Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’: Rounding up the latest on the new album
Giddy up, Beyhive. The second act of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance†is upon us with the Friday release of “Cowboy Carter.â€
From a splashy announcement during a Super Bowl LVIII commercial to the album’s first two singles making history atop the country charts, the superstar yet again disrupted long-established traditions in the music industry. The winningest artist in Grammy Awards’ history has two-stepped away from the glitzy disco sound of her 2022 album, debuting the twangy “Texas Hold ‘Em†and “16 Carriages†in February in apparent homage to her Southern roots.
The 42-year-old “Cuff It†and “Break My Soul†singer has since asserted that “Cowboy Carter†“ain’t a Country album†but “a “Beyoncé album†that was five years in the making and wrought from an experience she had years ago when she “did not feel welcome.†Because of that, she “did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.â€
And with that, the 27-track “Cowboy Carter†rides into town and into the celebrated artist’s oeuvre. And, befitting of the “Renaissance†hitmaker, with Queen Bey triumphantly atop her latest steed on the album’s cover.
Here’s a look at The Times’ coverage of “Cowboy Carter†thus far: