LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: (Exclusive Coverage) (Editorial Use Only) Beyoncé celebrates the launch of her hair care line, CÉCRED, with an intimate gathering at The Revery LA on February 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Media/WireImage via Parkwood )
Muva has spoken! Beyoncé hopped online to clear up any misconceptions about her new album ‘act ii Cowboy Carter.’ Ten days before its release, the singer made it clear that her project isn’t a country album, despite the influence from that genre.
Bey began by thanking her loyal BeyHive for skyrocketing her singles ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages’ to the top of the charts.
As previously reported, she released the tracks after teasing them during a Super Bowl commercial. By the end of last month, she made history as the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, per Billboard. It’s also her first No. 1 in that genre.
And while not everyone has been openly embracing her crossover, Bey said she hopes one day an artist’s race won’t be a factor in the genre of their art.
“Today marks the 10-day countdown until the release of act ii. 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.”
Beyoncé broke down how she arrived at the sound five years ago and what fans can expect from the new body of work.
“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.”
Her post sparked speculations about the described “experience.” Given the timeline, fans seem to think she’s hinting at her performance of ‘Daddy Lessons’ at the Country Music Awards in 2016.
For context, Bey took the stage with the former Dixie Chicks, and despite an incredible performance, there was an outpour of criticism from country music artists and fans, per The New York Times.
Beyoncé added that it “feels good” to see the unity her new tracks have created. Additionally, she has taken pride in “amplifying the voices 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.”
Moreover, the ‘Cowboy Carter’ artist revealed she has a “few surprises” coming with this album, including collaborations with “brilliant artists.” As expected with the highly decorated artist, Bey said she poured “love and passion” into “every detail and every sound.”
But to be CLEAR, ‘Cowboy Carter’ isn’t just a country album, it’s a Beyoncé special. Her words, not ours!
“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!”
Swipe below to see the full announcement post.
