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''Cowboy Carter'' (also referred to as ''Act II: Cowboy Carter'') is the eighth studio album by American singer and songwriter
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
, released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...
. A
concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
, ''Cowboy Carter'' is the second of a planned trilogy of albums, following ''
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
'' (2022). Beyoncé conceived ''Cowboy Carter'' as a journey through a reinvention of
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana music, a genre or style of American music * Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film * ''Americana'' (20 ...
, spotlighting the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and
cultural history Cultural history records and interprets past events involving human beings through the social, cultural, and political milieu of or relating to the arts and manners that a group favors. Jacob Burckhardt (1818–1897) helped found cultural history ...
. Variously classified as a
country pop Country pop (also known as urban cowboy or even urban country) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends g ...
,
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
,
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
,
Southern soul Southern soul or country soul is a type of soul and country music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump), country, early R&B, and a strong gospel ...
,
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana music, a genre or style of American music * Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film * ''Americana'' (20 ...
and R&B album, ''Cowboy Carter'' blends together diverse Southern sub-genres that Beyoncé listened to when growing up in Texas, including
zydeco Zydeco ( ; ) is a music genre that was created in rural Southwest Louisiana by French speaking, Afro-Americans of Creole heritage. It blends African and Caribbean rhythms, blues and rhythm and blues with music indigenous to the Louisiana ...
,
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
,
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...
,
rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predomina ...
,
psychedelic soul Psychedelic soul (originally called black rock or conflated with psychedelic funk) is a form of soul music which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s. The style saw African-American soul musicians embrace elements of psychedelic rock, ...
and bluegrass. Conceptually, the album is presented as a radio broadcast, with country singers
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
,
Linda Martell Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem; June 4, 1941) is an American singer. She became the first commercially successful Black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the ''Grand Ole Opry''. As one of the first African-American ...
and
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
acting as disc jockeys. The album's songs feature rising Black country artists such as
Shaboozey Collins Obinna Chibueze (born May 9, 1995), known professionally as Shaboozey, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Shaboozey's music combines hip-hop, country, and Americana. His stage name originated from the mispron ...
,
Tanner Adell Tanner Adell Anderson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her debut album, ''Buckle Bunny'', was released in 2023. Early life Half black and half white, Adell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was adopted and raised in Manhatt ...
,
Brittney Spencer Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988) is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song by the Highwomen. The video drew praise fro ...
, Tiera Kennedy,
Reyna Roberts Reyna Roberts is an American country singer-songwriter and pianist. She was featured on Beyoncé's single " Blackbiird", which charted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was nominated for two People's Choice Country Awards in 2024. ...
and
Willie Jones Willie Jones may refer to: Sports *Willie Jones (fullback) Willie Douglas Jones Jr. (August 30, 1939 – September 9, 2016) was an American professional American football, football Fullback (American football), fullback who played one season wi ...
. The music is driven by a range of
acoustic instruments Acoustic music is music that solely or primarily uses instruments that produce sound through acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means. While all music was once acoustic, the retronym "acoustic music" appeared after the ad ...
played by musicians including
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...
,
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
,
Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...
, Gary Clark Jr.,
Adam Granduciel Adam Granofsky (born February 15, 1979), better known under his stage name Adam Granduciel, is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the frontman and primary songwriter of the indie rock band the War on Drugs, wit ...
, Robert Randolph,
Jon Batiste Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, and television personality. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince (musician), ...
, and
Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle pl ...
. ''Cowboy Carter'' was met with universal acclaim and appeared on multiple year-end lists; critics felt that the album's genre experimentation, expansive scope and eclectic references aided an ambitious reimagining of Americana and country through the lens of their Black roots. The album increased the listenership of country music, drove cultural conversations on Black musicians' place within the genre, boosted the careers of rising country artists, and increased the popularity of
Western wear Western wear is a category of men's and women's clothing which derives its unique style from the clothes worn in the 19th century Wild West. It ranges from accurate historical reproductions of American frontier clothing, to the stylized garments ...
and
culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
. ''Cowboy Carter'' received eleven nominations at the
67th Annual Grammy Awards The 67th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy, on February 2, 2025. In its 22nd year at Crypto.com Arena in L ...
, becoming the third-most nominated album in Grammy history. It won Best Country Duo/Group Performance (for "
II Most Wanted "II Most Wanted" is a song by American singers and songwriters Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 12, 2024, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the third single from Beyoncé's eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Ca ...
"),
Best Country Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Country Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the country music ge ...
and Album of the Year. Beyoncé is the first Black artist to win the former, and the first Black woman since
Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...
in 1999 to win the latter. ''Cowboy Carter'' debuted at number one in several countries and broke multiple chart and streaming records. In the United States, ''Cowboy Carter'' became Beyoncé's eighth consecutive number-one album on the ''Billboard'' 200 and the first album by a Black woman to top the
Top Country Albums Top Country Albums is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The 50-position chart lists the most popular country music albums in the country, calculated weekly by Broadcast Data Systems based on physical sales ...
chart. The album was supported by four singles, "
Texas Hold 'Em Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is the most popular variant of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five Community card poker, community cards ...
", "
16 Carriages "16 Carriages" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé from her eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Carter''. It serves as the album's joint lead single alongside "Texas Hold 'Em". The song was a surprise release and debuted during Super ...
", "
II Most Wanted "II Most Wanted" is a song by American singers and songwriters Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 12, 2024, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the third single from Beyoncé's eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Ca ...
" and "
Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...
", with the first becoming Beyoncé's ninth U.S. number-one single and the first country song by a Black woman to top the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and
Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...
charts. The
Cowboy Carter Tour The Cowboy Carter Tour (full title Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour) is the ongoing tenth concert tour by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé, in support of her eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Carter'' (2024). An all-stadium ...
was announced on February 1, 2025, beginning on April 28, 2025.


Background and development

Beyoncé was born and raised in
Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
, where the city's
cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the ''vaquero'' ...
heritage and
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
and
zydeco Zydeco ( ; ) is a music genre that was created in rural Southwest Louisiana by French speaking, Afro-Americans of Creole heritage. It blends African and Caribbean rhythms, blues and rhythm and blues with music indigenous to the Louisiana ...
music played a role in her upbringing. She listened to country music from an early age, particularly from her paternal grandfather, and her family attended the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the ex ...
every year in western clothing. She performed at the Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007, and has continued to celebrate her country and Southern roots throughout her career. Beyoncé first released an original country song in 2016: the track " Daddy Lessons" on her sixth studio album ''
Lemonade Lemonade is a sweetened lemon-flavored drink. There are many varieties of lemonade found throughout the world. In some parts of the world, lemonade refers to an un-carbonated, traditionally, homemade drink, using lemon juice, water, and a sw ...
''. Beyoncé, together with
the Chicks The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. The band consists of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and Emily Strayer ...
(who had previously covered the song), performed the track at the
50th Annual Country Music Association Awards The 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards, commonly known as CMA 50 or the 50th CMA Awards, were held on November 2, 2016 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The ceremony recognizes some of the best country music released during the eli ...
on November 2, 2016. The performance was largely praised by critics and gave the
Country Music Association Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony f ...
their highest viewership in history; however, it was also met with backlash, with some country music fans criticizing Beyoncé's attendance and claiming she did not belong in the genre. The
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) is an American trade association with the stated aim of promoting and developing country music throughout the world. Founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, it originally consisted of 233 members and was the f ...
deleted all promotional posts about Beyoncé's performance, which was seen by some observers as succumbing to the pressure from conservative and racist viewers. In December 2016,
The Recording Academy National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...
's country music committee rejected "Daddy Lessons" for consideration for a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
, with publications reporting that the song was not seen as being "country enough". This experience led to the creation of ''Cowboy Carter''. Beyoncé explained how it was made clear to her that she was not welcome in the country music space, which encouraged her to explore the musical history of the genre rather than letting the critics force her out of it. She delved into the history of country music and
Western culture Western culture, also known as Western civilization, European civilization, Occidental culture, Western society, or simply the West, refers to the Cultural heritage, internally diverse culture of the Western world. The term "Western" encompas ...
and researched its African-American roots. She studied "our rich musical archive" and learned from educators who had long advocated for a re-education on the Black roots of country music. She also read that, historically, half of cowboys were Black, which made her realize how much of the Black, brown and Native cowboy stories are missing in American history. This was the inspiration for her 2021 "
Ivy Park Ivy Park is an athleisure clothing line owned, managed, and operated by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé through her management company Parkwood Entertainment. It was introduced in 2016. In March 2023, Beyoncé and Adidas mutually agreed to e ...
Rodeo" clothing collection. Following this research, Beyoncé conceived ''Cowboy Carter'' as a journey through a reinvention of Americana, in which she redefines its boundaries and spotlights overlooked contributions of African Americans to diverse musical genres, Southern and Western culture, and American history. Collaborator
Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle pl ...
said Beyoncé did not intend to create a typical
crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Music Albums * ''Cross Over'' (album), a 1987 album by Dan Peek, or the title song * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'', an album by Intrigue * ''Crossover'', an album by ...
country album, but instead wanted to explore her family's roots through music. ''Cowboy Carter'' was over five years in the making. Beyoncé began to write the album in 2019, then recorded during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, which she described as her most creative period. The album forms "Act II" of a trilogy project that Beyoncé recorded during this period. The first act, ''
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
'' (2022), is primarily a
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
and
disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
record highlighting and celebrating the Black progenitors of
dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded dance musi ...
, leading some to believe that each album of the trilogy would aim to explore the Black roots of a different musical genre. ''Cowboy Carter'' was originally intended to be released before ''Renaissance'', but Beyoncé changed the order in response to the pandemic. Between 2020 and 2024,
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
often said that she would like Beyoncé to cover her song " Jolene". While working on the album, she reached out to
Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( , born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and director. Regarded as a contemporary pop icon, Cyrus has been recognized for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. She is ...
to collaborate with her on ''Cowboy Carter''. Cyrus presented her with "
Easy Lover "Easy Lover" is a song performed by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins of the band Genesis, jointly written and composed by Bailey, Collins, and Nathan East. The song first appeared on Bailey's 1984 solo album, ''Chinese Wall'' ...
" and "Shotgun Rider", from which Beyoncé chose the second one, renaming it as "
II Most Wanted "II Most Wanted" is a song by American singers and songwriters Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 12, 2024, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the third single from Beyoncé's eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Ca ...
".


Composition

Beyoncé recorded around 100 songs for the album. Each song is its own reimagined version of a
Western film The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier between the Calif ...
, including ''
Five Fingers For Marseilles ''Five Fingers for Marseilles'' is a 2017 South African Neo-Western thriller film written by Sean Drummond and directed by Michael Matthews. It stars Vuyo Dabula, Zethu Dlomo, Kenneth Nkosi, Dean Fourie, Jerry Mofokeng and Warren Masemola, ...
'' (2017), ''
Urban Cowboy ''Urban Cowboy'' is a 1980 American romantic Western film directed by James Bridges. The plot concerns the love-hate relationship between Buford "Bud" Davis (John Travolta) and Sissy ( Debra Winger). The film's success was credited for spurri ...
'' (1980), ''
The Hateful Eight ''The Hateful Eight'' is a 2015 American western thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce De ...
'' (2015), ''
Space Cowboys ''Space Cowboys'' is a 2000 American adventure drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. It stars Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner as four aging former test pilots who are sent into space to repair an ...
'' (2000), ''
The Harder They Fall The Harder They Fall may refer to: * ''The Harder They Fall'' (1956 film), an American boxing film noir directed by Mark Robson * ''The Harder They Fall'' (2021 film), an American Western film directed by Jeymes Samuel * "The Harder They Fall", a ...
'' (2021), '' Killers of the Flower Moon'' (2023), ''
Thelma & Louise ''Thelma & Louise'' is a 1991 American crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as Louise and Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unforese ...
'' (1991) and ''
O Brother, Where Art Thou? ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' is a 2000 satirical comedy-drama musical film written, produced, co-edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, with Charles Durning, Michael Bad ...
'' (2000). Variously classified as a
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
,
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
,
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana music, a genre or style of American music * Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film * ''Americana'' (20 ...
,
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
,
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...
, and R&B album, ''Cowboy Carter'' blends together various styles of music that Beyoncé listened to when growing up in Texas, including
zydeco Zydeco ( ; ) is a music genre that was created in rural Southwest Louisiana by French speaking, Afro-Americans of Creole heritage. It blends African and Caribbean rhythms, blues and rhythm and blues with music indigenous to the Louisiana ...
,
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
,
psychedelic soul Psychedelic soul (originally called black rock or conflated with psychedelic funk) is a form of soul music which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s. The style saw African-American soul musicians embrace elements of psychedelic rock, ...
,
rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predomina ...
,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
,
gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
, bluegrass,
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
,
hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
honky-tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, honky tonk, or tonk) is either a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons or the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano ...
and go-go. The album also fuses in more contemporary and international musical styles, such as
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
,
Jersey club Jersey club (originally called Brick City club) is a style of electronic club music that originated in Newark, New Jersey, in the late 90s/early 2000s. It was pioneered by DJ Tameil, Mike V, DJ Tim Dolla, and DJ Black Mic of the Brick Bandits ...
,
flamenco Flamenco () is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the Gitanos, gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and Region of Murcia, ...
,
funk carioca Funk carioca (), also known as baile funk and Brazilian funk, or even simply funk, is a Brazilian hip hop music, hip hop-influenced music genre from Rio de Janeiro, taking influences from musical styles such as Miami bass and Freestyle music, f ...
,
fado Fado (; "destiny, fate") is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably has much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar Rui Vieira Nery states that "the only reliable information on the history of fado ...
and
Irish folk Irish traditional music (also known as Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. In ''A History of Irish Music'' (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there we ...
. Beyoncé's experimentation with musical styles on ''Cowboy Carter'' aims to break down the limitations placed on genre-based music, in the service of redefining the boundaries of Americana. The album's genre experimentation received significant discussion in the media, with publications describing the album as "
genre-busting "Genre-busting" is a term used occasionally in reviews of written work, music and visual art and refers to the author or artist's ability to cross over two or more established styles. For instance, in writing, to combine the horror genre with a we ...
", "genre-defying", "genre-bending" and "genre-blending". Music critics differed in their classification of the album: some simply defined it as "country" or "country-and-Western", while others opined that the album is not a country album ''per se'' but uses country signifiers to explore various genres. Beyoncé herself said about ''Cowboy Carter'': "This ain't a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album." ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
''s Kofi Mframa said this description was a "resounding testament to Beyoncé's long history of refusal to adhere to the traditional confines of genre". The album is presented as a broadcast by a fictional Texas radio station, with country singers
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
,
Linda Martell Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem; June 4, 1941) is an American singer. She became the first commercially successful Black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the ''Grand Ole Opry''. As one of the first African-American ...
and
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
acting as radio DJs. The album features rising country artists
Tanner Adell Tanner Adell Anderson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her debut album, ''Buckle Bunny'', was released in 2023. Early life Half black and half white, Adell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was adopted and raised in Manhatt ...
,
Brittney Spencer Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988) is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song by the Highwomen. The video drew praise fro ...
, Tiera Kennedy,
Reyna Roberts Reyna Roberts is an American country singer-songwriter and pianist. She was featured on Beyoncé's single " Blackbiird", which charted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was nominated for two People's Choice Country Awards in 2024. ...
,
Shaboozey Collins Obinna Chibueze (born May 9, 1995), known professionally as Shaboozey, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Shaboozey's music combines hip-hop, country, and Americana. His stage name originated from the mispron ...
and
Willie Jones Willie Jones may refer to: Sports *Willie Jones (fullback) Willie Douglas Jones Jr. (August 30, 1939 – September 9, 2016) was an American professional American football, football Fullback (American football), fullback who played one season wi ...
. The album is cyclical, with the final note looping seamlessly into the beginning of the first track (which begins "Nothing really ends") in the same manner as James Joyce's ''
Finnegans Wake ''Finnegans Wake'' is a novel by Irish literature, Irish writer James Joyce. It was published in instalments starting in 1924, under the title "fragments from ''Work in Progress''". The final title was only revealed when the book was publishe ...
'' (1939), according to ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' Shane O'Neill. The album features a range of
acoustic instruments Acoustic music is music that solely or primarily uses instruments that produce sound through acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means. While all music was once acoustic, the retronym "acoustic music" appeared after the ad ...
played by musicians including
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...
on harmonica,
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
and
Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...
on guitar, and
Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle pl ...
on banjo.


Promotion and release


Lead singles

On February 11, 2024, during
Super Bowl LVIII Super Bowl LVIII was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 NFL season, 2023 season. A rematch of Super Bowl LIV four years prior, the American Football Conference (AFC) 20 ...
,
Verizon Verizon Communications Inc. ( ), is an American telecommunications company headquartered in New York City. It is the world's second-largest telecommunications company by revenue and its mobile network is the largest wireless carrier in the ...
aired a
commercial Commercial may refer to: * (adjective for) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and services ** (adjective for) trade, the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money * a dose of advertising ...
starring Beyoncé entitled "Can't B Broken", in which she tried to "break the Internet" through increasingly outlandish means, such as releasing a
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
saxophone record, performing on top of
Sphere A sphere (from Ancient Greek, Greek , ) is a surface (mathematics), surface analogous to the circle, a curve. In solid geometry, a sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...
in Las Vegas, building an
artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
(AI) version of herself, launching a collection of
Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...
-like dolls dubbed "BarBey", announcing her candidacy for a fictional political position, and flying into space for a performance. After all of the ideas proved unsuccessful, Beyoncé concluded the commercial by remarking: "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music". After the commercial aired, Beyoncé released a teaser video for ''Act II'' on
Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
. Directed by British artist and filmmaker
Nadia Lee Cohen Nadia Lee Cohen (born 15 November 1990) is a British artist, photographer, filmmaker, and model. Early life Cohen was born in Essex in 1990, to an Israeli father, and a British mother of Ukrainian descent. She was raised on an isolated farm in ...
, the video pays homage to ''
Paris, Texas Paris is a city and county seat of Lamar County, Texas, United States. Located in Northeast Texas at the western edge of the Piney Woods, the population of the city was 24,171 in 2020. History Present-day Lamar County was part of Red River ...
'' (1984), references
border blaster A border blaster is a broadcast station that, though not licensed as an external service (broadcasting), external service, is, in practice, used to target another country. The term "border blaster" is of North American origin, and usually ass ...
s and features
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...
's 1955 track "
Maybellene "Maybellene" is a rock and roll song by American artist Chuck Berry, adapted in part from the western swing fiddle tune " Ida Red". Released in 1955, Berry’s song tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance, the lyrics describing ...
". The same day, the singer's official website was updated to announce her eighth studio album, with the placeholder name ''Act II'', scheduled for release on March 29. Subsequently, the album's two lead singles, "
Texas Hold 'Em Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is the most popular variant of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five Community card poker, community cards ...
" and "
16 Carriages "16 Carriages" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé from her eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Carter''. It serves as the album's joint lead single alongside "Texas Hold 'Em". The song was a surprise release and debuted during Super ...
", were simultaneously made available for digital download and streaming. On March 12, Beyoncé announced the album would be titled ''Cowboy Carter'' via a teaser poster of a
western saddle Western saddles are used for Western riding and are the saddles used on working horses on cattle ranches throughout the United States, particularly in the west. They are the "cowboy" saddles familiar to movie viewers, rodeo fans, and those who h ...
with a
sash A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the human body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else encircling the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, ...
. With this she listed album merchandise of limited-edition CDs with a
bonus track An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century a ...
,
T-shirts A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt, or tee for short) is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a '' crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shir ...
and
vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl ...
variants in red, white, blue and standard black.


Album release

On March 19, 2024, Beyoncé revealed the album cover via Instagram, and said there would be "surprises" and collaborations on the album. On March 20, she revealed a limited edition exclusive cover, wearing a sash that reads "act ii BEYINCÉ", referencing her mother
Tina Tina may refer to: People *Tina (given name), people and fictional characters with the given name ''Tina'' Places * Tina, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran * Tina, Tunisia, a town in Sfax Governorate, Tunisia * Tina, Guadalcanal, Solom ...
's generational family surname. Taglines and
film stills A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since ...
for the album were projected onto various museums in New York City. One of these was an unauthorized projection onto the
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum at 1071 Fifth Avenue between 88th and 89th Street (Manhattan), 89th Streets on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It hosts a permanent coll ...
, who genially responded by posting
Franz Marc Franz Moritz Wilhelm Marc (8 February 1880 – 4 March 1916) was a German painter and printmaking, printmaker, one of the key figures of German Expressionism. He was a founding member of ''Der Blaue Reiter'' (The Blue Rider), a journal whose ...
's 1910 painting ''Three Horses Drinking'' with the caption "This ain't Texas" in reference to "Texas Hold 'Em". Beyoncé also posted
co-ordinates In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine and standardize the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The coordinates are ...
to the museum on her
Instagram story Instagram is an American photo and short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters, be organized by hashtags, and be associated with a location via ...
. On March 27, Beyoncé posted a graphic to Instagram of the album's tracklist inspired by vintage posters from the Chitlin' Circuit era. It revealed collaborations with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, as well as a cover of the former's " Jolene", and "The Linda Martell Show". The latter song references Linda Martell, the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in the country genre. The CD release comes in four variants, each with a different rear cover depicting Beyoncé. It was released in Japan on March 29 and on April 12 in Europe. After the album's release, fans reported that their pre-ordered physical vinyl and CD copies were missing numerous tracks, with some asking for refunds.


Levi's campaign

The American clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. saw an opportunity to better market their brand to a female audience after their product inspired the ''Cowboy Carter'' track " Levii's Jeans". On September 30, 2024, the brand announced a global campaign with Beyoncé titled "Reiimagine" that will stretch into 2025. It is based on women's history with the brand and is split into four chapters, the first being a reimagined commercial of the company's 1985 "Laundrette" television spot, and the second being "Pool Hall". Levi's have described the partnership as "the biggest one hey'veever done," and expect Beyoncé's impact to help bring in a boost to $2 billion in sales.


Live performances

On November 17, 2024, it was revealed that Beyoncé would perform a ''Cowboy Carter'' medley as a halftime show of the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL) match game between the
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
and the
Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
during Christmas Day, with the event being available on
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. After the broadcast performance, Beyoncé tweeted a short video clip with the caption "Look at that horse" and a stated date for January 14, 2025, within the visualizer, which led to speculations about a promotional concert tour for the album. Nevertheless, the
Cowboy Carter Tour The Cowboy Carter Tour (full title Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour) is the ongoing tenth concert tour by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé, in support of her eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Carter'' (2024). An all-stadium ...
was officially announced on the late night of February 1, 2025, while 22 initial dates across the U.S., England and France were revealed on February 2.


Cover artwork and title

The ''Cowboy Carter'' album cover was shot by Blair Caldwell, a Los Angeles-based photographer who is from Texas. Much like the cover for ''Renaissance''—which saw Beyoncé sitting atop a stationary
disco ball A disco ball (also known as a mirror ball or glitter ball) is a roughly sphere, spherical object that reflects light directed at it in many directions, producing a complex display. Its surface consists of hundreds or thousands of facets, nearl ...
horse—the ''Cowboy Carter'' artwork sees Beyoncé atop a
gray horse A gray horse (or grey horse) has a coat color characterized by progressive depigmentation of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike some equine dilution genes and some other genes that lead to dep ...
at a
gallop The canter and gallop are variations on the fastest gait that can be performed by a horse or other equine. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait, while the gallop is a faster, four-beat variation of the same gait. It is a natural gait po ...
. She rides the horse while sitting sideways (historically,
sidesaddle Sidesaddle riding is a form of equestrianism that uses a type of saddle that allows riders, generally female, to sit aside rather than astride an equine. Sitting aside dates back to antiquity and developed in European countries in the Middle A ...
riding was associated with high-status women), dressed in red, white and blue clothing, wearing a cowboy hat and a sash reading "Cowboy Carter". She holds the horse's reins in one hand and a large American flag in the other. The imagery is reminiscent of
rodeo queen A rodeo queen is a female representative and "face" of the sport of rodeo. She represents her rodeo, association, or region for a standard time of usually 12 months and is usually required to wear a cowboy hat, crown, and sash with her title on i ...
s, who often are asked to carry the American flag in a rodeo grand entry. The album cover was a topic of discussion and dissection by critics. Francesca T Royster, professor at
DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...
and author of ''Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions'', wrote: "The aesthetic choice is bold and seems to be signaling the ways that Beyoncé is putting herself into conversations about nationalism, a theme very much central to discourses about country music, patriotism and authenticity, from the times of its origins." Critics suggested a variety of inspirations and allusions for the cover, including presidential portraits,
Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...
's ''
Napoleon Crossing the Alps ''Napoleon Crossing the Alps'' (also known as ''Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass'' or ''Bonaparte Crossing the Alps''; listed as ''Le Premier Consul franchissant les Alpes au col du Grand Saint-Bernard'') is a series of five oil on canvas eq ...
'' (1801–1805),
Marina Abramović Marina Abramović ( sr-Cyrl, Марина Абрамовић, ; born November 30, 1946) is a Serbian conceptual and performance artist. Her work explores body art, endurance art, the relationship between the performer and audience, the limit ...
's ''The Hero'' (2001),
Kehinde Wiley Kehinde Wiley (born February 28, 1977) leaving Freddie to raise the couple's six children on her own. 3/sup> Wiley has said that his family survived on welfare checks and the limited income earned by his mother's "thrift store"—which consiste ...
's ''Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II (Michael Jackson)'' (2009), the
Bill Pickett Willie M. Pickett (December 5, 1870 – April 2, 1932) was an African American cowboy, rodeo performer, and actor. In 1972, he was the first African American man inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. In 1989, Pickett was inducted int ...
Invitational Rodeo, and
Eadweard Muybridge Eadweard Muybridge ( ; 9 April 1830 – 8 May 1904, born Edward James Muggeridge) was an English photographer known for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture Movie projector, projection. He ...
's ''
The Horse in Motion ''The Horse in Motion'' is a series of cabinet cards by Eadweard Muybridge, including six cards that each show a series of six to twelve "automatic electro-photographs" depicting successive phases in the movement of a horse, shot in June 187 ...
'' (1878). The album is titled after a character "Cowboy Carter", who is inspired by the original
Black cowboys Black cowboys in the American West accounted for up to an estimated 25% of Cowboy, cowboys "who went up the trail" to participate in Cattle drives in the United States, cattle drives from the 1860s to 1880s, estimated to be at least 5,000 indivi ...
of the American West. Beyoncé explained: "The word cowboy itself was used in a derogatory way to describe the former slaves as 'boys', who were the most skilled and had the hardest jobs of handling horses and cattle, alike. In destroying the negative connotation, what remains is the strength and resiliency of these men who were the true definition of Western fortitude."


Critical reception

''Cowboy Carter'' was met with critical acclaim upon release, with some describing it as a "masterpiece". Critics praised Beyoncé's blending of diverse musical genres and vocal performance, and described the album as both a grand political statement and a personal ode to Beyoncé's roots. On the review aggregator website
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, the album received a
weighted average The weighted arithmetic mean is similar to an ordinary arithmetic mean (the most common type of average), except that instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others. The ...
score of 91 from 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Critics lauded ''Cowboy Carter'' as an exploration and reinvention of
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana music, a genre or style of American music * Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film * ''Americana'' (20 ...
, as well as a celebration of Black southern culture and its contribution to the country music genre. ''
The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...
''s Spencer Kornhaber and the ''
Evening Standard The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free newspaper, free of charge in London, Engl ...
''s Gemma Samways noted that the album experiments with the touchstones and musical traditions of country and Americana in order to explore its Black cultural roots. Maria Sherman of the
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
wrote that the "eclectic" and "epic" album "redefines American style" and requires close examination of its references, themes and messages for full enjoyment. ''
HipHopDX ''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of Hip hop music, hip hop music criticism and news. ''HipHopDX'' has over 3.5M monthly readers, the website encompassing hip hop news, interviews, music, and reviews. The website's founder and CEO is Sharath C ...
''s Tai Saint-Louis described the album as a reclamation of both the "deep roots from which Beyoncé has crafted her artistry" and "the many branches that have sprouted from Black music in America". ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
''s chief music critic Chris Willman characterized the album as a "piece of
agitprop Agitprop (; from , portmanteau of ''agitatsiya'', "agitation" and ''propaganda'', "propaganda") refers to an intentional, vigorous promulgation of ideas. The term originated in the Soviet Union where it referred to popular media, such as literatu ...
and socially significant performance art" that both reflects and impacts the history of Black music and country. Critics commended the album for what they described as its ambitious experimentation with
music genre A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. Genre is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometim ...
s, with Beyoncé reimagining country music in her image.
Neil McCormick Neil McCormick (born 31 March 1961) is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster. He has been the chief music critic for ''The Daily Telegraph'' since 1996, and presented a music interview show for Vintage TV (TV channel), Vintage TV i ...
of ''
The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are often names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * The Telegraph (Adelaide), ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaid ...
'' felt the album pushed the boundaries of genres and mixed diverse musical styles as a polemic against the conservatism of the country genre. '' Clash'' and ''Billboard'' characterized the album as an
ethnomusicological Ethnomusicology is the multidisciplinary study of music in its cultural context. The discipline investigates social, cognitive, biological, comparative, and other dimensions. Ethnomusicologists study music as a reflection of culture and investiga ...
study that venerates the breadth of musical subcultures of the American South, while ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' critic Ben Sisario described the album as a "broad essay" both on
popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...
and on genre as a concept. ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' Helen Brown and ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
'' Robert Moran opined that Beyoncé's genre experimentation is in the service of celebrating the overlooked pioneers of country music while spotlighting up-and-coming Black musicians.
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...
said that, while the quality of the songwriting diminishes slightly toward the end, ''Cowboy Carter''s confident and "impressive variety" shows Beyoncé to be "our greatest female pop singer", as well as a "pretty darn good songwriter", with a considerable stake in the country sphere. Many critics praised the album's "ambitious" scope and "cinematic" grandiosity, likening it to a Western epic. The ''
Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'' Ludovic Hunter-Tilney compared the album to a blockbuster
historical epic Epic films have large scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle. The term is slightly ambiguous, sometimes designating a film genre and at other times simply big-budget films. Like epics in the classical literary sense, it is often focused on a hero ...
, with its "impressive, very American aura of importance" and "the sense that history is not only being told but also made".
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
's Sidney Madden equated each of the tracks to a "full-length film full of scenic grandeur, character and conflicts" that can be dissected and discussed. Sisario opined that the album in its entirety works as film, writing that ''Cowboy Carter'' is the central character in a narrative about tackling American cultural history. Writing for the roots music journal '' No Depression'', John Amen commented, "While 2022's ''Renaissance'' spotlighted eyoncéas a global MC throwing the party of the decade, ''Cowboy Carter'', framed as ''Renaissance''s Act II, paints her as a torchbearer and synthesist, an auteur equally adept at playing the archivist and the cultural midwife". Some critics felt that the album would fare better if it were split by musical style. Petridis wrote that while the album may have worked better as a double-disc, "its wild lurches into
eclecticism Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories i ...
are the point" and demonstrates Beyoncé's "impressive" ability to "bend musical styles to her will".


Year-end rankings

''Cowboy Carter'' appeared on several publications' rankings of the best albums of 2024, including number-one features on ''
Business Insider ''Business Insider'' (stylized in all caps: BUSINESS INSIDER; known from 2021 to 2023 as INSIDER) is a New York City–based multinational financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Inside ...
,'' ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
,'' The ''
Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. ...
,'' ''
People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...
'' and ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
''. It was placed second by ''Billboard'', ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'', ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'', ''The Telegraph'' and ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'', and within the top ten by ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'', ''
Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'', '' Consequence'', Double J, ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...
'', ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' and ''Taste of Country''. Publications that featured ''Cowboy Carter'' in the top 25 of their lists include ''Clash'', ''
Dazed ''Dazed'' (''Dazed & Confused'' until February 2014) is a quarterly British lifestyle magazine founded in 1991. It covers music, fashion, film, art, and literature. ''Dazed'' is published by Dazed Media, an independent media group known for produ ...
'', ''The Independent'', ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', '' The Ringer'', ''
Slant Slant can refer to: Bias *Bias or other non- objectivity in journalism, politics, academia or other fields Technical * Slant range, in telecommunications, the line-of-sight distance between two points which are not at the same level * Slant ...
'', '' Time Out'', ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' and
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. The record was also mentioned in unranked lists by
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, Associated Press, ''
Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Internationalism * World citizen, one who eschews traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship * Cosmopolitanism, the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community * Cosmopolitan ...
'', ''
HuffPost ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...
'', NPR, ''
The Tennessean ''The Tennessean'' (known until 1972 as ''The Nashville Tennessean'') is a daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky. It is owned by Gannett, w ...
'', ''
Uproxx Uproxx Studios (stylized as ''UPROXX'') is an American music, entertainment and popular culture website and content studio. It was founded in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater. The website was acquired in 2014 by Woven Digital (which later ...
'' and ''
Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ' ...
''. On individual critics' lists, while ''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', often referred to simply as ''The Inquirer'', is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating da ...
''s Dan DeLuca numbered ''Cowboy Carter'' at the fourth position, ''
The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...
'' Spencer Kornhaber at fifth, and ''
Sound Opinions ''Sound Opinions'' is an independent radio talk show and podcast based in Chicago. It focuses on the discussion of music genres, history, artists and albums. It airs weekly on over 150 public radio stations nationwide and is syndicated though th ...
'''
Jim DeRogatis James Peter DeRogatis (born September 2, 1964) is an American music critic and co-host of ''Sound Opinions''. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as ''Rolling Stone'', '' Spin'', ''Guitar World'', ''Matter'' and '' Modern Drummer'' ...
at eleventh, the album was, respectively, ranked second and seventh by ''Variety''s Willman and Steven J. Horowitz, and tenth and fifteenth by ''The New York Times''' Lindsay Zoladz and
Jon Caramanica Jon Caramanica (born 1975) is an American journalist and pop music critic who writes for ''The New York Times''. He is also known for writing about hip hop music. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, Caramanica received his bachelor's degree ...
. Mesfin Fekadu of ''
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' listed the release at first place.


Accolades

''Cowboy Carter'' earned the most nominations at the
67th Annual Grammy Awards The 67th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy, on February 2, 2025. In its 22nd year at Crypto.com Arena in L ...
, with 11 nominations across multiple genres, including pop, country, Americana and melodic rap. It is the third-most nominated album in Grammy history, behind
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
's ''
Thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
'' (1982) and
Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...
' '' The Dude'' (1981), and the most nominated album by a woman. Additionally, ''Cowboy Carter'' increased Beyoncé's career total nominations to 99, breaking her tie with Jay-Z to become the most nominated artist of all time. She joined
Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...
and
Jon Batiste Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, and television personality. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince (musician), ...
as the artists who received the third-most nominations in one night.
Recording Academy National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely known for its Gramm ...
CEO Harvey Mason Jr. declared ''Cowboy Carter''s broad nominations as a "really impressive" feat, explaining that because Grammy voters are limited to voting in particular fields, Beyoncé's nominations across genres shows that "totally different subsets of voters all really resonated with the music". The album won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "
II Most Wanted "II Most Wanted" is a song by American singers and songwriters Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 12, 2024, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the third single from Beyoncé's eighth studio album, ''Cowboy Ca ...
",
Best Country Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Country Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the country music ge ...
and Album of the Year. ''Cowboy Carter'' did not receive any nominations at the
58th Annual Country Music Association Awards The 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards were held on November 20, 2024 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The ceremony was broadcast live on ABC and was available to stream the next day on Hulu. Background On September 30, 2024, th ...
, in a move widely criticized as an egregious but predictable
snub A snub, cut, or slight is a refusal to recognise an acquaintance by ignoring them, avoiding them or pretending not to know them. For example, a failure to greet someone may be considered a snub. In awards and lists For awards, the term "snub ...
. Several publications attributed the snub to
conservatism Conservatism is a Philosophy of culture, cultural, Social philosophy, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, Convention (norm), customs, and Value (ethics and social science ...
and
racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...
against Black artists in the country music industry. ''Cowboy Carter'' collaborator Shaboozey, who received his first two CMA Awards nominations, expressed his gratitude for Beyoncé following the snub, writing: "Thank you Beyoncé for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time".


Commercial performance


Streaming

''Cowboy Carter'' landed Beyoncé her biggest streaming week ever and broke streaming records on several platforms. On
Spotify Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
, the album became one of the most-streamed albums in a single day in 2024, the biggest debut of the year for a country album, and the biggest debut ever for any album by a Black woman, with over 76 million streams globally in its first day. ''Cowboy Carter'' also marks the most first-day streams for a country album by a female artist in the history of
Amazon Music Amazon Music (previously Amazon MP3) is a music streaming platform and digital music store operated by Amazon. As of January 2020, the service had 55 million subscribers. It was the first music store to sell music without digital rights manag ...
.


United States

''Cowboy Carter'' also broke several chart records. In the United States, ''Cowboy Carter'' debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, with 407,000
album-equivalent unit The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, often shortened to just unit, is a sales metric in the music industry that defines the number of streaming media, songs streamed and music download, songs downloaded equal to one Record sales, tradi ...
s. In doing so, Beyoncé became the first woman and second artist overall to debut her first eight albums at number one. ''Cowboy Carter'' debuted at number one on the
Americana/Folk Albums Americana/Folk Albums (formerly Folk Albums) is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine which ranks the top selling "current releases by traditional folk artists, as well as appropriate titles by acoustic-based singer-songwriters ...
, and
Top Country Albums Top Country Albums is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The 50-position chart lists the most popular country music albums in the country, calculated weekly by Broadcast Data Systems based on physical sales ...
charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to have a number-one country album. The album remained atop the ''Billboard'' 200 for two weeks, her first multi-week number one since 2013's ''
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
''. All 23 eligible songs on ''Cowboy Carter'' debuted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, giving African-American country artists Martell, Adell, Kennedy, Roberts, Spencer, Jones and Shaboozey their first chart entries and bringing Beyoncé's career total Hot 100 entries to 106, the third highest for a female artist. Beyoncé also topped eighteen ''Billboard'' charts the week of ''Cowboy Carter''s release, including the
Artist 100 The Artist 100 is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' in the United States. The ''Billboard'' Artist 100 combines performance across the Hot 100 chart, the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart, and the Internet-centric Social 50 chart. The Artist ...
, Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers; she also became the first artist to simultaneously hold the number one positions on both the Top Country Albums and the ''Billboard'' Dance/Electronic Albums charts, with ''Renaissance'' atop the latter.


Internationally

By its fourth day of release, ''Cowboy Carter'' was outselling the rest of the week's top five bestselling albums combined in the UK. The album debuted at number one on the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
selling 40,000 copies in its first week. This became Beyoncé's fifth album to do so as a solo act, and her sixth including
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...
's discography. The album also debuted at number one on the
Official Vinyl Albums Chart The Official Vinyl Albums Chart is a weekly record chart in the United Kingdom. It is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the music industry. It lists the top 40 most popular albums in the vinyl format each week. The chart, a ...
and has spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the
UK Country Albums Chart The UK Country Artists Albums Chart is a music charts compiled in the United Kingdom by the Official Charts Company from sales of songs in the country music genre in record stores and music download, digital downloads. The chart can be viewed on th ...
, becoming the first album by an African American female artist to reach the top spot on that chart. With "
Texas Hold 'Em Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is the most popular variant of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five Community card poker, community cards ...
" returning to number one on the UK Singles Chart concurrently with the album's release, Beyoncé topped both charts simultaneously for the first time since ''
Dangerously in Love ''Dangerously in Love'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 20, 2003, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment. During the recording of Destiny's Child's third studio albu ...
'' and "
Crazy in Love "Crazy in Love" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé featuring guest vocals from American rapper Jay-Z. It was written by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Rich Harrison, and produced by the last two. "Crazy in Love" is a pop, hip hop, and ...
" did so in 2003. Beyoncé also became the first Black artist to top the UK Charts with a country album and the first artist to simultaneously top the Album Chart and Singles Charts with a country album and a country single. In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the
Canadian Albums Chart The ''Billboard'' Canadian Albums is the official record chart A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of Sound recording and reproduction, recorded music according to certain criteria during a given ...
, becoming Beyoncé's fifth album to achieve this as well as her tenth top-ten project in the country. Twenty out of 23 eligible songs on ''Cowboy Carter'' debuted on the
Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007 as the standard record chart in Canada; a new chart ...
, giving African-American country artists Martell, Adell, Kennedy, Roberts, Spencer, Jones and Shaboozey their first chart entries and bringing Beyoncé's career total Canadian Hot 100 entries to 84. In Australia, the album debuted at number one on the
ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
, becoming the singer's fourth consecutive project to achieve this since ''Beyoncé'' (2013). It also became the first country-genre album by a female artist to top the chart since 2017, when the top position was occupied by
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( ; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time and the best-sel ...
's ''Now''. The album remained atop the ARIA Chart for two consecutive weeks. In Germany, the album debuted atop the
German Albums Chart The GfK Entertainment charts are the official charts for music, home video, and video games in Germany and are gathered and published by GfK Entertainment (formerly Media Control and Media Control GfK International), a subsidiary of GfK, on be ...
, becoming Beyoncé's first number one album as a solo artist since ''
Dangerously in Love ''Dangerously in Love'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 20, 2003, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment. During the recording of Destiny's Child's third studio albu ...
'' topped the chart in 2003.


Cultural and societal impact

Upon release, ''Cowboy Carter'' had a significant impact on music, fashion, business and culture, with Stevie Wonder and ''Variety'' Chris Willman suggesting it may be the most-discussed album of the 21st century. ''Cowboy Carter'' was widely discussed in the media following its release, with all major news networks broadcasting features exploring the impact of the album.
CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
released a documentary on
Max Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...
titled ''Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville's Renaissance'', which explores the album's impact on the country music landscape and the inclusion of Black artists within the genre. An episode of ''
Nightline ''Nightline'' (or ''ABC News Nightline'') is ABC News (United States), ABC News' Late night television in the United States, late-night television news program broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC in the United States with a franchis ...
'' focused on the album and its impact on the country music space.


Country music

''Cowboy Carter'' increased the listenership of country music and made it more accessible to new audiences, with publications describing it as "a cultural shift", "a watershed moment" and "a tipping point" in the genre's history. The album drove over 36 million people to stream country music for the first time on
Spotify Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
. The album was credited by ''The Times'' as making country music become mainstream in the UK, with one survey finding that 60% of British respondents started listening to country music following the release of ''Cowboy Carter''. In Sweden, the number of people listening to country music increased by 60% following the release of the album, which is the largest increase for any genre in Swedish history. A worldwide study found that over one-third of Gen Z respondents began listening to country music after Beyoncé entered the genre. There was a 38% increase in views of country music videos globally on
Vevo Vevo LLC ( , an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized in all caps until 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available ...
following the album's release, as well as a 40% increase in Black 18–34-year-olds listening to country radio. ''Cowboy Carter'' was said to redefine what it means to be a country artist, with Emi Tuyetnhi Tran from
NBC News NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC. The division operates under NBCUniversal Media Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a subsidiary of Comcast. The news division's various operations r ...
commenting that it will "open the floodgates" for other country musicians. ''Cowboy Carter'' sparked discourse on the boundaries of the country music genre and its roots within Black music, and drove cultural conversations on the inclusion of Black artists within the genre.


Country artists

''Cowboy Carter'' boosted the careers of rising country acts. In ''The Tennessean'', Andrea Williams wrote that Beyoncé opened the door for others in country music, proving Black songwriters, producers and musicians belong in the genre. NPR's Amanda Marie Martínez wrote that the album revealed the "strong demand" for country music made by Black artists and a "growing community" of Black country fans. After featuring on the album,
Shaboozey Collins Obinna Chibueze (born May 9, 1995), known professionally as Shaboozey, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Shaboozey's music combines hip-hop, country, and Americana. His stage name originated from the mispron ...
advanced the release of his single "
A Bar Song (Tipsy) "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" is a song by American country musician Shaboozey. The song was released April 12, 2024, as the fourth single from his third album '' Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going''. "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" tied " Old Town Road" by Lil ...
" to take advantage of his increased visibility. The song would peak at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs, replacing Beyoncé's own "Texas Hold 'Em", becoming the first time in history that two Black artists led the latter chart back to back. Shaboozey thanked Beyoncé for "changing islife" and "opening a door for us".
Linda Martell Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem; June 4, 1941) is an American singer. She became the first commercially successful Black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the ''Grand Ole Opry''. As one of the first African-American ...
, who was the first commercially successful Black female country artist, saw a 127,430 percent increase in streams of her music after twice appearing on the album. In 2025, "
Color Him Father "Color Him Father" is a song written by Richard Lewis Spencer and recorded by American rhythm and blues group the Winstons. It was released in 1969 as their debut single for Metromedia and was a No. 7 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 that year ...
", her 1969 breakthrough record, was inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
as a result of the increased recognition in her catalog. Other Black female country musicians also saw a significant increase in streams due to the album, such as
Reyna Roberts Reyna Roberts is an American country singer-songwriter and pianist. She was featured on Beyoncé's single " Blackbiird", which charted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was nominated for two People's Choice Country Awards in 2024. ...
(250%),
Rissi Palmer Rissi Palmer (born August 19, 1981) is an American country music artist. Palmer debuted in 2007 with the single "Country Girl", which made her the first African-American woman to chart a country song since Kathy Bee in 1988.
(110%),
Tanner Adell Tanner Adell Anderson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her debut album, ''Buckle Bunny'', was released in 2023. Early life Half black and half white, Adell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was adopted and raised in Manhatt ...
(188%) and
K. Michelle Kimberly Michelle Pate (born March 4, 1982) is an American Country, Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, and television personality. She was a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series ''Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta'' during its first two sea ...
(185%), while
Adia Victoria Adia Victoria (born July 22, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter. In addition to playing and writing music, she also writes poetry. She is currently based in Nashville. Musical style Victoria has described her music as " gothic blues". ...
, Amira Unplugged,
Brittney Spencer Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988) is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song by the Highwomen. The video drew praise fro ...
,
Mickey Guyton Candace Mycale "Mickey" Guyton (; born June 17, 1983) is an American country music artist. Raised in Texas, Guyton was exposed to various types of music at a young age, and her material incorporates elements of contemporary country, pop, and R&B ...
, Tiera Kennedy, Rhiannon Giddens and Sacha also saw increases in their music sales. Black-led country organizations such as the
Black Opry Black Opry is an American music website and touring revue. It was founded in April 2021 by Holly G. as a means of raising awareness for Black musicians in country music. History The Black Opry was started in April 2021 by Holly G., a writer and ...
also received a significant increase in followers.


Recognition

''Cowboy Carter'' received extensive praise from musicians.
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...
declared ''Cowboy Carter'' a "masterpiece" that is "changing music and culture".
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
,
Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer, actress, film producer and author. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato) and is known for her 1965 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walki ...
and Linda Martell all praised the album and shared their pride of receiving the "honor" of contributing to the album.
Jon Batiste Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, and television personality. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince (musician), ...
characterized the album as "a work of such unimaginable impact and artistic firepower by a once in a generation artist" and thanked Beyoncé for allowing him to be a part of it. Batiste described the album as the moment "where we dismantle the genre machine", adding: "When many leading artists see a similar vision at the same time, that's when you know a major shift is happening. A new era, long time coming. Let's liberate ourselves from genre and break the barriers that marginalize who we are and the art that we create". Country musicians such as
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
,
Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire ( ; born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music, country singer and actress. Dubbed "Honorific nicknames in popular music, The Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Sin ...
,
Brandi Carlile Brandi Marie Carlile (born June 1, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Her music spans different genres, including folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock. Throughout her career, she has received eleven Gramm ...
,
Melissa Etheridge Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her Melissa Etheridge (album), eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billbo ...
,
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Cash. Although Cash is often classified as a country artist, her music draws f ...
,
Luke Bryan Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and television personality. Bryan is a five-time "Entertainer of the Year", being awarded by both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Count ...
,
Miranda Lambert Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country music, country singer. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place ...
, Jelly Roll,
Darius Rucker Darius Carlos Rucker (born May 13, 1966) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carol ...
,
Lainey Wilson Lainey Denay Wilson (born May 19, 1992) is an American country music, country singer-songwriter. She performed at an early age, before going to Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville to pursue a career as a country performer. In 2014, she released her f ...
,
Billy Ray Cyrus William Ray Cyrus ( ; born August 25, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. Having released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, he is known for his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart", which topped the U.S. Hot Country Songs cha ...
,
Maren Morris Maren Larae Morris (born April 10, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter. Rooted in the country genre, her music blends in elements of pop and R&B. Her accolades include a Grammy Award, an American Music Award, five Country Music Associatio ...
,
Mickey Guyton Candace Mycale "Mickey" Guyton (; born June 17, 1983) is an American country music artist. Raised in Texas, Guyton was exposed to various types of music at a young age, and her material incorporates elements of contemporary country, pop, and R&B ...
,
Kelsea Ballerini Kelsea Nicole Ballerini (born September 12, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. A five-time Grammy Award nominee, she began having success in the 2010s, being honored with the Academy of Country Music Awards#Special awards, Ge ...
and
Sugarland Sugarland is an American country music duo founded in Atlanta, Georgia. The duo consists of singer-songwriters Jennifer Nettles (lead vocals) and Kristian Bush (vocals, guitar, mandolin). They were founded in 2002, when Kristen Hall (vocals, gu ...
all praised the album and Beyoncé's venture into country music. Country-pop singer-songwriter
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( ; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time and the best-sel ...
hailed ''Cowboy Carter'' and praised Beyoncé for bringing country music to new audiences and expanding its scope, which Twain said was reminiscent of how artists in her childhood (such as
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
) reshaped the boundaries of the genre. Country singer-songwriter
Carlene Carter Carlene Carter (born Rebecca Carlene Smith; September 26, 1955) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter Cash and her first husband, Carl Smith (country musician), Carl Smith. Since 1978, Carter has ...
, daughter of
June Carter Cash Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was an American country singer and songwriter. A five-time Grammy Award–winner, she was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. Prior to her marria ...
, released a statement praising ''Cowboy Carter'' and describing Beyoncé as part of the
Carter Family The Carter Family was an American folk music group that recorded and performed between 1927 and 1956. Regarded as one of the most important music acts of the early 20th century, they had a profound influence on the development of bluegrass, c ...
, writing: "In my book, she's one of us Carter women and we have always pushed the boundaries by trying whatever music we felt in our hearts and taking spirit-driven risks... I am here to let Beyoncé and all those nay-sayers know that I admire and love her and all she does".
Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...
praised Beyoncé for writing country music and described her as "one of the most talented people to come along in a long, long, long, long time". ''Cowboy Carter'' also received praise from political figures. Former First Lady
Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama ( Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United Stat ...
posted on social media about ''Cowboy Carter'', writing that the album has "changed the game" by "helping redefine a music genre and transform our culture". Vice President
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
also praised the album on social media, writing: "Thank you for reminding us to never feel confined to other people's perspective of what our lane is. You have redefined a genre and reclaimed country music's Black roots. Your music continues to inspire us all".
Martin Luther King III Martin Luther King III (born October 23, 1957) is an American human rights activist, philanthropist, and an advocate. The second child and eldest son of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, he served as the fourth ...
expressed his gratitude for ''Cowboy Carter'' and described it as "joyous, positive and reaffirming", while his wife Arndrea Waters King called Beyoncé "courageous" for stepping into the country scene and sparking conversation on the origins of country music in the Black community. Other politicians who praised the album include Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Esther Whitmer (; born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of R ...
, Wisconsin Governor
Tony Evers Anthony Steven Evers ( ; born November 5, 1951) is an American politician and educator serving since 2019 as the 46th governor of Wisconsin. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 2009 to 2019 as Wisconsin's 26th superintendent of p ...
and Texas Congressman
Colin Allred Colin Zachary Allred (born April 15, 1983) is an American politician, civil rights lawyer, and former professional football player who served as the U.S. representative for from 2019 to 2025. The district includes the northeastern corner of Dal ...
.


Fashion and lifestyle

Beyoncé's embrace of country music and culture ignited fashion trends and boosted sales of
Western wear Western wear is a category of men's and women's clothing which derives its unique style from the clothes worn in the 19th century Wild West. It ranges from accurate historical reproductions of American frontier clothing, to the stylized garments ...
. ''Cowboy Carter'' helped transform cowboy fashion and aesthetics from a "caricature" into a "staple of the modern wardrobe" according to ''Vogue'', while
Vanessa Friedman Vanessa Victoria Friedman (born December 4, 1967) is an American fashion journalist who has been the fashion director and chief fashion critic of ''The New York Times'' since 2014. She previously worked at other publications, including the ''Fi ...
, fashion director and chief fashion critic at ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', wrote that Beyoncé has shifted the industry by mainstreaming Western aesthetics and determining the "look of the moment". ''Cowboy Carter'' led to a surge in interest in Western clothing, including an increase in searches for Western-style jeans (610%), bolo ties (566%), flared denim (372%), cowboy boots (224%) and cowboy hats (213%). Hat brand
Stetson Stetson is an American brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company. "Stetson" is also used as a generic trademark to refer to any campaign hat, particularly in Scouting. John B. Stetson gained inspiration for his most famous ...
reported an increase in interest in their products following Beyoncé's embrace of Western lifestyle. ''Cowboy Carter'' led to a 326 percent surge in sales of cowboy hats, while units sold of boots and fringed suede jackets both jumped by 45 percent.
Fast fashion Fast fashion is the business model of replicating recent catwalk trends and High fashion, high-fashion designs, mass production, mass-producing them at a low cost, and bringing them to retail quickly while demand is at its highest. The term ''fast ...
retailers such as
Forever 21 F21 OpCo LLC, trade name, doing business as Forever 21, was a multinational fast-fashion retailer. It was originally founded as Fashion 21 in Highland Park, Los Angeles, Highland Park, Los Angeles in 1984.Forever 21History & Facts, n.d. Retrieved ...
increased the amount of Western clothing available for sale by over 300 percent due to the album. Inspired by the album, the prominence of Western and country styling within the fashion landscape increased by 45 percent. The
Ralph Lauren Corporation Ralph Lauren Corporation is an American publicly traded fashion and lifestyle brand founded in 1967 by Ralph Lauren in New York City. The company markets products in apparel, home, accessories, and fragrances, and is most known for its flagsh ...
designer brand was inspired by the trend for their 2024 fall/winter collection. GQ's Editor-in-Chief Will Welch credited ''Cowboy Carter'' for inspiring the 'American Rodeo' western theme of their 29th annual Men of the Year party. In the UK, a national survey found that 25% of respondents took up
line dancing A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. These lines usually face all in the same direction, or less commonly face each other.Knight, ...
and 40% started wearing Western clothing following the release of ''Cowboy Carter''. Publications reported that the album aided a reclamation of country identity and
western culture Western culture, also known as Western civilization, European civilization, Occidental culture, Western society, or simply the West, refers to the Cultural heritage, internally diverse culture of the Western world. The term "Western" encompas ...
by Black people. The album had an impact on rodeos in Canada such as the
Calgary Stampede The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, fair, exhibition, and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year a ...
, broadening its audience.


Business

After Beyoncé referenced the American clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. on the ''Cowboy Carter'' track " Levii's Jeans", the company reported a 20% boost on their
stock price A share price is the price of a single share of a number of saleable equity shares of a company. In layman's terms, the stock price is the highest amount someone is willing to pay for the stock, or the lowest amount that it can be bought for. B ...
. The album singlehandedly generated an additional $1.2 million for the brand, from an increase of 1.5 billion impressions online. Levi's also noted a 20% rise in footfall at US stores after the release of the album, while British retailer
John Lewis & Partners John Lewis plc (trading as John Lewis & Partners) is a British department store chain founded by John Lewis in 1864. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis Partnership plc, a holding company held in a trust on behalf of its emplo ...
reported that searches for "women's Levi's jeans" were up 263% since the record was announced. In reference to the track name, Levi's added a second letter "i" to its name and logo on social media. Levi Strauss CFO Harmit Singh described Beyoncé as "the center of culture, the cultural czar", adding: "We are humbled and honored that she chose us to talk about our brand". Following the release of ''Cowboy Carter'', ridesharing company
Uber Uber Technologies, Inc. is an American multinational transportation company that provides Ridesharing company, ride-hailing services, courier services, food delivery, and freight transport. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, a ...
offered 16% off to riders who use the code "16CARRIAGES", a reference to a song on the album. In response,
Lyft Lyft, Inc. is an American company offering ride-hailing services, motorized scooters, and bicycle-sharing systems in the United States and Canada. Lyft sets fares, which vary using a dynamic pricing model based on local supply and demand a ...
offered its riders 50% off with the code "SPAGHETTI24", another reference to a song on the album. Lyft also changed images of cars on its map to white horses as a reference to the ''Cowboy Carter'' album cover.


Track listing

Notes * "Smoke Hour Willie Nelson" is stylized as "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson". * "Sweet Honey Buckiin'" is stylized as "Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin'". * Initial vinyl and CD pressings of the album do not include "Spaghettii", "The Linda Martell Show", "Ya Ya" and "Oh Louisiana". "Flamenco" is additionally unavailable on vinyl. * "Riiverdance", "II Hands II Heaven" and "Tyrant" are longer on the CD edition than on the digital edition. * "My Rose" is sometimes shown as "Mr. Sir" on the CD edition when used with certain players. * indicates an additional producer * indicates a co-producer * indicates a primary and vocal producer * indicates a vocal producer * indicates an additional lyricist


Samples, interpolations and covers

* "Ameriican Requiem" ** contains excerpts from "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)", written by
Shawn Carter Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named the greatest rapper of all time by ''Billboard'' and ''Vibe'' in ...
, Michael Price and Dan Walsh and performed by
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...
, as well as Jay-Z's performance of the song on ''
MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic instrument, acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. F ...
''. ** contains an interpolation of "
For What It's Worth "For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)", often referred to as simply "For What It's Worth", is a song written by Stephen Stills. Performed by Buffalo Springfield, it was recorded on December 5, 1966, released as a single on Atco Reco ...
", written by
Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Manassas (band ...
and performed by
Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield was a Canadian-American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1966 by Canadians Neil Young, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin (musician), Dewey Martin and Americans Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. The group, widely know ...
. * "Blackbiird" ** is a cover of the 1968
Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
song " Blackbird", and features a sample of the instrumental from the original master recording. * "Smoke Hour Willie Nelson" ** contains excerpts from "Laughing Yodel", written and performed by Charles Anderson. ** contains excerpts from "Grinnin' in Your Face", written and performed by
Son House Edward James "Son" House Jr. (March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988) was an American Delta blues singer and guitarist, noted for his highly emotional style of singing and slide guitar playing. After years of hostility to secular music, as a prea ...
. ** contains excerpts from " Down by the River Side", written and performed by
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Sister Rosetta Tharpe (born Rosetta Nubin, March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings, characterized by a unique mixture of spirit ...
. ** contains excerpts from "
Maybellene "Maybellene" is a rock and roll song by American artist Chuck Berry, adapted in part from the western swing fiddle tune " Ida Red". Released in 1955, Berry’s song tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance, the lyrics describing ...
", written and performed by
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...
. ** contains excerpts from " Don't Let Go", written by Jesse Stone and performed by
Roy Hamilton Roy Hamilton (April 16, 1929 – July 20, 1969) was an American singer. By combining semi-classical technique with traditional black gospel feeling, he brought Soul music, soul to Great American Songbook singing. Hamilton's greatest commercia ...
. * "Jolene" ** is a cover of 1973 Dolly Parton song of the same name, with new lyrics. * "Daughter" ** contains elements of Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. III No. 1: II. Adagio by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. ** contains an interpolation of the
aria In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...
"
Caro Mio Ben Tommaso Giordani (c.1730 to 1733 – before 24 February 1806) was an Italian composer active in England and particularly in Ireland. Life Giordani was born in Naples between 1730 and 1733 and came from a musical family. His father was Giuseppe G ...
", written and composed by
Tommaso Giordani Tommaso Giordani (c.1730 to 1733 – before 24 February 1806) was an Italian composer active in England and particularly in Ireland. Life Giordani was born in Naples between 1730 and 1733 and came from a musical family. His father was Giuseppe G ...
. * "Spaghettii" ** contains a sample of "Aquecimento das Danadas", written and performed by O Mandrake. * "II Most Wanted" ** contains uncredited elements of "
Landslide Landslides, also known as landslips, rockslips or rockslides, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, mudflows, shallow or deep-seated slope failures and debris flows. Landslides ...
", written by
Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album ...
and performed by
Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1967 by the singer and guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green named the band by combining the surnames of the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassis ...
. * "Ya Ya" ** contains excerpts from "
These Boots Are Made for Walkin' "These Boots Are Made for Walkin' is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No.1 in the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart. ...
", written by
Lee Hazlewood Barton Lee Hazlewood (July 9, 1929 – August 4, 2007) was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s ...
and performed by
Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer, actress, film producer and author. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato) and is known for her 1965 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walki ...
. ** contains interpolation from "
Good Vibrations "Good Vibrations" is a song by the American rock music, rock band the Beach Boys, produced and composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. Released as a single on October 10, 1966, it achieved immediate critical and commercial success, ...
", written by
Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025) was an American musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop compositio ...
and
Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who is one of the vocalists of the Beach Boys, of which he was an original member alongside his cousins Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson and their frien ...
and performed by
the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
. * "Oh Louisiana" ** contains excerpts from "Oh Louisiana", written and performed by Chuck Berry. * "II Hands II Heaven" ** contains an uncredited sample of the
Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...
song "
Born Slippy Nuxx "Born Slippy .NUXX" is a song by the British electronic music group Underworld. It was first released as the B-side to another track, "Born Slippy", in May 1995. The fragmented lyrics describe the perspective of an alcoholic. After it was used ...
", written by
Rick Smith Rick Smith may refer to: Sports * Rick Smith (American football, born 1948), American football coach *Rick Smith (American football executive), former General Manager of the Houston Texans of the NFL *Rick Smith (ice hockey) (born 1948), ice hockey ...
,
Karl Hyde Karl Hyde (born 10 May 1957) is an English musician, composer and artist. He is a founding member of British electronic group Underworld. Hyde has also released a solo album, made albums with Brian Eno and Matthew Herbert, and contributed towar ...
and
Darren Emerson Darren Paul Emerson (born 30 April 1971) is an English musician, DJ and producer best known as a former member of the British electronic music group Underworld. Career Early life Emerson began mixing hip hop records at the age of 14, and by ...
. * "Sweet Honey Buckiin'" ** contains interpolation from "
I Fall to Pieces "I Fall to Pieces" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. Released as a single in 1961 via Decca Records, it topped the country charts, crossed over onto the pop charts and became among ...
", written by
Hank Cochran Garland Perry "Hank" Cochran (August 2, 1935 – July 15, 2010) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, Ray Price, Eddy ...
and
Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002) was an American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard is credited with writing more than 4,000 songs, over 100 of which reached country mus ...
and performed by
Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American singer. One of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, she was known as one of the first country music artists to successfully Cross ...
.


Personnel

Musicians *
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
– lead vocals (all tracks), clapping (track 10), percussion (23) *
Khirye Tyler Khirye Tyler is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his various contributions to 2024 Beyoncé album ''Cowboy Carter'' and 2018 Meek Mill album ''Championships'', as well as co-writing 2019 Roddy Ricch song " The Box" an ...
– bass (tracks 1, 2, 7, 20), percussion (1, 20–23), drums (1, 15, 20), synthesizer (1),
strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
(2, 18), violin (2), piano (7), guitar (15), horns (20),
programming Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to: Business and management * Program m ...
(26) *
Linda Martell Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem; June 4, 1941) is an American singer. She became the first commercially successful Black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the ''Grand Ole Opry''. As one of the first African-American ...
– spoken word (tracks 12, 19) *
Ink Ink is a gel, sol, or solution that contains at least one colorant, such as a dye or pigment, and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with a pen, brush, reed pen, or quill. ...
– vocals (track 1), guitar (2) *
Tanner Adell Tanner Adell Anderson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her debut album, ''Buckle Bunny'', was released in 2023. Early life Half black and half white, Adell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was adopted and raised in Manhatt ...
– vocals (tracks 1, 2) *
Raphael Saadiq Raphael Saadiq (; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to prominence as a vocalist and bassist for the R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, which he formed with h ...
– drums (tracks 1, 7); bass, piano (7, 8); organ (7), guitar (8, 20), keyboards (8) * LaMarcus Eldridge – choir (tracks 1, 10, 11, 15, 27) * Steve Epting – choir (tracks 1, 10, 11, 15, 27) * Brooke Brewer – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Camille Grigsby – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Cedrit Leonard – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Chelsea Miller – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Donald Paige – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Dwanna Orange – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * George Young – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Jason Morales – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Jenelle Dunkley – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Jerome Wayne – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Kiandra Richardson – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Lakeisha Lewis – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Mabvuto Carpenter – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Naarai Jacobs – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Nava Morris – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Phylicia Hill – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Princess Fortier – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) * Storm Chapman – choir (tracks 1, 11, 15, 27) *
No I.D. Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971), known professionally as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope), is an American record producer, DJ and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is known for his early work with Chicago-based rapper Common, as well a ...
– guitar, keyboards, sitar (track 1); drums (15) *
Dixson Dixson is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Adrienne Dixson, American educational theorist * Alice Dixson (born 1969), Filipino American actress, commercial model, and former beauty queen * Hugh Dixson (1841–1926), Australian ...
– drums, vocals (track 1) *
Jon Batiste Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, and television personality. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince (musician), ...
– guitar, keyboards,
sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...
(track 1) * Camaron Ochs – vocals (track 1) * Lemar Carter – drums (tracks 2, 7, 8, 20) *
Brittney Spencer Brittney Spencer (born September 8, 1988) is an American country singer–songwriter. In 2020 Spencer received notable attention following a viral Twitter video showing Spencer singing a cover of a song by the Highwomen. The video drew praise fro ...
– vocals (track 2), background vocals (25) *
Reyna Roberts Reyna Roberts is an American country singer-songwriter and pianist. She was featured on Beyoncé's single " Blackbiird", which charted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was nominated for two People's Choice Country Awards in 2024. ...
– vocals (track 2), background vocals (25) * Tiera Kennedy – vocals (track 2), background vocals (25) *
Dave Hamelin David Charles Hamelin (born October 3, 1980) is a Canadian musician, songwriter and Grammy Award-winning producer known for his work with indie rock band the Stills. Originally the band's drummer, he moved to guitar and co-lead vocalist in 2005 ...
– organ, synthesizer (tracks 2, 27); drums, guitar, piano (2); bass (15) *
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
– guitar (track 2) * Robert Randolph – steel guitar (track 3),
pedal steel guitar The pedal steel guitar is a console steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings, enabling more varied and complex music to be played than with other steel guitar designs. Like all steel guitars, it can play ...
(20) * Justus West – guitar (track 3) * Gavin Williams – organ (track 3) * Justin Schipper –
steel guitar A steel guitar () is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conventional guitar i ...
(track 3) * Ryan Svendsen – trumpet (track 3) *
Ryan Beatty Ryan Kevin Beatty (born September 25, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter. He was born in Clovis, California, and now resides in Los Angeles. His debut EP, ''Because of You'', was released in 2012. After a hiatus, Beatty began to re-emerge i ...
– background vocals (tracks 4, 8, 15) *
Jack Rochon Jack Rochon is a Canadian producer, songwriter and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, best known for work with Sean Leon, Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson, and his various contributions to 2024 Beyoncé album ''Cowboy Carter''. H ...
– guitar (tracks 4, 9, 10), bass (24) * Gary Clark Jr. – guitar (tracks 4, 11, 22, 24) * Rumi Carter – spoken word (track 4) *
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
– spoken word (track 6, 14) *
Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle pl ...
banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...
, viola (track 7) * Killah B – drums (track 7) * Elizabeth Lowell Boland – piano (track 7), background vocals (8) * Nathan Ferraro – guitar (tracks 7, 11), piano (7) *
Hit-Boy Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. (born May 21, 1987), known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his l ...
– synthesizer (track 7) *
The-Dream Terius Adamu Ya Gesteelde-Diamant ('' né'' Youngdell Nash; born September 20, 1977), known professionally as The-Dream, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for having written or co-produced songs for artists in ...
– drums (track 8), clapping (10), background vocals (20, 24, 25); bass, guitar, vocals (23);
drum machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A d ...
, percussion (24) * Ross Garren – harmonica (tracks 8, 14, 15) *
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
– spoken word (track 9), vocals (25) *
Denisia Andrews Nova Wav is a record production and songwriting duo composed of Brittany "Chi" Coney and Denisia "Blu June" Andrews. Over the course of their career, Nova Wav has written and produced on tracks and albums for artists including Beyoncé, Rihanna, ...
– vocals (track 9) * Jack Siegal – guitar (tracks 10, 12–14) * Caleb Curry – choir (track 10) * Jaden Gray – choir (track 10) * Jamal Moore – choir (track 10) * Jerel Duren – choir (track 10) * Kadeem Nichols – choir (track 10) * Michael Shorts – choir (track 10) * Dora Melissa Vargas – clapping (track 10) *
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...
– clapping (track 10) *
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...
– harmonica (track 10) *
Willie Jones Willie Jones may refer to: Sports *Willie Jones (fullback) Willie Douglas Jones Jr. (August 30, 1939 – September 9, 2016) was an American professional American football, football Fullback (American football), fullback who played one season wi ...
– vocals (track 10) * Simon Mårtensson – bass, drums, guitar (track 11) * Rod Castro – guitar (track 11) *
Jeff Gitelman Jeff Gitelman (born February 5, 1982) is a record producer, musician and songwriter from Chișinău, Moldova. He is known for his work with the band The Stepkids, which formed in 2010. He is also known for his composition, production, and instr ...
– harmonica (tracks 14, 15) *
Harv Bernard Harvey (born August 17, 1985), known professionally as Harv, is an American record producer, musician and songwriter from Kansas City, Kansas and based in Los Angeles. He has produced for music industry artists such as Justin Bieber, Sk ...
– drums (track 15) * Derek Dixie – conductor (track 15), synthesizer (27) * Adrienne Woods – strings (track 15) * Bianca McClure – strings (track 15) * Chelsea Gwizdala – strings (track 15) * Crystal Alforque – strings (track 15) * Marta Honer – strings (track 15) * Rhea Hosanny – strings (track 15) * Stephanie Matthews – strings (track 15) * Stephanie Yu – strings (track 15) *
Adam Granduciel Adam Granofsky (born February 15, 1979), better known under his stage name Adam Granduciel, is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the frontman and primary songwriter of the indie rock band the War on Drugs, wit ...
– acoustic guitar, electric guitar (track 16) * Justin Brown – acoustic guitar, drums (track 16) *
Sean Watkins Sean Charles Watkins (born February 18, 1977) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a member of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek, the duo Fiction Family and the supergroup Works Progress Administration. He is the brot ...
– acoustic guitar (track 16) *
Pino Palladino Giuseppe Henry "Pino" Palladino (born 17 October 1957) is a Welsh musician, songwriter, and record producer. A session bassist, he has played bass for a number of acts such as the Who, the John Mayer Trio, Gary Numan, Paul Young, Don Henle ...
– bass (track 16) *
Sara Watkins Sara Ullrika Watkins (born June 8, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of Nickel Creek, the progressive bluegrass group she formed with her brother Sean and mandolinist Chris Thile. In addi ...
fiddle A fiddle is a Bow (music), bowed String instrument, string musical instrument, most often a violin or a bass. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including European classical music, classical music. Althou ...
(track 16) *
Jonathan Rado Jonathan Rado is an American musician, record producer and engineer, best known as a multi-instrumentalist in the indie rock duo Foxygen. Rado is a native of Westlake Village, California, where he formed Foxygen with his classmate Sam France in 20 ...
– organ, piano, synthesizer (track 16) * Michael Pollack – organ (track 16) * Matt Pynn – pedal steel guitar (track 16) *
Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( , born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and director. Regarded as a contemporary pop icon, Cyrus has been recognized for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. She is ...
– vocals (track 16) *
Post Malone Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His music blends various genres including hip-hop, Pop music, pop, Contemporary R&B, R&B, Tra ...
– vocals (track 17) *
Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 1 ...
– guitar (track 17) *
Mamii Shawntoni Ajanee Nichols, better known by her stage name Mamii, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist, best known for her contributions to Beyoncé album ''Cowboy Carter'', co-writing ¥$ single "Talking" ...
– guitar (track 18) * Johnny May – violin (track 18) * Harry Edwards – guitar (track 20) * Marcus Reddick – bass (track 22) * Bah Christ – guitar (track 22) * Péter Kovács – violin (track 25) *
Pharrell Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973), also known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the music production duo ...
– vocals (track 26) * Arnetta Johnson –
brass Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and mechanical, electrical, acoustic and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion, generally copper and zinc. I ...
(track 27) * Christopher Gray – brass (track 27) * Christopher Johnson – brass (track 27) * Crystal Torres – brass (track 27) * Gabrielle Garo – brass (track 27) * Jesse McGinty – brass (track 27) * Lemar Guillary – brass (track 27) * Omar Edwards – organ (track 27) * Tyler Johnson – organ (track 27) *
Ian Fitchuk Ian Fitchuk (born February 13, 1982) is an American songwriter and record producer. Early life Fitchuk was born in Chicago to parents who are both accomplished classical musicians and educators. He grew up there. He cites Paul Simon's ''Grace ...
– piano (track 27) Technical *
Colin Leonard Colin Leonard is an American mastering engineer. In 2024, he won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album (Victoria Monét) and in 2025 for Album of the Year (Beyoncé), as well as receiving 14 nominations. He has also received 13 Latin Grammy ...
mastering * Stuart Whitemixing (tracks 1–3, 5–16, 18–22, 27), recording (1–18, 20, 22, 24, 25) *
Tony Maserati Tony Maserati is an American record producer and audio engineer specializing in mixing. He was involved in the development of the New York R&B and hip-hop scene in the 1990s, working with Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, and Queen ...
– mixing (tracks 4, 18) *
Shawn Everett Shawn Everett (born July 6, 1982) is a Canadian music engineer and producer best known for his work with Alabama Shakes, Kacey Musgraves, The War on Drugs, The Killers, and Julian Casablancas. Everett has won six Grammy Awards. Early life Ev ...
– mixing, recording (track 16) *
Jaycen Joshua Jaycen Joshua is an American audio engineer based in California. He won three Grammy Awards: the first for mixing ''Growing Pains'' for Mary J. Blige in 2007, followed by '' El mal querer'' for Rosalía in 2018, and ''Hyperspace'' for Beck in ...
– mixing (tracks 17, 23) * Mike Seaberg – mixing (tracks 17, 23) *
Chris Godbey Chris Godbey is an American songwriter, vocal engineer, producer, and mixer, best known for his frequent work with gospel artist Kirk Franklin (before working alongside producer Timbaland), including Grammy-winning albums ''Hero'', '' The 20/20 ...
– mixing (track 25) * Leslie Brathwaite – mixing (track 26) * Andrea Roberts – engineering (all tracks), recording (1, 4) * John Cranfield – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–17, 19–27), recording (26, 27) * Henrique Andrade – engineering (track 2), recording (1, 8, 12, 26) *
Kuk Harrell Thaddis Laphonia "Kuk" Harrell ( ) is an American songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and engineer. He was a member of a songwriting–production team composed of himself, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash. In 2011, K ...
– engineering (track 25) * Angelica "Jeli" Dorman – engineering (track 25), recording (1, 2) * Dani Pampuri – recording (tracks 1, 4, 10, 11, 15, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27), engineering assistance (17) * Lester Mendoza – recording (tracks 1, 15, 27) * Hotae Alexander Jang – recording (tracks 3, 7, 8, 13, 15, 20) * Dave Hamelin – recording (tracks 3, 14, 15, 24, 27) * Jack Rochon – recording (track 4) * Mamii – recording (tracks 5, 18) * Alex Nibley – recording (track 7) * Brandon Harding – recording (tracks 10, 17, 20–22, 25) * Camaron Ochs – recording (track 11) * Kyle Huffman – recording (tracks 11, 15, 27) * Matheus Braz – recording (tracks 11, 12, 20, 24), editing (19), engineering assistance (all tracks) * Nick Lobel – recording (tracks 11, 25) * Steve Chadie – recording (track 14) * Ian Gold – recording (track 16) * Ivan Wayman – recording (track 16) * Piéce Eatah – recording (track 16) * Willie Linton – recording (track 17) * Kristen Hilkert – recording (track 25) * Mike Larson – recording (track 26) * Konrad Snyder – recording (track 27) * Tyler Johnson – recording (track 27) * Khirye Tyler –
editing Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written language, written, Image editing, visual, Audio engineer, audible, or Film editing, cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing p ...
(tracks 4, 11) * Patrick Gardner – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8–27) * Conner McFarland – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Danforth Webster – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Garrett Duncan – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Jonathan Lopez Garcia – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Nick Sutton – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Terena Dawn – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–27) * Gabriella Wayne – engineering assistance (track 4) * Julia Norelli – engineering assistance (track 4) * Najeeb Jones – engineering assistance (track 4) * Cameron Hogan – engineering assistance (track 11) * Chris Bhikoo – engineering assistance (tracks 17, 23) * Jacob Richards – engineering assistance (tracks 17, 23)


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Release history


See also

*
Beyoncé 2024 NFL Halftime Show The NFL 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show, also dubbed the Beyoncé Bowl, was the halftime show, halftime entertainment for the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game, which took place on December 25, 2024, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. ...
*
2024 in American music The following is a list of events and releases that have happened in 2024 in music in the United States. Notable events January *8 – Fantasia (singer), Fantasia performed the The Star-Spangled Banner, national anthem at the College Foot ...
* 2024 in country music *
African-American trail rides Black/African American trail rides, or Black trail rides, are rural parade-like celebrations that commemorate the traditions of Black cowboys and formerly enslaved Black Americans with their lineage to Freedmen who were skilled in caring for and ...
*
List of 2024 albums The following is a list of albums, EPs, and mixtapes released in 2024. These albums are (1) original, i.e. excluding reissue In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single w ...
* List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2024 * List of Top Country Albums number ones of 2024 * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Australia) * List of number-one hits of 2024 (Austria) * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Belgium) * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Canada) * List of number-one albums from the 2020s (Denmark) * List of number-one hits of 2024 (France) * List of number-one hits of 2024 (Germany) * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Ireland) *
List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand) This is the Recorded Music NZ list of number-one albums in New Zealand during the 2020s. In New Zealand, Recorded Music NZ compiles the top 40 albums chart each Friday, and dates the chart for the following Monday. Over-the-counter sales of both ...
*
List of number-one albums in Norway This list shows all the albums that have been number one on the official chart list in Norway, VG-lista. The albums chart started as a top 20 chart in week 1, 1967 and was later expanded to a top 40 chart. 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 ...
* List of number-one albums of 2024 (Portugal) * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Scotland) * List of number-one albums of 2024 (Spain) *
List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden This is a list of number-one singles in Sweden at "Kvällstoppen" (Evening top list) 1962–1975, "Topplistan" (The top list) 1975–1997, "Hitlistan" (The hit list) 1998–2007, "Sverigetopplistan" (The Swedish top list) 2007 and forward. Swed ...
* List of number-one hits of 2024 (Switzerland) *
List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2020s A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
* Milestones and achievements for albums on Spotify


Notes


References

{{authority control 2024 albums Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic Albums produced by Beyoncé Albums produced by Dave Hamelin Albums produced by Paul McCartney Albums produced by Pharrell Williams Albums produced by Raphael Saadiq Albums produced by Swizz Beatz Albums produced by The-Dream Beyoncé albums Columbia Records albums Grammy Award for Album of the Year Parkwood Entertainment albums Sequel albums Country albums by American artists Country pop albums Pop albums by American artists Western music (North America) albums Americana albums 2020s concept albums