Beyonce says ‘Cowboy Carter’ album was born from experience where she didn’t feel welcomed

(Gray News) – Beyonce says her new country album was born from an experience in which she did not feel welcomed.

Her new album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” will be released on March 29.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Beyonce said the album has been “over five years in the making” and 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.”

Beyonce said because of that experience, she dove deeper into the history of country music and wanted to challenge herself, “taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”

While the singer did not say what experience she is referring to, fans have widely speculated that she is talking about the reception of her performance at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards with the Chicks, the Washington Post reported.

According to the Washington Post, many viewers argued that Beyonce didn’t belong in the genre, and much of the criticism was seen as racially and politically charged in the wake of her liberal-leaning “Lemonade” album.

But now, Beyonce has dominated the country charts with her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” – which has now spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart – and more people seem to be excited about her new venture into country music.

“I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart,” Beyonce continued in her Instagram post Tuesday. “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.”

Beyonce also said there will be a few “surprises” on the album, referring to collaborations with “brilliant artists,” but she didn’t name any names.

Other country music superstars, including Dolly Parton, have welcomed Beyonce into the genre with open arms.

“I’m a big fan of Beyonce and very excited that she’s done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single,” Parton wrote in an Instagram post last month. “Can’t wait to hear the full album! Love, Dolly.”

While she recognizes this is her crossover into the world of country music, Beyonce finished her statement Tuesday by writing, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”

“Act II: Cowboy Carter” will be Beyonce’s eighth studio album.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.