So long disco balls and platform shoes, hello square dancing and cowboy boots. Beyoncé officially ushered in a new era with the Friday, March 29 release of Cowboy Carter, her eighth album and a changing of the guard following 2022’s critically acclaimed Renaissance.
Born out of an experience Bey had “years ago where [she] did not feel welcomed,” Cowboy Carter finds the superstar embracing the musical roots of her Southern heritage while paying homage to many of the country greats who came before her — from Willie Nelson to Linda Martell, each of whom recorded voice messages introducing different genre-warping tracks on the album. The project also includes a reinvigorated, Beyoncé-fied version of Dolly Parton‘s “Jolene,” preceded by an interlude recorded by the icon herself.
The LP also sees the Houston native uplifting modern country stars, with Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts (all Black women in country) joining her for a poignant cover of The Beatles‘ “Blackbird,” while Shaboozey and Willie Jones add their own flavor to “Spaghettii” and “Just for Fun,” respectively. Plus, Miley Cyrus blends her voice with Bey’s on the heartfelt “II Most Wanted,” and Post Malone doubles the Texas representation on “Levii’s Jeans.”
The Cowboy Carter tapestry also includes by fascinating samples and interpolations. Case in point? Nancy Sinatra‘s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” and the Beach Boys‘ “Good Vibrations” are somehow both seamlessly fused into just one track, “Ya Ya.”
See which songwriters Beyoncé collaborated with on each of the 27 tracks on Cowboy Carter below, per Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia.
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“Ameriican Requiem”
Written by Atia Boggs, Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, Dan Walsh, Darius Dixson, Derek Dixie, Ernest Dion Wilson, Jon Batiste, Michael Price, Raphael Saadiq, S. Carter, Stephen Stills and Tyler Johnson.
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“Blackbiird” feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
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“16 Carriages”
Written by Ink, Atia Boggs, Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin and Raphael Saadiq.
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“Protector” feat. Rumi Carter
Written by Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, Jack Rochon and Ryan Beatty.
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“My Rose”
Written by Beyoncé and Shawntoni Ajanae Nichols.
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“Smoke Hour Willie Nelson” feat. Willie Nelson
Written by Beyoncé, Charles Anderson, Chuck Berry, Jesse Stone, Leah Nardos Takele, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Son House.
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“Texas Hold ‘Em”
Written by Beyoncé, Brian Bates, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro and Raphael Saadiq.
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“Bodyguard”
Written by Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Leven Kali, Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Beatty and Shawntoni Ajanae Nichols.
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“Dolly P”
Written by Beyoncé, Dolly Parton and Leah Nardos Takele.
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“Jolene”
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“Daughter”
Written by Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, Derek Dixie, S. Carter, Simon Maartensson and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Spaghettii” feat. Linda Martell & Shaboozey
Written by Beyoncé, Collins Chibueze, DJ Dede Mandrake, Khirye Tyler, S. Carter and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Alliigator Tears”
Written by Beyoncé, Khirye Tyler and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Smoke Hour II” feat. Willie Nelson
Written by Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin, Jeff Gitelman and Leah Nardos Takele.
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“Just for Fun” feat. Willie Jones
Written by Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin, Jeff Gitelman and Ryan Beatty.
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“II Most Wanted” feat. Miley Cyrus
Written by Beyoncé, Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus and Ryan Tedder.
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“Levii’s Jeans” feat. Post Malone
Written by Austin Post, Beyoncé, Nile Rodgers, S. Carter and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Flamenco”
Written by Beyoncé and Shawntoni Ajanae Nichols.
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“The Linda Martell Show” feat. Linda Martell
Not known as of press time.
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“Ya Ya”
Written by Anais Marinho, Beyoncé, Brian WilsonHarry Edwards, Klara Mkhatshwa Munk-Hansen, Lee Hazlewood, Mike Love, Oliver Rodigan, S. Carter and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Oh Louisiana”
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“Desert Eagle”
Written by Beyoncé, Jabbar Stevens, Marcus Reddick and Miranda Johnson.
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“Riiverdance”
Written by Beyoncé, Mark Spears, Rachel Keen and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“II Hands II Heaven”
Written by Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin, Jack Rochon, Mark Spears, Ryan Beatty and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Tyrant”
Written by Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, David Doman, Dominik Redenczki, Ezemdi Chikwendu and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Sweet Honey Buckiin'” feat. Shaboozey
Written by Beyoncé, Collins Chibueze, Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard, Pharrell Williams, S. Carter and Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant.
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“Amen”
Written by Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, Danielle Balbuena, Darius Dixson, Dave Hamlin, Derek DixieIan Fitchuk and Tyler Johnson.
