Beyonce breaks silence over backlash for going country: Singer unveils Cowboy Carter album cover where she’s proudly holding an American flag and says, ‘Music can unite so many people around the world’

Beyoncé has unveiled the cover for her hotly anticipated country album Cowboy Carter – while addressing the backlash she received for entering the genre.

‘Today marks the 10-day countdown until the release of act ii,’ the Grammy winner began. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of [the album’s singles] TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES.’

She continued: ‘I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you.’

The Texas-born 42-year-old added: ‘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.’

Her album cover shows Beyoncé on horseback, brandishing an American flag while wearing a red, white and blue leather outfit with a silver Stetson.

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Beyonce breaks silence over backlash for going country as singer unveils Cowboy Carter album cover where she’s proudly holding an American flag

She has on a massive silver wig that flutters in the breeze, as well as a sash with the album’s name draped across her front.

‘This album has been over five years in the making. It 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,’ Beyoncé wrote in the caption.

‘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 added: ‘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.’

Beyoncé teased: ‘I have a few surprises on the album, and have collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect. I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound.’

She explained: ‘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.’

In conclusion, she wrote: ‘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, who grew up in Houston, made her first foray into the genre with a country-tinged song called Daddy Issues on her 2016 album Lemonade.

Beyonce turns heads in sparkling suit and cowboy hat out in NYC

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Beyoncé announced her country project last month, releasing two singles during the Super Bowl, 16 Carriages and Texas Hold ‘Em

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Both songs were hits, with Texas Hold ‘Em debuting at the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart

She delivered a controversial performance of the song at that year’s Country Music Association Awards, taking the stage with the girl group that was then known as The Dixie Chicks and has since rebranded as The Chicks.

When the CMAs posted footage of the performance to their official social media channels, the comments included such attacks as: ‘Beyoncé overrated racist n****r b***h,’ to the point the videos were ultimately pulled down.

Fans demanded that the videos be restored, but when it was reposted to Facebook it received another round of racist comments.

Beyoncé announced her new country project last month, releasing two singles during the Super Bowl, 16 Carriages and Texas Hold ‘Em.

Both songs were hits, with Texas Hold ‘Em debuting at the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

The commercial success of Texas Hold ‘Em made Beyoncé the first black woman ever to have a country song at the number one position on the Billboard charts.

Texas Hold ‘Em gave Beyonce the chance to provide a platform to black folk musician Rhiannon Giddens, who can be heard playing the banjo on the track.

However, the response to the singles was not uniformly positive, as Beyoncé was also fiercely denounced by rapper Azealia Banks.

Beyonce announces ‘Renaissance Part II’ album

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Beyoncé, who grew up in Houston, made her first foray into the genre with a country-tinged song called Daddy Issues on her 2016 album Lemonade

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View gallery

She delivered a controversial performance of the song at that year’s Country Music Association Awards, taking stage with the girl group that was then known as The Dixie Chicks

‘Yes black girls can make country music… but you’re just really not hitting the button…. Beyoncé please stop the madness,’ wrote Banks on Instagram.

‘The gay baiting, the overtly narcissistic attempts to lazily encroach into a genre *you think* your popularity is gonna gain accolades for you in… You’re looking like food sis,’ added Banks, who has developed a reputation for scathing outspokenness.

Shortly thereafter, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that Beyoncé had been braced for the possibility of a backlash to her country album.

‘She knows there will be pushback by those who want her to stay in a narrow lane but she doesn’t care,’ said the insider, explaining that Beyoncé hoped to provide a ‘spotlight’ to ‘the contributions African-Americans made to the genre.’

Beyoncé was ‘given the motivation to make a country record after seeing how many of her fans loved her single Daddy Lessons and her performance at the CMAs.’