Beyoncé acknowledges country music roots with 2 singles, upcoming album

During the Super Bowl, Beyoncé used a commercial to announce her next album — a country-themed follow-up to “Renaissance” being referred to as “Act II.”

The new album will drop March 29, according to her website, which updated after the Verizon ad played shortly after halftime, saying “Drop the new music” before the commercial ended, the New York Times reported.

Beyoncé’s announcement came just days after she released two new singles — “16 Carriages” on Thursday and “Texas Hold ’Em” on Saturday — the day before the Super Bowl.

Rhiannon Giddens, who spreads awareness regarding the roots of Black culture in country music, plays banjo and viola on “Texas Hold ’Em,” according to Variety. On “16 Carriages,” Beyoncé chose Robert Randolph, another Black roots musician, as one of two credited steel players.

Both new country songs have topped Apple Music’s U.S. Country songs chart, and X users claim it makes her the first Black woman to hold the number one spot and simultaneously occupy the first and second spots.

???? Beyoncé is the FIRST black female artist to reach the top of Apple Music US Country chart in history.

She is also the first female black artist to occupy the first and second position on the chart simultaneously. pic.twitter.com/5eb775MpUt

— Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress) February 12, 2024

The Washington Post reported that her two singles salute country music’s Black cultural roots, and “Act II” could redefine country music.

However, it’s not Beyoncé’s first time crossing into the country realm, as her tune “Daddy Lessons” on her 2016 album “Lemonade” and a remix featuring The Chicks both featured the genre, the Times said.

Her fans group, the Beyhive, have been predicting a country album would be on the way, according to the BBC, due to clues she’s been dropping. Beyoncé wore a Western-inspired look to the Grammys, including a white cowboy hat, and she previously said “Renaissance” would be a three-act project.