Beyonce breaks silence over backlash for going country: Singer unveils Cowboy ... trends now
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 her post. 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of 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.
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
