Cover photo of Beyoncé's album “Cowboy Carter”.
(Reuters) — American music superstar Beyoncé released her long-awaited country album “Cowboy Carter'' on Friday, which she says was born out of an experience several years ago when she “felt unwelcome.''
The album, released Friday, features country music legends Linda Martel and Willie Nelson, as well as duets with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone and a rendition of Dolly Parton's famous “Jolene.” A cover is also included.
Many critics praised the album, with Page Six's Nicholas Houtman calling it “a revival that country music desperately needed.”
Experts and fans alike see Beyoncé's foray into country music as a pioneering and homage, opening a new door to the heritage of Black Americans in country music and culture, and that this history has been seen in some mainstream music. It is hardly recognized in the world.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé is now said to be following in the footsteps of many acclaimed black country music legends before her.
“The criticism I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to overcome the limitations that were placed on me,” the singer wrote on Instagram ahead of the album's release.
After recently making a surprise appearance in a Super Bowl commercial, she teased the album for the first time when she released two new songs. The album is her second in a three-album project that began with the critically acclaimed “Renaissance” in 2022.
Throughout her career, Beyoncé has been vocal about her connection to country music and Southern culture, hinting at the influence of both throughout her career.
In the post, she explained how her negative experiences with country music audiences led her to “dig deep into the history of country music.”
This album has a theme of revealing black identity in rural spaces. One of the album's 27 titles is called “The Linda Martell Show,” after the first black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.
The album also includes a cover of the Beatles' classic “Blackbird'', retitled “Blackbird'', which was originally written by Paul McCartney as a way of addressing the nation's civil rights movement, racial tensions in particular. It was written as an ode to the struggle that black women have endured to achieve equity.
Beyoncé's version features black country artist Tanner Adele, and other black artists are also credited, including Britney Spencer, Tierra Kennedy and Rayna Roberts.
“Instantly timeless, the 27-song project is a soulful celebration of Southern values and the genre's African-American roots,” Houtman wrote on Page Six.
