Beyoncé Officially Releases Eighth Studio Album ‘Cowboy Carter’

By Gavin Murray

After much anticipation, Beyoncé’s new album has finally arrived, and it’s a big one: 27 tracks, more than an hour of songs, and several big name features.

While many of her fans would be quick to call this a country-inspired project, Beyoncé wanted to make something clear. A week before the album’s release, she made a note on instagram, saying: “This ain’t a country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”

The lead up to “Cowboy Carter” was huge. Beyonce announced during the 2024 Super Bowl that the album was an “act ii” of what she considered a three-act project. This obviously began with the release of her “Renaissance” album in 2022.

Following the announcement, the R&B star dropped two singles. The first one being “16 Carriages,” and the other being “Texas Hold ‘Em,” a track so popular that it helped Beyonce become the first Black woman to headline Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.

With “Cowboy Carter,” Beyonce was not afraid to get experimental. She did covers for two classic songs: The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Dolly Parton’s “Joelene,” showcasing her versatility. She also used samples from other classical artists such as the Beach Boys and Nancy Sinatra for her song “Ya Ya.” 

The album allowed Beyonce to collaborate with other artists she’s never worked with before. Country music legend Willie Nelson was featured on “Just For Fun,” and Post Malone made an appearance on the track “Levi Jeans.” One of the bigger features of Beyonce’s eighth studio album was Miley Cyrus, who harmonized with Beyonce on the song titled “II Most Wanted.”

“Cowboy Carter” is now streaming on musical platforms everywhere such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.