Beyoncé unveiled the track list on Wednesday for her highly anticipated country album, "Cowboy Carter," through a vintage-themed social media post, sparking a wave of excitement and speculation among her followers.
The post from Beyoncé showcases an array of red, white, black, and blue graphics and text boxes that harken back to a retro printed concert flyer. The words "Cowboy Carter" stand out in bold lettering at the top of the graphic next to the album's launch date set for Friday, March 29.
While the singer had previously disclosed the album's title and cover art, the teaser shared on Wednesday hinted at a potential extended name for the project: "Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit."
Featuring a total of 27 titles, assuming they represent individual tracks, this album will mark Beyoncé's lengthiest release to date.
Beyoncé introduced the album during the 2024 Super Bowl, labeling it as the "act ii" of a three-part series that commenced with her critically acclaimed "Renaissance" album in 2022.
Following the recent announcement, Beyoncé dropped two singles - "16 Carriages" and the popular "Texas Hold 'Em." The latter soared to the top of the country music chart on Billboard, marking Beyoncé as the first Black woman to achieve a No. 1 country hit. Not stopping there, the song also claimed the coveted spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Among the intriguing breadcrumbs on the apparent track list are "Jolene," a classic hit by Dolly Parton who had teased its inclusion in the new album. Additionally, fans can expect a track named "Dolly P" and a potential collaboration with country icon Willie Nelson on a song titled "Smoke Hour." Other song titles include "Tyrant," "Desert Eagle," and "Amen," with a nod to Linda Martell, the pioneer Black woman in commercial country music.
"This album has been in the works for over five years," Beyoncé shared in a recent Instagram post, kicking off the 10-day countdown to the album's release.
"The inspiration for this album stemmed from an incident years ago where I felt unwelcome...it was evident that I didn't belong," she revealed, alluding to her 2016 appearance at the Country Music Awards. "act ii is a product of pushing my boundaries, and meticulously blending genres to craft this body of work."
"I am thrilled to announce that my upcoming album will feature some unexpected surprises and collaborations with incredibly talented artists whom I admire," Beyoncé shared. She concluded her message by affirming, "This is not just a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album."
