Beyoncé has unveiled the tracklist for her upcoming album, Cowboy Carter, which is set for release this Friday, March 29th.
Earlier this month, Dolly Parton let it slip that Beyoncé had recorded a cover of “Jolene.” “I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that,” Parton explained. “I love her! She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
“Jolene” is in fact on Cowboy Carter, but that’s not all! Parton herself is apparently a featured guest on the album, as is fellow country music legend Willie Nelson.
Other song titles include “American Requiem,” “Black Bird,” “Bodyguard,” “Spaghetti,” “Just For Fun,” “The Linda Martell Show,” and “Sweet Honey Buckin.”
In a note released earlier this month, Beyoncé said Cowboy Carter was created in response to her not feeling “welcomed” to country music. “This album has been over five years in the making. It 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,” she explained. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. 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 our musical history.”
“The criticisms 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.”
Act II: Cowboy Carter is the next chapter of Beyoncé’s Renaissance trilogy, which kicked off in 2023 with her album of the same name.