Beyoncé’s 'Cowboy Carter' Is Now Available To Stream
The singer's new 27-track country album was released at midnight.
At midnight today, March 29, 2024, Beyoncé released her highly anticipated 27-track country album titled Cowboy Carter. With the hit singles "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" released in February, fans were full of excitement over what the rest of the album was going to sound like. Upon the release of Cowboy Carter, many noticed that a few tracks were retellings of old country or old rock classics. There's "Jolene," as sung by Beyoncé, featuring a cameo from Dolly Parton, who sung the original hit country track in 1972. The album also rerendered “Blackbird” by the Beatles and reportedly drew inspiration from Nancy Sinatra, Sly Stone, and the Beach Boys when writing “Ya Ya.”
With a myriad of musical opportunities, it's clear Beyoncé crafted more than just a country album; she crafted an homage to music itself and its history. With many of the greats commemorated and honored throughout Cowboy Carter, the singer finally set out to create an album that goes beyond herself and her own legacies. Beyoncé also does her part to ensure that black country musicians get the recognition they deserve as well. This can be seen with the inclusion of banjoist Rhiannon Giddens in "Texas Hold 'Em," and the track titled "The Linda Martell Show” shines a spotlight on the first black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry, Linda Martell.
Beyoncé initially announced the album and its release date before the Super Bowl on February 11, 2024. Subsequently, she revealed the new album title on her website on March 12, 2024. The website's homepage featured a striking image of a saddle adorned with a red, white, and blue sash, labeled "Country Carter." Additionally, a merchandise page offered fans exclusive access to limited edition CDs and four vinyl records, each uniquely colored in red, white, blue and black. For enthusiasts seeking more, box set options are available for purchase, featuring a bonus track and a T-shirt with the album title displayed at the top.
The latest album is the second act of the singer's three-part series, which kicked off with Renaissance. Ahead of Renaissance's release, Beyoncé revealed that she recorded the three-part project during the pandemic.
