Beyoncé Says Act II: Cowboy Carter Was ‘Born’ Out of an Experience Where She Didn’t Feel ‘Welcomed’

“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” the Grammy-winner wrote on Instagram

Beyoncé at the Grammys in Los Angeles in February 2024. PHOTO: KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY

Beyoncé is reflecting on the making of her upcoming album — and the moment that pushed her to pursue it.

On Tuesday, the singer-songwriter marked 10 days until the release of Act II: Cowboy Carter on social media by sharing a new photo of herself wearing a red, white and blue outfit on a horse and holding up an American flag.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES. I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart,” the “Love on Top” singer, 42, wrote. “That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”

She then revealed that the album, which was five years in the making, 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 added. “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.”

She continued, “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.”

The “Crazy in Love” singer said she has “a few surprises on the album” and collaborations with “artists who I deeply respect.”

“I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop,” she concluded. “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”

Beyoncé revealed the album’s title earlier this month by adding it to her Instagram bio and posting a shot of a saddle with a red, white and blue sash that reads “Cowboy Carter” on her Instagram Story.

The “Run the World” singer first announced she was releasing a new album during the Super Bowl in February. At the time, she joked about her internet-breaking skills in a Verizon commercial — and then shared a teaser on her Instagram immediately afterward. The clip teased that the second act of Renaissance was set for release on March 29.

After the viral announcement, she released two singles from the album: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”

After “Texas Hold ‘Em” was serviced to country radio, the song hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. By reaching the peak position, Beyoncé has made history as the first Black female artist to ever reach the top spot on the chart.