With her new album 'Act 2: Cowboy Carter' arriving tomorrow at midnight, Beyoncé has revealed the album's tracklist ahead of its March 29 release date.
In the latest Beyoncé fashion, the singer took to Instagram to announce the tracklist. Highlights include “Jolene,” which Dolly Parton previously reported might appear in the second part of her “Renaissance” trilogy, as well as “The Linda Martell Show,” a reference to one of the first commercially successful black artists in the country and the United States. The first to play the Opry.
It's unclear whether “Dolly P” and “Smoke Hour Willie Nelson” indicate that the two country giants will appear on the recordings. Previous reports have indicated that Travis Scott may appear on one of the songs, though fans will have to wait until tomorrow to see the final lineup.
Beyoncé began her new era in February, when she surprisingly released two singles — “Texas Hold 'Em” and “16 Carriages” — during the Super Bowl. “Chapter 2: Cowboy Carter” is the long-awaited follow-up to 2022’s “Renaissance,” which the singer initially revealed would be a three-part project. While the first relied heavily on club and dance music, “Act 2” is expected to be a country album, with Beyoncé herself explaining that she was inspired to delve into the genre after an incident in which she did not feel “welcome.”
She was likely referring to her 2016 performance at the Country Music Association Awards, where she duetted with the Dixie Chicks (as they were known at the time). Her appearance sparked controversy in the country's community, especially on social media, and some expressed their displeasure at the fact that she was given such a prominent spot on the show.
In a long message she posted on Instagram, Beyoncé explained that this incident inspired her to study the origins of country music. “This experience was born out of an experience I had years ago where I didn't feel welcome… and it was very clear that I didn't feel welcome,” she said. “But, because of that experience, I delved deeper into the history of country music and studied our rich music archive.”
She began working on “Chapter 2” five years ago, and in addition to collaborating with Raphael Saadiq, Robert Randolph and Rhiannon Giddens, she has more surprises up her sleeve for the album.
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