Cowboy Carter (also referred to asAct II: Cowboy Carter) is the eighth studio album by American singer and songwriterBeyoncé. It was released on March 29, 2024, viaParkwood Entertainment andColumbia Records. Aconcept album,Cowboy Carter is the second of a planned trilogy of albums, followingRenaissance (2022). Beyoncé conceived the album as a journey through a reinvention ofAmericana, spotlighting the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers toAmerican musical andcultural history.
Cowboy Carter was met with universal acclaim and appeared on multiple year-end lists; critics stated that the album's genre experimentation, expansive scope and eclectic references aided an ambitious reimagining of Americana and country through the lens of their Black roots. At the67th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé became the first Black woman in 25 years to winAlbum of the Year and the first Black artist to winBest Country Album; the album's third single, "II Most Wanted", wonBest Country Duo/Group Performance. The album increased the listenership of country music, drove cultural conversations on Black musicians' place within the genre, boosted the careers of rising country artists, and increased the popularity ofWestern wear andculture.
Cowboy Carter debuted at number one in several countries and broke multiple chart and streaming records. In the United States, it topped theBillboard 200 and was Beyoncé's first to top theTop Country Albums chart, selling 407,000album-equivalent units. The album was supported by three singles, "Texas Hold 'Em", "16 Carriages", and "II Most Wanted", with the first becoming Beyoncé's ninth U.S. number-one single and the first country song by a Black woman to top theBillboard Hot 100 andHot Country Songs charts. To support the album, Beyoncé embarked on theCowboy Carter Tour from April 28 to July 26, 2025.
Background and development
Beyoncé was born and raised inHouston, where the city'scowboy heritage andcountry andzydeco music played a role in her upbringing.[2][3] She listened to country music from an early age, particularly from her paternal grandfather, and her family attended theHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year inwestern clothing.[4] She performed at the Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007, and has continued to celebrate her country andSouthern roots throughout her career.[a]
I grew up going to theHouston rodeo every year. It was this amazing, diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances,Houston-style friedSnickers, and fried turkey legs. One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the AmericanBlack cowboy. Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses. They took their talents and formed the Soul Circuit. Through time, these Black rodeos showcased incredible performers and helped us reclaim our place inwestern history and culture.
Beyoncé first released an original country song in 2016: the track "Daddy Lessons" on her sixth studio albumLemonade.[11] Beyoncé, together withthe Chicks (who had previously covered the song), performed the track at the50th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 2, 2016. The performance was largely praised by critics and gave theCountry Music Association Awards their highest viewership in history; however, it was also met with backlash, with some country music fans criticizing Beyoncé's attendance and claiming she did not belong in the genre. TheCountry Music Association deleted all promotional posts about Beyoncé's performance, which was seen by some observers as succumbing to the pressure from conservative and racist viewers.[12][13] In December 2016,The Recording Academy's country music committee rejected "Daddy Lessons" for consideration for aGrammy Award, with publications reporting that the song was not seen as being "country enough".[14][15]
This experience led to the creation ofCowboy Carter. Beyoncé explained how it was made clear to her that she was not welcome in the country music space, which encouraged her to explore the musical history of the genre rather than letting the critics force her out of it. She delved into the history of country music andWestern culture and researched its African-American roots. She studied "our rich musical archive" and learned from educators who had long advocated for a re-education on the Black roots of country music. She also read that, historically, half of cowboys were Black, which made her realize how much of the Black, brown and Native cowboy stories are missing in American history.[16] This was the inspiration for her 2021 "Ivy Park Rodeo" clothing collection.[10] Following this research, Beyoncé conceivedCowboy Carter as a journey through a reinvention of Americana, in which she redefines its boundaries and spotlights overlooked contributions of African Americans to diverse musical genres, Southern and Western culture, and American history.[17] CollaboratorRhiannon Giddens said Beyoncé did not intend to create a typicalcrossover country album, but instead wanted to explore her family's roots through music.[18]
Cowboy Carter was over five years in the making. Beyoncé began to write the album in 2019, then recorded during theCOVID-19 pandemic, which she described as her most creative period.[19] The album forms "Act II" of a trilogy project that Beyoncé recorded during this period.[20] The first act,Renaissance (2022), is primarily ahouse anddisco record highlighting and celebrating the Black progenitors ofdance music, leading some to believe that each album of the trilogy would aim to explore the Black roots of a different musical genre.[21]Cowboy Carter was originally intended to be released beforeRenaissance, but Beyoncé changed the order in response to the pandemic.[22] Between 2020 and 2024,Dolly Parton often said that she would like Beyoncé to cover her song "Jolene".[23][24]
While working on the album, she reached out toMiley Cyrus to collaborate with her onCowboy Carter. Cyrus presented her with "Easy Lover" and "Shotgun Rider", from which Beyoncé chose the second one, renaming it as "II Most Wanted".[25]
Composition
In addition to up-and-coming country artists, various established musicians contributed toCowboy Carter, includingWillie Nelson,Stevie Wonder andNile Rodgers.
The joy of creating music is that there are no rules. The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. Withartificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones. I didn't want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, andorgans perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned intofolk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature.
Rooted incountry music,[29]Cowboy Carter is a genre-spanning album that blends various styles ofAmerican roots music, in particular that of theAmerican South.[30][31] Publications categorized it ascountry pop,[32] country,[33]outlaw country,[34]western,[35]Americana,[36] andpop.[37] It further explores elements ofblues,folk, andR&B, and various other styles that Beyoncé listened to when growing up in Texas, includingzydeco,rock and roll,psychedelic soul,rhythm and blues,funk,gospel,bluegrass,opera,hip-hop,rock,honky-tonk, andgo-go.[38][39][40] The album also fuses in more contemporary and international musical styles, such ashouse,Jersey club,flamenco,funk carioca,fado andIrish folk.[34][41] Beyoncé's experimentation with musical styles onCowboy Carter aims to break down the limitations placed on genre-based music, in the service of redefining the boundaries of Americana.[17][42] The album's genre experimentation received significant discussion in the media, with publications describing the album as "genre-busting", "genre-defying", "genre-bending" and "genre-blending".[43][44][45][46] Music critics differed in their classification of the album: some simply defined it as "country" or "country-and-Western",[47][48] while others opined that the album is not a country albumper se but uses country signifiers to explore various genres.[49][50][51] Beyoncé herself said aboutCowboy Carter: "This ain't a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album."USA Today's Kofi Mframa said this description was a "resounding testament to Beyoncé's long history of refusal to adhere to the traditional confines of genre".[49]
On February 11, 2024, duringSuper Bowl LVIII,Verizon aired acommercial starring Beyoncé entitled "Can't B Broken", in which she tried to "break the Internet" through increasingly outlandish means, such as releasing ajazz saxophone record, performing on top ofSphere in Las Vegas, building anartificial intelligence (AI) version of herself, launching a collection ofBarbie-like dolls dubbed "BarBey", announcing her candidacy for a fictional political position, and flying into space for a performance. After all of the ideas proved unsuccessful, Beyoncé concluded the commercial by remarking: "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music".[55]
After the commercial aired, Beyoncé released a teaser video forAct II onInstagram.[56] Directed by British artist and filmmakerNadia Lee Cohen, the video pays homage toParis, Texas (1984), referencesborder blasters and featuresChuck Berry's 1955 track "Maybellene".[57][58] The same day, the singer's official website was updated to announce her eighth studio album, with the placeholder nameAct II, scheduled for release on March 29.[59] Subsequently, the album's two lead singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages", were simultaneously made available for digital download and streaming.[60][61] On March 12, Beyoncé announced the album would be titledCowboy Carter[62] via a teaser poster of awestern saddle with asash.[63] With this she listed album merchandise of limited-edition CDs with abonus track,T-shirts andvinyl variants in red, white, blue and standard black.[64]
Album release
On March 19, 2024, Beyoncé revealed the album cover via Instagram, and said there would be "surprises" and collaborations on the album.[65] On March 20, she revealed a limited edition exclusive cover, wearing a sash that reads "act ii BEYINCÉ", referencing her motherTina's generational family surname.[66][67] Taglines andfilm stills for the album were projected onto various museums in New York City.[68] One of these was an unauthorized projection onto theSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum, who genially responded by postingFranz Marc's 1910 paintingThree Horses Drinking with the caption "This ain't Texas" in reference to "Texas Hold 'Em".[69] Beyoncé also postedco-ordinates to the museum on herInstagram story.[70]
This album has been over five years in the making. [...] 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 ourmusical history. Thecriticisms 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. [...] 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. I focused on this album as a continuation ofRENAISSANCE...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 aCountry album. This is a "Beyoncé" album.
On March 27, Beyoncé posted a graphic to Instagram of the album's tracklist inspired by vintage posters from theChitlin' Circuit era. It revealed collaborations with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, as well as a cover of the former's "Jolene", and "The Linda Martell Show". The latter song references Linda Martell, the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in the country genre.[71]
The CD release comes in four variants, each with a different rear cover depicting Beyoncé. It was released in Japan on March 29[72] and on April 12 in Europe.[73] After the album's release, fans reported that their pre-ordered physical vinyl and CD copies were missing numerous tracks, with some asking for refunds.[74][75][76]
Levi's campaign
The American clothing companyLevi Strauss & Co. saw an opportunity to better market their brand to a female audience after their product inspired theCowboy Carter track "Levii's Jeans". On September 30, 2024, the brand announced a global campaign with Beyoncé titled "Reiimagine" that stretched to August 2025. It was based on women's history with the brand and split into four reimagined historical Levi's commercials as "chapters", the first being of the company's 1985 "Laundrette" television spot, the second being 1991's "Pool Hall," the third being 1988's "Refrigerator" and the fourth being a compilation of all three entitled "The Denim Cowboy." It renamed the chapters to "The Ice", "The Heat", and "The Smoke", and had additional footage of Beyoncé entering "Laundrette" on a horse and exiting "Pool Hall" on a motorcycle.[77]
Levi's described the partnership as "the biggest one [they've] ever done," and used Beyoncé's impact to help bring in a boost to $2 billion in sales.[78] The first commercial starring Beyoncé amassed 2.4 billion impressions in under a month.[79] As of August 2025, three of the looks featured in the second "chapter" rank as Levi's top sellers in Europe.[80]
On November 17, 2024, it was revealed that Beyoncé would performaCowboy Carter medley as a halftime show of theNational Football League (NFL) match game between theHouston Texans and theBaltimore Ravens during Christmas Day, with the event being available onNetflix.[81] After the broadcast performance, Beyoncé tweeted a short video clip with the caption "Look at that horse" and a stated date for January 14, 2025, within the visualizer, which led to speculations about a promotional concert tour for the album.[82] Nevertheless, theCowboy Carter Tour was officially announced on the late night of February 1, 2025, while 22 initial dates across the U.S., England and France were revealed on February 2.[83][84][85]
Cover artwork and title
A horsewoman presenting the American flag at a Texas rodeo
TheCowboy Carter album cover was shot by Blair Caldwell, a Los Angeles-based photographer who is from Texas. Much like the cover forRenaissance—which saw Beyoncé sitting atop a stationarydisco ball horse—theCowboy Carter artwork sees Beyoncé atop agray horse at agallop. She rides the horse while sitting sideways (historically,sidesaddle riding was associated with high-status women), dressed in red, white and blue clothing, wearing a cowboy hat and a sash reading "Cowboy Carter". She holds the horse's reins in one hand and a large American flag in the other.[86] The imagery is reminiscent ofrodeo queens,[87] who often are asked to carry the American flag in a rodeogrand entry.[88][89]
The album cover was a topic of discussion and dissection by critics. Francesca T Royster, professor atDePaul University and author ofBlack Country Music: Listening for Revolutions, wrote: "The aesthetic choice is bold and seems to be signaling the ways that Beyoncé is putting herself into conversations about nationalism, a theme very much central to discourses about country music, patriotism and authenticity, from the times of its origins."[90] Critics suggested a variety of inspirations and allusions for the cover, includingpresidential portraits,Jacques-Louis David'sNapoleon Crossing the Alps (1801–1805),Marina Abramović'sThe Hero (2001),[86]Kehinde Wiley'sEquestrian Portrait of King Philip II (Michael Jackson) (2009), theBill Pickett Invitational Rodeo,[90] andEadweard Muybridge'sThe Horse in Motion (1878).[87]
The album is titled after a character "Cowboy Carter", who is inspired by the originalBlack cowboys of the American West.[91] Beyoncé explained: "The word cowboy itself was used in a derogatory way to describe the former slaves as 'boys', who were the most skilled and had the hardest jobs of handling horses and cattle, alike. In destroying the negative connotation, what remains is the strength and resiliency of these men who were the true definition of Western fortitude."[17]
Cowboy Carter was met with critical acclaim upon release, with some describing it as a "masterpiece".[b] Critics praised Beyoncé's blending of diverse musical genres and vocal performance, and described the album as both a grand political statement and a personal ode to Beyoncé's roots.[108][109][110][111] On the review aggregator websiteMetacritic, the album received aweighted average score of 91 from 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[93]
Critics laudedCowboy Carter as an exploration and reinvention ofAmericana, as well as a celebration of Black southern culture and its contribution to the country music genre.The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber and theEvening Standard's Gemma Samways noted that the album experiments with the touchstones and musical traditions of country and Americana in order to explore its Black cultural roots.[112][113] Maria Sherman of theAssociated Press wrote that the "eclectic" and "epic" album "redefines American style" and requires close examination of its references, themes and messages for full enjoyment.[114]HipHopDX's Tai Saint-Louis described the album as a reclamation of both the "deep roots from which Beyoncé has crafted her artistry" and "the many branches that have sprouted from Black music in America".[115]Variety's chief music critic Chris Willman characterized the album as a "piece ofagitprop and socially significant performance art" that both reflects and impacts the history of Black music and country.[116]
Critics commended the album for what they described as its ambitious experimentation with genres, with Beyoncé reimagining country music in her image.[c]Neil McCormick ofThe Daily Telegraph felt the album pushed the boundaries of genres and mixed diverse musical styles as a polemic against the conservatism of the country genre.[96]Clash andBillboard characterized the album as anethnomusicological study that venerates the breadth of musical subcultures of the American South,[95][121] whileThe New York Times criticBen Sisario described the album as a "broad essay" both onpopular music and on genre as a concept.[122]The Independent's Helen Brown andThe Sydney Morning Herald's Robert Moran opined that Beyoncé's genre experimentation is in the service of celebrating the overlooked pioneers of country music while spotlighting up-and-coming Black musicians.[34][97]Robert Christgau said that, while the quality of the songwriting diminishes slightly toward the end,Cowboy Carter's confident and "impressive variety" shows Beyoncé to be "our greatest female pop singer", as well as a "pretty darn good songwriter", with a considerable stake in the country sphere.[37]
Many critics praised the album's "ambitious" scope and "cinematic" grandiosity, likening it to aWestern epic.[d] TheFinancial Times's Ludovic Hunter-Tilney compared the album to ablockbusterhistorical epic, with its "impressive, very American aura of importance" and "the sense that history is not only being told but also made".[125]NPR's Sidney Madden equated each of the tracks to a "full-length film full of scenic grandeur, character and conflicts" that can be dissected and discussed.[124] Sisario opined that the album in its entirety works as film, writing thatCowboy Carter is the central character in a narrative about tackling American cultural history.[128] Writing for the roots music journalNo Depression, John Amen commented, "While 2022'sRenaissance spotlighted [Beyoncé] as a global MC throwing the party of the decade,Cowboy Carter, framed asRenaissance's Act II, paints her as a torchbearer and synthesist, an auteur equally adept at playing the archivist and the cultural midwife".[129] Some critics felt that the album would fare better if it were split by musical style.[35]Alexis Petridis ofThe Guardian wrote that while the album may have worked better as a double-disc, "its wild lurches intoeclecticism are the point" and demonstrates Beyoncé's "impressive" ability to "bend musical styles to her will".[38]
Cowboy Carter did not receive any nominations at the58th Annual Country Music Association Awards.[177][178][179] Several publications attributed this toconservatism andracism against Black artists in the country music industry.[180][181][182]Cowboy Carter collaborator Shaboozey, who received his first two CMA Awards nominations, expressed his gratitude for Beyoncé following the lack of nominations, writing: "Thank you Beyoncé for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time".[183]
Cowboy Carter landed Beyoncé her biggest streaming week ever and broke streaming records on several platforms.[191][192] OnSpotify, the album became one of the most-streamed albums in a single day in 2024, the biggest debut of the year for a country album, and the biggest debut ever for any album by a Black woman, with over 76 million streams globally in its first day.[193][194]Cowboy Carter also marks the most first-day streams for a country album by a female artist in the history ofAmazon Music.[195]
United States
Cowboy Carter also broke several chart records.[196] In the United States,Cowboy Carter debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, with 407,000album-equivalent units. In doing so, Beyoncé became the first woman and second artist overall to debut her first eight albums at number one.Cowboy Carter debuted at number one on theAmericana/Folk Albums, andTop Country Albums charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to have a number-one country album.[192] The album remained atop theBillboard 200 for two weeks, her first multi-week number one since 2013'sBeyoncé.[197] All 23 eligible songs onCowboy Carter debuted on theBillboard Hot 100, giving African-American country artists Martell, Adell, Kennedy, Roberts, Spencer, Jones and Shaboozey their first chart entries and bringing Beyoncé's career total Hot 100 entries to 106, thethird highest for a female artist.[198] Beyoncé also topped eighteenBillboard charts the week ofCowboy Carter's release, including theArtist 100, Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers; she also became the first artist to simultaneously hold the number one positions on both the Top Country Albums and theBillboard Dance/Electronic Albums charts, withRenaissance atop the latter.[199]Cowboy Carter has spent over 50 weeks on theBillboard 200, making Beyoncé the Black woman with the most albums to chart 50 or more weeks, surpassingWhitney Houston andMariah Carey with a total of eight.
Internationally
By its fourth day of release,Cowboy Carter was outselling the rest of the week's top five bestselling albums combined in the UK.[200] The album debuted at number one on theUK Albums Chart selling 40,000 copies in its first week.[201] This became Beyoncé's fifth album to do so as a solo act, and her sixth includingDestiny's Child's discography. The album also debuted at number one on theOfficial Vinyl Albums Chart and has spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on theUK Country Albums Chart, becoming the first album by an African American female artist to reach the top spot on that chart. With "Texas Hold 'Em" returning to number one on theUK Singles Chart concurrently with the album's release, Beyoncé topped both charts simultaneously for the first time sinceDangerously in Love and "Crazy in Love" did so in 2003.[202] Beyoncé also became the first Black artist to top the UK Charts with a country album and the first artist to simultaneously top the Album Chart and Singles Charts with a country album and a country single.[203]
In Canada, the album debuted at number one on theCanadian Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's fifth album to achieve this as well as her tenth top-ten project in the country. Twenty out of 23 eligible songs onCowboy Carter debuted on theCanadian Hot 100, giving African-American country artists Martell, Adell, Kennedy, Roberts, Spencer, Jones and Shaboozey their first chart entries and bringing Beyoncé's career total Canadian Hot 100 entries to 84.[204][failed verification]
In Australia, the album debuted at number one on theARIA Albums Chart, becoming the singer's fourth consecutive project to achieve this sinceBeyoncé (2013). It also became the first country-genre album by a female artist to top the chart since 2017, when the top position was occupied byShania Twain'sNow.[205] The album remained atop the ARIA Chart for two consecutive weeks.[206]
In Germany, the album debuted atop theGerman Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's first number one album as a solo artist sinceDangerously in Love topped the chart in 2003.[207]
Cultural and societal impact
Upon release,Cowboy Carter had a significant impact on music, fashion, business and culture, with Stevie Wonder andVariety's Chris Willman suggesting it may be the most-discussed album of the 21st century.[e]Cowboy Carter was widely discussed in the media following its release, with all major news networks broadcasting features exploring the impact of the album.[f]CNN released a documentary onMax titledCall Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville's Renaissance, which explores the album's impact on the country music landscape and the inclusion of Black artists within the genre.[218] An episode ofNightline focused on the album and its impact on the country music space.[219]
Country music
Cowboy Carter increased the listenership of country music and made it more accessible to new audiences, with publications describing it as "a cultural shift", "a watershed moment" and "a tipping point" in the genre's history.[g] The album drove over 36 million people to stream country music for the first time onSpotify.[224] The album was credited byThe Times as making country music become mainstream in the UK,[225] with one survey finding that 60% of British respondents started listening to country music following the release ofCowboy Carter.[226] In Sweden, the number of people listening to country music increased by 60% following the release of the album, which is the largest increase for any genre in Swedish history.[227] A worldwide study found that over one-third of Gen Z respondents began listening to country music after Beyoncé entered the genre.[228] There was a 38% increase in views of country music videos globally onVevo following the album's release, as well as a 40% increase in Black 18–34-year-olds listening to country radio.[229]Cowboy Carter was said to redefine what it means to be a country artist, with Emi Tuyetnhi Tran fromNBC News commenting that it will "open the floodgates" for other country musicians.[223][230]Cowboy Carter sparked discourse on the boundaries of the country music genre and its roots within Black music, and drove cultural conversations on the inclusion of Black artists within the genre.[h]
Country artists
Cowboy Carter boosted the careers of rising country acts.[235] InThe Tennessean, Andrea Williams wrote that Beyoncé opened the door for others in country music, proving Black songwriters, producers and musicians belong in the genre.[236] NPR's Amanda Marie Martínez wrote that the album revealed the "strong demand" for country music made by Black artists and a "growing community" of Black country fans.[230]
After featuring on the album,Shaboozey advanced the release of his single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" to take advantage of his increased visibility. The song would peak at number 1 on theBillboard Hot 100 andBillboard Hot Country Songs, replacing Beyoncé's own "Texas Hold 'Em", becoming the first time in history that two Black artists led the latter chart back to back.[237] Shaboozey thanked Beyoncé for "changing [his] life" and "opening a door for us".[238][239]
Linda Martell, who was the first commercially successful Black female country artist, saw a 127,430 percent increase in streams of her music after twice appearing on the album.[240] In 2025, "Color Him Father", her 1969 breakthrough record, was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame as a result of the increased recognition in her catalog.[241]
Cowboy Carter received extensive praise from musicians.[244]Stevie Wonder declaredCowboy Carter a "masterpiece" that is "changing music and culture".[245]Paul McCartney,Nancy Sinatra and Linda Martell all praised the album and shared their pride of receiving the "honor" of contributing to the album.[244][246][247]Jon Batiste characterized the album as "a work of such unimaginable impact and artistic firepower by a once in a generation artist" and thanked Beyoncé for allowing him to be a part of it. Batiste described the album as the moment "where we dismantle the genre machine", adding: "When many leading artists see a similar vision at the same time, that's when you know a major shift is happening. A new era, long time coming. Let's liberate ourselves from genre and break the barriers that marginalize who we are and the art that we create".[248]
Cowboy Carter also received praise from political figures. Former First LadyMichelle Obama posted on social media aboutCowboy Carter, writing that the album has "changed the game" by "helping redefine a music genre and transform our culture".[268] Vice PresidentKamala Harris also praised the album on social media, writing: "Thank you for reminding us to never feel confined to other people's perspective of what our lane is. You have redefined a genre and reclaimed country music's Black roots. Your music continues to inspire us all".[269]Martin Luther King III expressed his gratitude forCowboy Carter and described it as "joyous, positive and reaffirming", while his wife Arndrea Waters King called Beyoncé "courageous" for stepping into the country scene and sparking conversation on the origins of country music in the Black community.[47] Other politicians who praised the album include Michigan GovernorGretchen Whitmer, Wisconsin GovernorTony Evers and Texas CongressmanColin Allred.[270]
Fashion and lifestyle
Cowboy Carter madeWestern wear a defining fashion trend for 2024 and led to a 326% surge in sales ofcowboy hats.
Beyoncé's embrace of country music and culture ignited fashion trends and boosted sales ofWestern wear.[271][272][273]Cowboy Carter helped transform cowboy fashion and aesthetics from a "caricature" into a "staple of the modern wardrobe" according toVogue,[274] whileVanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic atThe New York Times, wrote that Beyoncé has shifted the industry by mainstreaming Western aesthetics and determining the "look of the moment".[275]Cowboy Carter led to a surge in interest in Western clothing, including an increase in searches for Western-style jeans (610%), bolo ties (566%), flared denim (372%), cowboy boots (224%) and cowboy hats (213%).[275][276][277][278] Hat brandStetson reported an increase in interest in their products following Beyoncé's embrace of Western lifestyle.[279]
Cowboy Carter led to a 326 percent surge in sales of cowboy hats, while units sold of boots and fringed suede jackets both jumped by 45 percent.[280][281]Fast fashion retailers such asForever 21 increased the amount of Western clothing available for sale by over 300 percent due to the album.[282] Inspired by the album, the prominence of Western and country styling within the fashion landscape increased by 45 percent.[275] TheRalph Lauren Corporation designer brand was inspired by the trend for their 2024 fall/winter collection.[283]GQ's Editor-in-ChiefWill Welch creditedCowboy Carter for inspiring the 'American Rodeo' western theme of their 29th annual Men of the Year party.[284]
In the UK, a national survey found that 25% of respondents took upline dancing and 40% started wearing Western clothing following the release ofCowboy Carter.[226] Publications reported that the album aided a reclamation of country identity andwestern culture by Black people.[234][285] The album had an impact on rodeos in Canada such as theCalgary Stampede, broadening its audience.[286]
Business
Levi's experienced 20% surges in both its stock value and store footfall after Beyoncé referenced the brand onCowboy Carter.
After Beyoncé referenced the American clothing companyLevi Strauss & Co. on theCowboy Carter track "Levii's Jeans", the company reported a 20% boost on theirstock price.[287] The album singlehandedly generated an additional $1.2 million for the brand, from an increase of 1.5 billion impressions online.[275][288] Levi's also noted a 20% rise in footfall at US stores after the release of the album, while British retailerJohn Lewis & Partners reported that searches for "women's Levi's jeans" were up 263% since the record was announced.[289] In reference to the track name, Levi's added a second letter "i" to its name and logo on social media.[290][291] Levi Strauss CFO Harmit Singh described Beyoncé as "the center of culture, the cultural czar", adding: "We are humbled and honored that she chose us to talk about our brand".[288]
Following the release ofCowboy Carter, ridesharing companyUber offered 16% off to riders who use the code "16CARRIAGES", a reference to a song on the album.[292] In response,Lyft offered its riders 50% off with the code "SPAGHETTI24", another reference to a song on the album.[293] Lyft also changed images of cars on its map to white horses as a reference to theCowboy Carter album cover.[294][295]
"Smoke Hour Willie Nelson" is stylized as "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson".
"Sweet Honey Buckiin'" is stylized as "Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin'".
Limited edition vinyl and CD releases of the album exclude "Spaghettii", "The Linda Martell Show", "Ya Ya" and "Oh Louisiana", and "Flamenco" is additionally excluded on the vinyl release.[296][297]
"Riiverdance", "II Hands II Heaven" and "Tyrant" are extended on limited edition releases.[296][297]
contains excerpts from "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)", written byShawn Carter, Michael Price and Dan Walsh and performed byJay-Z, as well as Jay-Z's performance of the song onMTV Unplugged.
^Cantrell, Taryn (May 11, 2019)."History of Rodeo Royalty".Cowboy Lifestyle Network.Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. RetrievedApril 5, 2024.
^Wood, Mikael (December 11, 2024)."The 20 best albums of 2024".Los Angeles Times.Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. RetrievedDecember 11, 2024.
^abWillman, Chris; Aswad, Jem; Garcia, Thania; Horowitz, Steven J. (December 13, 2024)."The Best Albums of 2024".Variety.Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. RetrievedDecember 13, 2024.
^Cash, Rosanne."Threads".Threads.Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. RetrievedJune 28, 2024.Musical genres are not different religions. You don't have to express fealty to one or the other. Beyoncé is a great artist and great artists aren't constrained by opinions and categories. More power to her, and more power to art that opens our hearts and minds.
^"Czech Albums – Top 100".ČNS IFPI.Note: On the chart page, select14.Týden 2024 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
.jpg)
_(cropped)_(cropped).jpg)
[94]
[36].jpg)
.jpg)
