act II.
A release from Parkwood states that Act II will be called Cowboy Carter. An official cover for the album has not been released, but the image below has been shared.
Alongside the announcement comes a pre-order link for Act II merch and vinyl. You can view the collection here.
With the latest Beyoncé album, ACT II, just over two weeks away, we are getting more details on it, this time from Dolly Parton.
Speaking with Knox News, Parton gushed over Queen Bey, stating that she loves her and that she is “a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
Parton also revealed Beyoncé had recorded a cover of Parton’s classic “Jolene,” possibly readying it for the presumed country album.
Parton said, “I think she has! I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that.”
Beyoncé made history by debuting No. 1 on the Country Music Song chart with her latest single, “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone for the artist, who has crossed into country music with her electrifying new track.
The news of Beyoncé’s historic feat has captivated fans worldwide, garring the admiration and support of country music legend Dolly Parton. The iconic singer, known for timeless classics like “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” took to Instagram to express her excitement and extend her heartfelt congratulations to Beyoncé on her remarkable accomplishment.
“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton shared in a statement. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single.” The 78-year-old star also expressed her anticipation for Beyoncé’s upcoming album, eagerly awaiting the release of the full body of work.
Beyoncé’s foray into country music comes as part of her highly anticipated Renaissance album, set to be released in two acts. The first act, featuring dance tracks, has already captivated audiences, while the second act, focusing on country music, is slated for release on March 29.
The announcement of Beyoncé’s venture into country music was met with widespread anticipation and excitement, especially after her two new singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” during the 2024 Super Bowl. Beyoncé’s innovative marketing strategy, including a memorable commercial for Verizon, further fueled anticipation for her upcoming album.
At the 2024 Grammys, Beyoncé teased her country music project with a bold fashion statement, donning a cowgirl hat and matching ensemble that hinted at her upcoming musical direction. The groundbreaking artist’s bold approach to blending genres and pushing creative boundaries has solidified her status as a trailblazer in the music industry.
Beyoncé’s historic achievement with “Texas Hold ‘Em” marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career and underscores her influence and impact across diverse musical genres. As she continues to break barriers and redefine the boundaries of creativity, Beyoncé’s legacy as a groundbreaking artist and cultural icon remains unparalleled.
With the name and release date now known, there are still a few questions remaining. Will she launch another tour solely for this project? That remains unclear, but what the public does know is that there are bound to be a bunch of goodies (including physical copies of the album) available soon. Continue below for further details.
Will Beyoncé’s New Album ‘Cowboy Carter’ Be On Vinyl?
So, will the Beyhive have a chance to snag a copy of the upcoming project for the record player? The simple answer is yes. Well, at least while supplies last.
Beyoncé’s album, Cowboy Carter, is sure to hit streaming platforms on March 29. However, in the past, the singer has been very selective about which platforms grant access to her discography. In fact, just last year, she finally cleared her 2013 song “Grown Woman” off her self-titled album to be available on streaming. So, to avoid those exclusionary decisions, fans opt to purchase the physical copy of Beyoncé’s albums.
Each vinyl retails for $34. According to the description of each item, these records are an exclusive one-time pressing only available through Beyoncé’s website. It is important to note that the vinyls will only be shipped to the US and Canada. Vinyls are slated to ship starting on March 29, the album’s confirmed release date. Find more information here.
Beyoncé is officially welcoming fans to the Cowboy Carter era. The star made the announcement simply by changing her website’s homepage today, which features a saddle and a sash that bears the album title’s name. Considering it had been previously dubbed “Act II” as a follow-up to Renaissance, there’s certainly a lot of excitement now that she’s confirmed the clear country inspiration.
Along with the official announcement of the album title, Beyoncé added some new merch so fans can get prepared.
Here’s what to know about how to pick up a new item (or many!) from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter collection.
How To Buy Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Merch
Beyoncé’s new merch for Cowboy Carter is currently available for purchase simply by accessing the “Shop” section at the top of her website. Once there, she offers a few different options. There are two box sets at the moment. One is a white t-shirt with an image of her posing in a cowboy hat, and on the back, it has “Cowboy Carter” in a vintage Marlboro-style font. This also has “Radio, Texas” and “100,000 Watts Of Healing Power” in a smaller type on the bottom of the shirt’s back.
The second shirt set option is a white and red ringer tee. This time, it has “Cowboy Carter” on the front in red, with a cutout image of Beyoncé posing with two finger pistols. The back of this one says, “Act II Cowboy Carter.” Both box sets are $40 and include a CD copy of the album with the respective shirt.
Other merch available in her store includes three limited vinyl copies in red, white, and blue for $40 each and two CD options for $12 each.
Beyoncé has surprised fans by seemingly unveiling the name of her Act II country-inspired album. Titled Cowboy Carter, at least based on a new logo and a merch drop of shirts and CD boxes she put on her website, it will include likely the previous “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” singles.
With just a few more weeks to go until Beyoncé releases the record, here’s everything to know.
Release Date
Cowboy Carter is out 3/29 via Parkwood. Find more information here.
So far from Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé has released “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” as singles — both of which dropped right after the Super Bowl last month.
There’s also been speculation that she’s covered Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” for the project, which Parton herself seemingly confirmed. “I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene,’” Parton shared with Tennessee’s Knoxville News Sentinel. “I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about.”
Features
Right now, there are no features on Cowboy Carter. However, this could change once the official tracklist is revealed.
Artwork
Beyoncé has not revealed the cover art for Cowboy Carter yet.
Tour
Beyoncé has no current tour dates planned. Given she just wrapped the massive Renaissance World Tour, it’s still unclear if she’ll return to playing shows so soon.
Update: Beyoncé herself officially announced Cowboy Carter is the title for her upcoming country album, sharing the county fair-themed cover on her Instagram Story. The cover features a saddle with a sash reading the album’s title in front of a black background. She also updated her website with the artwork and the bio on her Instagram profile with the title and pre-save link. You can see it below and pre-save the album here.
Beyoncé officially announces Act: II, ‘COWBOY CARTER.’
Anticipation for Beyoncé‘s upcoming album is at all-time highs and now, it looks like we might know what it’ll be called. While it was introduced to the world as “Act II” of a purported three-act project that includes the dance-themed Renaissance (or “Act I”) and the country-themed new album, fans checking out Beyoncé’s online shop today may have gotten a glimpse at its proper title: Cowboy Carter. Photos of the merch available for pre-order include T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan alongside Beyoncé with country western-style big hair and cowboy attire, as well as vinyl records bearing the words “Act II” and “Country Carter” on their covers. You can check them out here.
The first inkling that Beyoncé’s next album might be country actually came with the release of Renaissance. Ahead of its release, it was rumored that the album would incorporate both dance music and country. When it was actually released and featured a heavy focus on the former — and absolutely none of the latter — it confirmed that the country music was probably being reserved for future parts of the overall project. Then, during this year’s Super Bowl, Beyoncé teased the upcoming “Act II” with a promo that ran on Instagram at the same time as her Verizon commerical premiered on TV. She capped off the ultra-coordinated announcement with the release of two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”
While Beyoncé’s impending pivot to country was met with enthusiasm by the BeyHive, not everyone approved. The switch has seen its fair share of critics including those in country radio, who resented the intrusion from a perceived “outsider” — this despite Beyoncé’s well-known Texas upbringing and as-yet genreless output to date. That didn’t stop “Texas Hold ‘Em” from charting in its intended genre, nor from peaking at No. 1 on country charts.
The controversy has inspired plenty of discourse on the subject of genre; you can check out Uproxx’s feature on genre here and our feature on Black women in country music here.
The Beyhive is buzzing yet again and there is a major reason for that. On Beyonce’s latest Instagram story post, she attached a link to a pre-sale on her website. That will lead you to some merch bundles and physical album copies for her hyped-up follow-up to RENAISSANCE. Previously known simply as ACT II, that turned out be a placeholder for the new title. The new moniker for this sequel for Beyonce will be COWBOY CARTER. Of course, the R&B superstar gave us a clear-cut look at the direction she was going for with “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” back in early February. Both tracks pay homage to her Southern roots, evoking sounds of bluegrass and country.
Fans were also very pleased with the tracks, and it looks like Beyonce will have another massive record on her hands with COWBOY CARTER. As for the items available for purchase, she has included t-shirts, vinyls, and CDs. There are two shirts and they will come in a box with a red or black CD that will include a bonus track. Unfortunately for vinyl buyers, there will be no additional cuts added, but there are four different colors.
Beyonce has provided COWBOY CARTER discs in white, black, blue, and red. Or, if you do not want to spend $30-$40, you can opt for just the CD, which is $12. Those will come in either blue or white and still include the bonus track. COWBOY CARTER pre-sale purchases will ship on the release date of the album and will only be able to be shipped to the U.S. and Canada.
What are your thoughts on Beyonce revealing the album title for her RENAISSANCE follow-up and bundles? Are “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” still in your rotation? Will COWBOY CARTER be a better record than its predecessor? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Beyonce. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
In music, the artist that dominates the charts tends to lead the pack. So, each week, when Billboard reveals the top 10 songs on its Hot 100 chart, entertainers and fans alike pause to comb over the results.
After weeks of streaming battles between music’s biggest names, the new rankings are ready for all to see. Continue below for the track-by-track breakdown for the chart dated March 16.
10. Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer”
Until Taylor Swift‘s forthcoming album, The Tortured Poets Departmentis released, the Swifties are working hard to ensure the singer doesn’t leave the chart. Instead of latching onto her most recent project, Midnight, they’ve latched onto 2019’s “Cruel Summer.” Her Lover-era is long since over, but the public’s admiration for the track clearly isn’t.
There’s no sleeping on SZA’s sheer star power. The multiple Grammy Award winner’s sophomore album, SOS, is nearly two years old, and yet it still hasn’t left the charts. The project’s fan favorite, “Snooze,” has continued to showcase just how mighty SZA’s pen can be in the No. 8 spot.
The more Zach Bryan travels across the world on his Quittin Time Tour, the more he makes a country music fan out of all within earshot. Undoubtedly, the most addictive song on his self-titled album is “I Remember Everything.” The debut with Kacey Musgraves will surely be looked back on as a classic years down the line. So, it is no wonder why the track sets comfortably at No. 7.
6. Tate McRae – “Greedy”
Uproxx cover star Tate McRae’s recent live performance at the 2024 BRITS gave her breakout hit “Greedy” an added boost on the charts. For 25 weeks, the song has made the Hot 100 chart its home, peaking at No. 3 back in September. But with McRae’s string of live shows and the constant push on TikTok, another surge could be in the works.
5. Beyoncé — “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Beyoncé and her yeehaw agenda is a force to be reckoned with. With Act II only a few weeks away, the project’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” won’t loosen its grip on the Beyhive. Although it has fallen out of the No. 1 slot, thanks to the fan-crafted viral lineup, it could gitty up right back to the top quite soon.
4. Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” is showing subtle growth. In prior weeks, the track dropped from its peak position at No. 2 to No. 3. But for the week of March 16, the record climbed a slot up to No. 4.
3. Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Jack Harlow’s viral sensation “Lovin On Me” has refused to fall out of favor. Like the rapper, the record ebbs and flows based on which way the industry trends. While it currently sits at No. 3, it could very easily snatch its previously held No. 1 position.
2. Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
Teddy Swims‘ “Lose Control” glides right back into the top two of this week’s Hot 100 chart. Due to its continued popularity, next week could be the moment when the song takes over at No. 1. But for right now, the growth to No. 2 will work just fine for the singer.
1. Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign — “Carnival” Feat. Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti
At No. 1 is none other than Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign. After a fierce battle with Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the collaborative duo Vultures 1 track, “Carnival,” featuring Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti, has snagged the top spot. According to Complex, this marked West’s first No. 1 song in 13 years.
This week’s #Hot100 top 10 (chart dated March 16, 2024)
Beyoncé officially announces Act: II, ‘COWBOY CARTER.’