Beyoncé has unveiled the tracklist for her highly anticipated album ‘Act II: Cowboy Carter’, which is set to be released on Friday, March 29. This marks the pop icon’s eighth studio album and is the second instalment in what fans speculate is a trilogy project that commenced with her 2022 album ‘Renaissance’. The album will feature previous singles ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ‘16 Carriages’ as well as a cover of ‘Jolene’, a song originally performed by Dolly Parton.
Beyoncé has listed several tracks on the album which pay tribute to country legends. These include ‘Dolly P’ and ‘Smoke Hour Willie Nelson’, as well as a nod to one of the first popular Black country singers with a track titled ‘The Linda Martell Show’. The album artwork features Beyoncé in a white cowboy hat, red, white and blue leather outfit holding on to an American flag.
The singer responded to backlash over her move into country music, taking to Instagram to write, “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.” She further noted the beauty of music as a unifying force while amplifying the voices of artists who have dedicated themselves to educating others about their historical backgrounds.
Beyoncé hopes that Act II will be an experience that carries her fans through various musical genres. She underlined that this is not just a country album, but a “Beyoncé” album, and that Act II was a direct continuation of ‘Renaissance’. The album is already available for pre-save/pre-order and includes limited edition colored vinyl pressings and alternative cover photos featuring half of her face on display.
While many fans are eagerly awaiting the album, there have also been criticisms. Azealia Banks has voiced her disapproval, labelling Beyoncé’s country music efforts as ‘white woman cosplay’ and suggesting that she is setting herself up to be ridiculed. Despite criticism, Beyoncé stays true to herself with the release of Act II: Cowboy Carter
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