renaissance act ii

Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Reportedly Earns The Singer Her First Country Music Chart Placement

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The Yeehaw agenda prevails. Over a decade into her career, Beyoncé continues to tap into different pockets of creatives. After her internet-breaking Super Bowl LVIII commercial sent fans into a frenzy by dropping two new singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” off Renaissance Act II. Nearly a week after the records’ release, they’re gearing up to add another professional notch to Beyoncé’s already impressive resume.

According to Rolling Stone, “Texas Hold’ Em” earned Beyoncé her very first country music chart placements. The outlet reports that “Texas Hold ‘Em” is projected to come in the No. 54 slot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart following an account of 1.1 million impressions on airwaves.

Beyoncé’s devoted superfans, the Beyhive, are to thank for this accomplishment. On February 13, a supporter took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that Oklahoma-based radio station KYKC did not have the record in rotation because, as they wrote: “We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station.”

Shortly after receiving an influx of stings from the Beyhive, the station had a change of tune. It appears other stations have since jumped on board. The pivot from her electronic-centered offerings on Renaissance to the foot-tapping bango serving on her forthcoming Renaissance Act II seems like a stark jump, but at this point of Beyoncé’s career, she isn’t here to play it safe.

Will Beyoncé Go On Tour For ‘Renaissance: Act II?’

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Beyoncé had a massive hit on her hands with the Renaissance World Tour. The only bad thing about it is that it’s over, as the trek ran from May 10 to October 1, 2023. However, Bey used some Super Bowl commercial airtime to tease that a new album is on the way, which she previewed with two new country songs, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” So, that begs the question:

Will Beyoncé Go On Tour For Renaissance: Act II?

Perhaps.

A February 15 report from Hits Daily Double claims, “Coming off a massive, top-grossing global tour, Bey will be heading back onto the road again.” Currently, though, there is no official word that Beyoncé has a new tour on the way, so this report is currently just an unverified rumor. Still, Hits Daily Double has a decent track record of being correct with their reports, so it’s at least worth being aware of.

Act II is currently set for release on March 29, so presumably, if any news of a tour was to come, it would arrive either ahead of the project to help build up hype, or shortly after it to capitalize on the focus on Beyoncé and her new music. Either way, if a Bey tour really is coming, we would probably hear official word about it in the next month or two.

Does Beyoncé Have A Collaboration With Taylor Swift On ‘Act II?’

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Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have long shown admiration for each other’s craft. After the infamous MTV Video Music Awards incident of 2009, Bey invited Swift to deliver her speech after being interrupted. Bey was also seen at Swift’s birthday party in 2014. Last year, the two made appearances at the premieres of each other’s respective concert films. While they’ve maintained a friendship for nearly 15 years, the two have never collaborated musically. However, the Swifties and the Beyhive may soon be in for a treat.

This past weekend, Bey broke the internet by giving fans the first taste of her upcoming album, Act II, which, as evidenced by the two singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” sounds like it’ll be a country album. Given its sound, some fans are theorizing that Bey may have convinced another artist to make a brief return to her country roots.

Does Beyoncé have a collaboration with Taylor Swift on Act II?

Today (February 13), producer Killah B, who co-wrote and produced “Texas Hold ‘Em,” spoke with TMZ to tease the album. When asked if Act II would have any collaborations — perhaps with an artist who has roots in country, but made a pivot to pop — Killah responded, saying. “Let’s just say she’s on the approach of shocking the world.”

Though the TMZ reporters didn’t refer to Swift directly by name, the description one of them offered does sound a lot like Swift’s career trajectory. As Beyoncé is known to move in secret, fans probably won’t find out if a collaboration between the two hitmakers came to fruition until the day of the album release.

Act II is out 3/29 via Parkwood Entertainment.

Azealia Banks Slams Beyoncé’s Venture Into Country Music Calling It A ‘Big Time Musical Grift’ Among Other Things

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In Beyoncé’s Super LVIII commercial, she set out to crash the internet, and that she did. Immediately following the ad’s airing, she unveiled two new singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

The releases kicked off her country era, slated to be heard throughout her upcoming album, Renaissance: Act II. But before the Beyhive could dust off their daisy dukes, Azealia Banks is rattling off her opinion on the creative venture.

On February 12, Banks took to her Instagram Stories to slam Beyoncé’s country records and new direction.

“I love you down, but them r&b runs over the Leslie feist back beats is giving Pickmesha,” she wrote. “Nothing country about it. You’re setting yourself up to be ridiculed again. There’s a theatrical element to country music. Them [country] critics are not just going to accept an ugly blond wig and bullying from Jay-Z. It’s giving big-time musical grift.”

Banks even looped in former R&B singer turned country music star K. Michelle (now known as Puddin) into the conversation. “Yes, Black girls can make country music, but you’re just really not hitting the button,” she said. “K. Michelle, this is your turn to really execute. It’s no shade, but K. Michelle truly understands the assignment.”

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After Beyoncé dropped her latest songs, users online also began tagging K. Michelle to get her thoughts on the major shift. K. Michelle is completely on board. “Y’all been mentioning me all night,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m just happy to be spoken about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like I always do. ❤❤”