Beyoncé’s latest country-inspired album, Cowboy Carter, released on Friday, has garnered acclaim from both critics and fans alike.
The US pop star’s eighth studio album was given four out of five stars by Guardian critic Alexis Petridis, who said it shows she is “impressively capable of doing whatever she wants”.
Page Six critic Nicholas Hautman called it “the revival that country music so desperately needed”.
“She did not disappoint,” raved one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another social media user said he thought Beyoncé’s voice was “the best it’s ever been in her career”.
The album features collaborations with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone, as well as covers of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Country music icons Willie Nelson and Linda Martell also make appearances.
Reviewers have praised Beyoncé’s versatility in navigating the country-pop genre. Petridis remarked that the album showcased the singer’s “aptitude for seamlessly blending musical styles.”
But he noted the 27-track project “might have worked better split into two separate albums”.
Will Hodgkinson of The Times also gave Cowboy Carter a four-star review, praising it as a “slick and starry Western epic” with a sense of “fun and adventure”.
But he agreed it was too long, adding she “would have been better off leaving the remaining seven songs for another album”.
Hautman hailed the new album as “instantly timeless” and “a soulful celebration of Southern values and the genre’s African American roots”.
The Rolling Stones’ Larisha Paul said “every piece” of the album was “meticulously thought out”, from the track list to the album art.
Many reviewers also noted Beyoncé’s own disclaimer, stating that “this ain’t a country album, this is a Beyoncé album.”
Elle’s Erica Gonzales remarked that the singer is “putting her own spin on country music,” highlighting how she incorporates elements of hip-hop and even sings Italian opera.
The release of the new album was preceded by two successful singles – “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” – which marked the beginning of the Texas-born singer’s venture into country music.
Both singles quickly gained traction on streaming platforms, with “Texas Hold ‘Em” propelling Beyoncé to become the first black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart last month. Additionally, she achieved her first UK singles chart-topper in almost 14 years.
Beyoncé revealed that the album was inspired by an experience where she “did not feel welcome,” prompting her to delve deeper into the history of country music.
Prior to its release, she expressed gratitude to her fans “from the bottom of my heart” for their support of the album.