Beyoncé at the Grammy Awards in February 2024 in Los Angeles. PHOTO:
Beyoncé is long overdue for an Album of the Year victory.
Recently, the acclaimed music icon, now 42, unveiled her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter,” marking the second chapter in a trilogy that commenced with 2022’s “Renaissance.”
The LP, reminiscent of Beyoncé’s signature style, intricately weaves together a myriad of musical genres. Conceptually, it unfolds as a radio broadcast by the fictional KNTRY Radio Texas, with country legends Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Linda Martell assuming the roles of disc jockeys.
The expansive 27-track album boasts collaborations with renowned figures like Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and even Beyoncé’s 6½-year-old daughter, Rumi. Additionally, it showcases the talents of emerging Black country artists such as Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey, and Willie Jones. Notably, music legends Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Nile Rodgers, Jon Batiste, Gary Clark Jr., and Rhiannon Giddens contribute their instrumental prowess to various tracks.
Examining the album and peering into the future Grammy Awards in 2025, Nicholas Rice, a Senior News Editor for PEOPLE, underscores why Beyoncé is undeniably worthy of clinching the esteemed Album of the Year accolade for “Cowboy Carter.”
Beyoncé has received four nominations for album of the year in the last twenty years. These nominations include “I Am… Sasha Fierce” in 2010, “Beyoncé” in 2015, “Lemonade” in 2017, and “Renaissance” in 2023. The nominees for the 2025 Grammys will be revealed later this year, after the eligibility period spanning from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, according to Billboard.
Critics and fans alike have showered Beyoncé’s newest endeavor with universal acclaim, applauding her seamless transition into the country genre.
According to Metacritic, the website aggregating reviews from various sources such as magazines and websites, Cowboy Carter garnered an impressive score of 92 out of 100, based on 20 critic reviews.
Rolling Stone lauded the LP, describing it as showcasing “Beyoncé’s best vocal work on record” and highlighting its flawless production. Meanwhile, Variety hailed Cowboy Carter as a “masterpiece of sophisticated vocal arranging,” likening it to “a 27-course meal” that is challenging to encapsulate entirely but effortlessly digestible, serving by serving.
The Bey Hive, Beyoncé’s devoted legion of fans, has also showered the superstar and her latest musical project with high praise.
“One user on X (formerly Twitter) exclaimed, ‘The vocals on Cowboy Carter are INSANE. Do not ever play with my sister!!!!'”
Another fan exclaimed, “COWBOY CARTER IS SO GOOD I’M LITERALLY SCREAMING CRYING THROWING BEYONCÉ IS WINNING AOTY NEXT YEAR I’M CALLING IT.” Meanwhile, another enthusiastic supporter added, “Cowboy Carter is really Beyoncé’s best album.”
“One more fan emphasized, ‘Cowboy Carter is such. an. insane. flex. If this doesn’t finally get Beyoncé AOTY…'”
While Cowboy Carter received acclaim for its impressive vocals, creative concept, and cohesive flow, Beyoncé was also celebrated for venturing into what many perceive as a predominantly white genre as a Black woman.
In the LP’s opening track, “American Requiem,” the mother of three evokes memories of her country upbringing in Texas, singing, “Used to say I spoke too country / And the rejection came, said I wasn’t country enough / Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but / If that ain’t country, tell me what is?”
Martell, aged 82, initiates “Spaghetti” by delving into the notion that artists may feel restricted to certain subjects. He expresses this sentiment before the tune, remarking, “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? / In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand / But in practice, well, some may feel confined.”
With this project, Beyoncé not only showcased her versatility as a musical chameleon but also provided a platform for other Black artists to shine. By allowing them to showcase their vocal abilities and share their stories, she illustrated that music transcends color boundaries.
However, the music icon was well aware that not everyone in the entertainment industry, or the world at large, would be as accepting or welcoming of her attempts to break free from the constraints she’s faced throughout her career.
In a previous Instagram post, Beyoncé expressed gratitude to her fans for their early support of Cowboy Carter and provided insights into its creation. She revealed that the project had been in development for five years and was inspired by an experience where she felt unwelcome. (Many fans speculated that this experience was the 2016 CMA Awards, during which Beyoncé performed her country song “Daddy Lessons” from her album Lemonade with The Chicks.)
Beyoncé elaborated, emphasizing, “It became evident that I wasn’t initially recognized.” However, that experience prompted me to delve deeper into the annals of country music’s history and explore its diverse musical tapestry. Witnessing how music has the power to bring together global communities and elevate the voices of those who tirelessly educate on our musical heritage is truly gratifying.”
She further explained, “The critiques I encountered upon entering this genre compelled me to surpass the constraints imposed on me. Act II is a testament to my self-imposed challenge, as I dedicated time to intertwine and fuse genres, shaping this cohesive body of work.”
With that realization, Beyoncé recognized the narrative she needed to share, leading to the release of “Cowboy Carter” on March 29th.
It went on to break numerous chart records, making its debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Beyoncé’s eighth consecutive No. 1 album achievement. Additionally, it made history as the first album by a Black woman to claim the top spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
Later on, Spotify announced via social media that “Cowboy Carter” had become the platform’s most-streamed album in a single day of 2024 thus far.
The LP also earned the title of the most-streamed country album by a female artist on Amazon Music, with the largest debut on the streaming platform, as revealed by the company on social media.
