The incomparable Beyoncé is saddling up and riding boldly into the world of country music with her hugely anticipated new album ‘Cowboy Carter.’ The trailblazing superstar revealed that an experience where she didn’t feel welcomed or accepted was the spark that ignited this daring creative journey.
Queen Bey Opens Up About Feeling Like an Outsider
In an intimate Instagram post unveiling the album’s badass cover art, Beyoncé got honest about the inspiration behind ‘Cowboy Carter,’ writing that it “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was obvious that I wasn’t.” She didn’t delve into specifics, but we can read between the lines.
This feeling of being the outsider seems to stem from the racist backlash Queen Bey faced after performing her country-tinged banger ‘Daddy Lessons’ with The Chicks at the CMAs back in 2016. Instead of letting the haters dim her light, she turned their negativity into fuel.
Diving Deep into Country’s Roots to Forge Her Path
Rather than being deterred by that unwelcoming experience, Beyoncé says she “did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.” Her goal? To boldly blend and bend genres, blaze her trail, and challenge any ridiculous limitations on her artistry.
We’ve seen glimmers of Bey’s country influences before, like on ‘Daddy Lessons’ and her recent ‘Renaissance’ singles ’16 Carriages’ and ‘Texas Hold ‘Em.’ But with ‘Cowboy Carter,’ she’s taking that creative exploration to another stratosphere.
Surprise Collaborations & Smashing Expectations on Her Terms
In her ‘Cowboy Carter’ countdown post, Beyoncé excited about some “surprise collaborations” she’s got stashed with “brilliant artists” she deeply admires. She’s gathering her posse!
But leave it to Queen Bey to clarify one thing: “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER.” She’s defying expectations and transcending genre boundaries on her sovereign terms.
When ‘Cowboy Carter’ rides into town on March 29th, you already know Beyoncé will smash any preconceived notions of what country/pop/rap/rock/R&B/whatever masterpiece can be. Queen Bey continues leading the charge by turning pain into power and kicking down barriers with her inimitable artistry.
