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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, released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album is the second installment of Beyoncé's trilogy project, following Renaissance (2022).
Mostly labeled a country album, Cowboy Carter blends together diverse musical genres such as pop, hip hop, trap, psychedelic funk, blues, soul, rock, rock 'n' roll, opera, "Irish" jig and folk music, among others. Conceptually, the album is presented as a radio broadcast by a fictitious station called "KNTRY Radio Texas", with country singers Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson acting as disc jockeys. The album's songs feature lesser-known country artists such as Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey and Willie Jones. The music is driven by a range of acoustic instruments played by musicians including Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Nile Rodgers, Jon Batiste, Gary Clark Jr. and Rhiannon Giddens.
The album broke several streaming records and debuted at number one in several countries globally. Two co-lead singles — "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" — supported the album, with the former becoming the first country song by a black woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts.
Cowboy Carter was met with universal acclaim upon release; 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 its Black roots. The album also ignited discussions on Black musicians' place within country music, boosted the listenership of Black country artists and country radio in general, and increased the popularity of Western wear and culture.
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