American singer-songwriter Beyoncé on Thursday revealed the tracklist for her upcoming country album Cowboy Carter, slated to release globally on March 29.
Sharing a poster carrying 27 song titles, Beyoncé revealed that her album will contain the tracks Jolene and The Linda Martell Show — a nod to country music icons Dolly Parton and Linda Martell. However, it is unclear whether the singers would feature on the album.
“Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit,” reads the tagline of the poster.
The Single Ladies singer had previously released the songs 16 Carriages and Texas Hold ‘Em, which topped Billboard’s Top 100 chart. Other tracks in the album include Ameriican Requiem, Blackbiird, Protector, My Rose, Smoke Hour Willie Nelson, Bodyguard, Dolly P and Jolene.
While the song Jolene is a nod to Dolly Parton’s iconic 1973 hit song, the track Smoke Hour Willie Nelson hints at a collaboration with the country singer-guitarist Willie Nelson.
Beyoncé’s song The Linda Martell Show, which features on the poster, is a tribute to the country soloist who became the first black female artist to play at the Grand Ole Opry, a Tennessee-based regular live country-music radio broadcast.
The album will also feature the songs Daughter, Spaghettii, Alliigator Tears, Smoke Hour II, Just for Fun, II Most Wanted, Levii’s Jeans, Flamenco, Ya Ya, Oh Louisiana, Desert Eagle, Riiverdance, Tyrant, II Hands II Heaven, Sweet Honey Buckin' and Amen.
Cowboy Carter is a sequel to the singer’s 2022 album Renaissance. Beyoncé had dropped the first single, Break My Soul, from Renaissance Part I on June 20, 2022. Back then, she had announced on her official website that the album would have three parts.
Speculations about the second part being country-themed ran rife when the singer sported a cowboy outfit at the Grammy Awards this year. Renaissance Part I paid homage to the black community and the second part is also likely to do the same as singers like Linda Martell feature on the poster.
“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,” Beyonce wrote in an Instagram post on March 9.
Beyoncé added how the criticism hurled at her after she decided to venture into country music forced her to “propel past the limitations that were put on her”. She wrote, “Act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” the singer signed off, requesting fans to perceive the album the way they would take any other album released by her.
Beyoncé embarked on her ninth concert tour, the Renaissance World Tour, on May 10 last year. It concluded on October 1, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. In November, she went on to release a documentary concert film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.
