Beyoncé Reflects On Criticism And Triumphs Ahead Of ‘Cowboy Carter’ Album Release
The project will drop March 29 and is expected to feature a few surprise collaborations.

Photo Courtesy Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
Beyoncé declares that today, March 19, marks the start of the 10-day countdown to the release of her new album, Act II: Cowboy Carter. In honor of this significant day, the critically acclaimed artist took to social media to make a statement surrounding what fans can expect from her next collection and the personal battles that inspired it.
Sharing Gratitude Towards Her Supporters
She began by thanking those who have shown tremendous support on her two most recent countrified releases – “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
The new songs have proved to be a historic moment for Beyonce. Upon their debut to country radio on Feb. 13, “Texas Hold ‘Em” landed at No. 1 and “16 Carriages” placed at No. 9 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard reported that the pop/R&B/hop-hop superstar’s entrance at the top of the chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” makes her the first Black female artist to claim the No. 1 spot.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of ‘TEXAS HOLD ‘EM’ and ‘16 CARRIAGES,’” she wrote. “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. 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 Unwelcoming Experience That Inspired The New Songs
As she begins to mention above, Beyoncé says she has also faced plenty of unwelcoming opinions towards her entrance into the country music genre. She went on to reveal that receiving criticism in such a way is not a new experience for her, in fact, her next full-length project will touch more on this ongoing issue that she has been personally battling for years.
“This album has been over five years in the making. 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 shares. “But, 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.”
She continues, “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
What Can Fans Expect From The Album?
According to her statement, the project will offer “a few surprises” including some collaborations with “brilliant” artists who the “Crazy In Love” singer says she “deeply respects.”
Cowboy Carter is confirmed to be a follow-up to her Renaissance album, which dropped in 2022 as part one of what is expected to be “three-act project.”
“I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound,” she said humbly. “I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.”
“This Ain’t A Country Album”

In conclusion, she explains that she does NOT consider her next project to be a solely country-centered album. Instead, “Queen Bey” simply dubs it a “Beyoncé album.”
“I am proud to share it with y’all!”
The entirety of Act II: Cowboy Carter will officially be available on March 29.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.