In honor of the one-year anniversary of Beyoncé’s country fusion album Cowboy Carter, I wanted to give a complete review of the album’s deep meaning, rich history, and well-earned awards. Welcome to the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit review.
Prior to the album’s release, two singles, 16 Carriages and TEXAS HOLD ‘EM, were dropped on February 11, 2024, at the end of Beyoncé’s Verizon Super Bowl commercial. The more popular of the two, TEXAS HOLD ‘EM, immediately went viral, garnering a lot of attention on social media with more than 1 million videos sampling clips of the song. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM earned the number 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and held the spot for the number 1 song on the Hot Country chart for two weeks, making her the first Black woman to earn that spot. The song was so popular among fans that Beyoncé released a “Pony Up Remix” that has over 1 million streams on Spotify. For many fans, Texas Hold ‘Em was the best part of the album. Although the singles were well received among fans, Beyoncé received immediate negative feedback from country music fans and musicians. The most popular comment among critics is that “the album wasn’t country” and that it “lacked authenticity.” Others complained that “ it was too gimmicky and relied on Nashville stereotypes.”
Cowboy Carter was released the following month on March 29; fans and critics alike went crazy, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share their thoughts and flooding TikTok with new dances and creating art inspired by the album cover. The album itself is a bold blend of traditional country, 60’s rock, hip hop, and upbeat pop songs. It starts off with AMERIICAN REQUIEM a folksy ballad that sends a very important message and sets one thing straight for all of the naysayers in the line, “They used to say I spoke too country.“ Knowles references the very beginning of her career with girl group Destiny’s Child in the 1990s. People complained about her Texas roots and found her southern accent annoying, referring to her as the “bumpkin” of the group. But in the very next sentence she brings up the hate she received after the 2016 CMAs: “And the rejection came; said I wasn’t ‘country‘ enough.” Only a few moments later, Knowles brings attention to the historical influence African Americans have on modern country music, a genre that they have been shut out from. “Goodbye to what has been, pretty house that we never settled in.”
AMERIICAN REQUIEM fades into a beautiful cover of Blackbird by the Beatles that the artist re-titled BLACKBIIRD. Here you’ll notice the deliberate use of double “I’s” representing this being the second act in her album trilogy. The song is followed by 16 CARRIAGES, a personal favorite of Aejane Humphrey (12): “Hands down, 16 CARRIAGES is the best song on the entire album.” After that is PROTECTOR, an emotional lullaby dedicated to her children. Opened by her youngest daughter, Rumi Carter, the lullaby includes the tear-jerking lyrics, “Even though I know someday you’re going to shine on your own, I will be your projector.” Those poetic lyrics beautifully describe the sacrifices a parent makes for their children. It wouldn’t be a Beyoncé album if she didn’t leave a message for each one of her children. The sweet, folksy interlude MY ROSE has a secret name on the CD album “MR. SIR” assigned to her only son, Sir Carter. Internet detectives have suspected it breaks down to be even more personalized, MR=My Rose, making the full title “My Rose, Sir.” Through hidden messages like that, you can see how truly special and personal this album is. After the first five songs, the album takes a sudden turn into an upbeat R&B country mix, with songs like TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and BODYGUARD, a song dedicated to her husband and fellow musician Jay-Z Carter. JOLENE, a playful spin on country icon Dolly Parton’s hit song that is allegedly dedicated to the woman Jay-Z cheated on Beyoncé with, and DAUGHTER, a Spanish aria that gracefully intertwines different genres of music and elegantly shows off her classical training.
This collection includes many extremely talented musicians who have a history in country music, like Miley Cyrus, who sings a heartwarming duet about friendship with Beyoncé on track 16. And rapper-turned-country star Post Malone on a flirty, upbeat song entitled LEVIIS JEANS. On LEVII’S JEANS, Malone and Knowles voices blend together frictionlessly, showcasing the versatility of the artist’s voice and further proving that genre can be constricting for musicians who express themselves through their art. These songs are followed by four more lighthearted dance songs, YA YA, DESERT EAGLE, SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’, AND RIIVERDANCE, one more flirtatious tune, TYRANT, and neatly wrapped up with AMEN, a haunting continuation of AMERIICAN REQUIEM the first song on the album, going back to the subject of the African American influence on country music. The song urges listeners to forget the idea that country music belongs to one race and look towards the future, which is best represented in the chorus “Them old ideas are buried here.” The intentional use of “Amen” sounds like hope and the need to focus on redemption, purifying “our fathers sins.”
Beyoncé uses the music on Cowboy Carter to deliver a message (perhaps to the country music community) that genre should not define an artist and musicians should be allowed to show creativity through their art. This idea is boldly stated by pioneering Black country music singer Linda Martell in the beginning of the 12th track, SPAGETTII, a country-hip hop fusion “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?… In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice, well, some may feel confined.” That quote alone sets the tone for one of the most important themes in the entire album. The theme continues on to JUST FOR FUN, a passionate beat featuring former X Factor contestant Willie Jones, who told an interviewer at the Billboard Music Awards Beyoncé saved his life with the Cowboy Carter collab.
This masterful collection of 27 songs had been in the works for five years before its release and credits more than 70 songwriters. It’s jam-packed with features from iconic country musicians like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, and Linda Martell, as well as features from talented up-and-coming artists like Shabozey, Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, and Britney Spencer. The album is the second part of a rumored three-part collection following ACT I Renaissance, released in 2022. According to Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter was meant to be released in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to release Renaissance first because “ there was too much heaviness in the world” and people “deserved to dance.”
Knowles was inspired to write this album from a distasteful experience she had a few years prior when she experimented with a country song on her 2016 album, Lemonade. The singer received severe backlash for her performance at the 2016 Country Music Awards alongside The Dixie Chicks. Many country music fans were confused as to why Beyoncé was performing, as she usually sings R&B. “ Beyoncé isn’t a country artist,” one critic said. “Why are you showing Beyoncé & Dixie Chicks? One doesn’t believe in America and our police force, while the other didn’t support our president and veterans during war,” one commenter wrote, referring to Beyoncé’s public support of the Black Lives Matter movement and remarks against police brutality.
As of now the album has earned several notable achievements: 11 Grammy nominations (winning Best Country Album and Album of the Year), getting the title of most first-day streams on Amazon Music, opening a spot for a performance at the NFL Christmas halftime show (aka the Beyoncé Bowl), and sending her on a tour called “The Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour.” Whether or not the artist deserves those achievements has been debated between fans and critics. Some believe Album of the Year should have gone to singer Billie Eilish for “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Others still think Cowboy Carter didn’t meet the standard for country music.
Because of the division of opinions, the song has been the cause of many heated internet debates. Rest assured, Beyoncé superfans were quick to clap back and come to her defense. “I don’t care what anyone says; Beyoncé deserved Album of the Year,” said Abby Philey (12).
Overall, Cowboy Carter is a beautiful piece of art that delivers several important messages to listeners across the world, reflects on the mistakes and achievements of Americans throughout history, and breaks the hindering “laws” of genre. By listening to this album even once, you can see how deliberate and intentional every aspect of the collection is. It paints a colorful picture of the singer’s southern roots and pays homage to Black country musicians, rodeo stars, and of course, cowboys. The five-year project itself has given many rising talents an opportunity to show off their skills and launch their mainstream careers in country music. This genre-bending, innovative collection of songs has sparked several important conversations for singers, songwriters, and listeners who enjoy all types of music. Cowboy Carter sales have even gone beyond music; Beyoncé’s denim-heavy look book has increased the number of influencers and the comeback of the boho cowboy style, causing an increase in sales of black cowboy hats by 86% and bolo ties by 38%. She’s even caused an increase in Levi’s stock price. Cowboy Carter is more than a country album; it’s a global phenomenon, and it’s hard to imagine how she will top this during Act III.