Blair Caldwell for Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
We are 10 days away from Beyoncé‘s act ii, and the legendary singer took a moment to shed some light on what’s about to happen. In addition to revealing the album cover, she also penned an open letter about the accolades she’s already received with the LP’s first two singles, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES,” which included making history as the first Black woman to top Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES. I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you,” Bey began.
She noted, “My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”
The Houston native revealed that COWBOY CARTER was an album that took over five years to make. Adding, “It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” She was indirectly referencing her Country Music Awards performance when she and the Dixie Chicks performed “Daddy Lessons.”
When reflecting on that as it relates to act ii, Bey continued, “Because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Of the backlash she faced, the mother of three said it “forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me” and “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
Bey teased that there are “a few surprises” on the project, hinting that she “collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect.”
She did note that COWBOY CARTER is “a continuation of RENAISSANCE” and she hopes “this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.”
Most of all, her open letter concluded by stating that the new LP “ain’t a country album [but] is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.” It is slated for release on March 29.
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