It just occurred to me that Beyonce’s Act II: Cowboy Carter comes out on Good Friday, which is tomorrow. Easter’s gonna have an extra twang to it and I’m already looking forward to all of the memes and dancing videos. The Beyhive is so creative and Queen B gave everyone enough warning, so I’m sure cowboy hats, rhinestones and fringed jackets have already been purchased in preparation for this album drop. Ahead of the release, Beyonce gave her fans a tracklist, and the rumors are true: Beyonce covered Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Dolly always said that she wished Bey would cover it one day, so this is perfect.
Beyoncé may be gearing up to release her first country music album, but this is not the pop superstar’s first rodeo. In anticipation of this Friday’s release of her new album, Act II: Cowboy Carter, Queen Bey, 42, got fans excited by teasing the tracklist on Wednesday. The Grammy winner revealed the song titles with a post on Instagram, which subtly announced that the record is set to feature a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic song “Jolene.”
Beyoncé shared the tracklist by posting an image resembling a vintage concert poster, made to look like “Cowboy Carter” was the headliner and the titles listed below were members of her “Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit.” The song names appeared alongside images of the hitmaker, and the bottom of the flyer teased, “Brought to you by KNTRY Radio Texas.”
Aside from “Jolene” being included on the listing — confirming recent comments from Parton that she had heard the Renaissance artist recorded a cover of the song for her record — “Dolly P” is listed, as is Willie Nelson’s name in a song called “Smoke Hour.” It is currently unclear if the two country icons themselves appear as features on the album.
In addition to the previously released singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” it seems as though the other songs may be called: “American Requiem,” “Blackbird,” “Protector,” “My Rose” “Smoke Hour,” “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “Bodyguard,” “Dolly P,” “Jolene,” “Daughter,” “Spaghetti,” “Alligator Tears,” “Smoke Hour II,” “Just For Fun,” “II Most Wanted,” “Levii’s Jeans,” “Flamenco,” “The Linda Martell Show,” “Yaya,” “Oh Louisiana,” “Desert Eagle,” “Riiverdale,” “II Hands II Heaven,” “Tyrant” “Sweet Honey Buckin'” and “Amen.”
There’s various nods to the record being “act II” of her project Renaissance throughout the spelling of the song titles, and “The Linda Martell Show” seems to be a reference to the country singer-songwriter who became the first Black female artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Some music outlets have also confirmed a few more pieces of news: Beyonce covered the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” and Beyonce did collabs with Post Malone and Miley Cyrus. I believe the Post Malone news – he’s been doing more country-flavored music recently and I’m sure he would love nothing more than a Beyonce collab. Miley too, but if I hear Miley on that “Jolene” cover, I will not be happy at all. Enough. Weirdly, there’s been zero confirmation that Lady Gaga jumped on Cowboy Carter – people have been waiting YEARS for a sequel to “Telephone” and we really thought we would get it here. Hm.
Photos courtesy of Beyonce’s Instagram.
Is Beyonce wearing assless chaps? Good for her.
Nepo baby Miley gets on my very last nerve. Amazing news about Willie though.
Miley gets on my nerves as well. I admired her for saying she wanted “it” and literally transforming herself into a “banger”. After that I found out just how much of a nepo she is. She is not “owed” a career. Goodness. I will say she is given the best of the best. Her lyrics are smoothly written.
Miley is insanely talented and she works her ass off – of that there can be no doubt.
I think Miley is more a child star than nepo baby (Billy Ray was mostly a one hit wonder until Miley brought him back to relevancy on HM). Her parents have made questionable choices which makes me appreciate her being able to navigate all that into functioning adulthood.
@sum not sure what you are referring to because I think Miley has songwriting credits on many of her songs.
Maybe y’all hate her but she could have turned out way worse. She hustles and she has a lot of talent.
Seriously? Miley has a gorgeous voice, and I say this as someone who was alive and dancing in country bars when Achy Breaky Heart was released. She definitely got a toe in the room for whatever show she was on, but her voice is why she is still relevant. I’m 49, I do not have any skin in this game, but Miley can sing.
Gotta tell ya, I love Miley’s version of Jolean. I would love it if she released a country album one day. Granted, it helps that Dolly Parton is her godmother, so maybe that’s why she covered the song a few years ago, but regardless, she has a great country sound.
I’m excited. Tomorrow is going to be fun.
oh I’m excited!!! We have a long drive tomorrow so we will listen to this the whole way, sorry not sorry fam, lol.
I saw the poster w all the tracks printed on it yesterday. For a moment, I thought, OMG DID BEYONCE COVER THE BEATLES and immediately squashed the hope bc I thought such a marvelous thing was impossible. But IT HAPPENED!!!!!! She did a Beatles cover!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOO consider me a v v happy Beyonce/Beatles fan today!!!!!!
Do not mean to theadjack but here is a glorious version of Blackbird by Corinne Bailey Rae and Herbie Hancock. Looking forward to Beyonce’s version too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sn-syCPRyM
@alexc: Thank you. Made me catch my breath.
I really dislike country music. I mean incredibly dislike it. I cannot wait for this! Only the Queen could have me listening to country on purpose 😂
I just can’t seem to get in to bey, never have. I dont get her country ’album’. I only come in contact with her songs via social media, thankfully. I honestly really don’t get the hype.
That’s okay. Not everything is for everyone. Beyoncé has a lot of fans who do get the hype. And we’re excited! But obviously not every single person has to be into it. Can’t you just adjust your SM to mute if you come into contact with a Beyoncé song? Thankfully, it’s not that hard.
@Cathalea, as one wise person once said “One’s treasure is another’s trash”, c’est la vie.
You are saying you never really gave her music a chance and you don’t like her music? That is weird. Maybe, first go and listen to one of her latest albums, then decide if you like her music or not. She did all kinds of music. She especially shines on live performances, even if you don’t “get” her music, you would enjoy one of the best voices of our time. She isn’t just a studio artist.
I was always a bit ‘meh’ about Beyonce until I watched her set at Glastonbury. Oh My God …. she was completely awesome. She’s an extraordinary performer & has a stupendous voice. I think she’s one of the greatest talents around at the moment. I also think Taylor Swift is superb but if I had to choose to see one of them live it would be an instant decision: Beyonce every time.
I’ve always enjoyed her music (nothing beats hiking in nature to ‘Love on Top’) and I was SO excited when she announced this upcoming album, then I stumbled upon an artist, Tanner Addell, after reading about her on Lainey, and now every time I see anything about B’s new album It just annoys me. Please don’t come from me, but IMO, she lifted her entire ‘new’ look from Tanner.
I don’t either. I don’t like her voice, I don’t like her songs, I don’t like her husband who seems to have steered her career in a weird way (just my opinion, no need to get upset). I don’t like the shady steals from other artists.
I also don’t like Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruno Mars, Gwen Stefani and Usher, and I will mute them too, if that helps.
@Torttu, wow, if you think Beyonce’s career is managed by anyone but her, I am guessing that you don’t really follow her music. It is also weird for you to say not to get upset while practically lying about Beyonce. She is one of the rare artists today who can sing and perform live as well as her studio records. Unlike most, she has a voice and to deny that is just hater behavior.
I love how this has all the *real* country cowboys, four fifths of Nashville, several southern states and various country music stations up in arms.
All those unseasoned mayosapiens don’t seem to know the history of country music, which has, for the biggest part, its origins in Black music.
I hope it works out well for her. My preferred Jolene cover will always be the one by The Sisters of Mercy.
The Sisters of Mercy!!!!!! Now that’s a blast from the past 🙂
I am so excited 😭😭😭I didn’t get this excited for any album for a long time.
On the main album cover, I read that the horse is apparently a Lipizzaner horse that is born black and gradually turns white over time. Beehive are saying this is chosen as a representation of the country music, since it got turned into white people music.
There will never be a better cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” than what the White Stripes did in Blackpool. And if you want another great “Jolene” song, don’t forget Ray LaMontagne has his own Jolene.
I can’t wait to hear her Jolene cover. That song lends itself to amazing covers — Lil Nas X and Miley Cyrus have both also done incredible versions. Great song and I love hearing everyone’s variations. Apparently Dolly does too!