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.
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?
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”.
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.”
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.