What You Need To Know About Beyoncé’s Country Album
As fans were glued to their screens on Super Bowl Sunday, a Verizon ad featuring Beyoncé announced a brand new album set to be released on March 29. The Internet went wild at this shocking news, even more so when they realized the album would venture into the country genre.
The new album, Act Ⅱ, marks the second album for the three-part project Beyoncé has been teasing since the release of Renaissance in 2022. Following the self-referential Verizon commercial, two singles were released on streaming platforms: “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES.”
Source: Spotify
“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” is an upbeat country hit referencing Beyoncé’s home state. It features a plucky banjo played by songwriter Rhiannon Giddens. “16 CARRIAGES” is a change of pace as a ballad song with an orchestral arrangement on the choruses.
This album is not Beyoncé’s first foray into making country music. Her song, “Daddy Issues,” off her 2016 album Lemonade, was a hit and featured a catchy beat and acoustic guitars, giving fans a small taste of what they could expect with Act Ⅱ.
Many country fans are excited about the prospect of Beyoncé bringing more awareness to the community of black artists within the country music industry—an underrecognized group within the genre.
“Many people also pointed out country’s roots in the African diaspora and believed Beyoncé’s venture into country would be an act of reclaiming the music, which has often been perceived as a genre for white men,” says Daysia Tolentino for NBC News.
Beyoncé often prioritizes raising other black artists, as she did with house, ballroom, and disco artists during the Renaissance tour. This will hopefully continue over into the Act Ⅱ era. Needless to say, the Internet waits with bated breath to see what a full country album from Beyoncé holds.
“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES” are both available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
Which new single is your favorite? Comment down below.