Finally arrived. After weeks of anticipation and a first single that took the radio by storm, all 27 tracks from Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter album are now available for purchase and streaming.
It’s big news for the Beyhive – and for just about everyone else, whether they realize it or not.
A new Beyoncé album is always an event, but this one is a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Already.
In case you somehow haven’t heard, Cowboy Carter is Bey’s first country album, and since she announced his newest project during the Super Bowlthe music industry is full of expectation.
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 9 Beyoncé accepts the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for “Renaissance” on stage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1463293152-1-1024x682.jpg)
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 10 Beyoncé accepts the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for “Renaissance” on stage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1463293152-1-1024x682.jpg)
The single “Texas Hold ‘Em” became an instant hit and made Beyoncé the first black woman to release a number 1 country song.
Many people who don’t normally listen to country music have made an exception for Bey’s new album, and some of them are embracing her new aesthetic as well.
According to Wikipedia“Google searches for ‘bolo tie,’ ‘cowboy hat,’ and ‘cowboy boots’ increased 566%, 213%, and 163% after the album was announced.”
So, does the new music live up to the hype?
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 11 Beyoncé accepts the award for Best R&B Performance for 'Black Parade' on stage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1307117263-1024x733.jpg)
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 12 Beyoncé accepts the award for Best R&B Performance for 'Black Parade' on stage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1307117263-1024x733.jpg)
Well, if the reaction from critics and social media users is any indication, Mrs. Carter is officially the new Queen of Country.
Of course, she had a little help getting that title, mainly from two high-profile guest stars.
Dolly Parton and Rumi Carter appear on Beyoncé’s new album
We have known for some time that Cowboy Carter would present Beyoncé’s cover of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene”.
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 13 Dolly Parton performs during halftime of the game between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys at AT&aT Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1810326941-1024x683.jpg)
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 14 Dolly Parton performs during halftime of the game between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys at AT&aT Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1810326941-1024x683.jpg)
Many fans were hoping that Dolly would appear on the album, and it looks like they got their wish… sort of.
Doll he does appears (in fact, she has her own track — aptly titled “Dolly P”), but she doesn’t sing a note.
She does, however, perform a cover of Bey’s “Jolene,” which was enough to make the 79-year-old country legend a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter).
Beyoncé’s 6-year-old daughter Rumi also provided assistance on the album, making her musical debut on the track titled “Protector.”
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 15 Beyoncé attends the European premiere of the Disney film "The Lion King" at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1161994546-740x1024.jpg)
![Beyoncé's country album features Dolly Parton cameo 16 Beyoncé attends the European premiere of the Disney film "The Lion King" at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1161994546-740x1024.jpg)
Bey clearly drew on a wide range of influences for this project, and she shares writing credits with some heavy hitters, including Chuck Berry, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon, all of whom are covered in Cowboy Carter.
What’s next for Beyoncé?
So, will the huge success of her first country album lead Beyoncé to continue with the genre, or will she return to the world of R&B with her next project?
Only time will tell, but clearly, this project has proven that she’s capable of literally anything.