Cowboy Carter became the first country album by a Black woman to top the Billboard 200.
Beyoncé released Cowboy Carter on March 29, 2024, as her eighth studio album and the second act in a planned trilogy that began with Renaissance. The project explores country, Americana, rock, blues, folk, and related traditions while placing Black musical history at its center.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and also topped the Top Country Albums chart. Its arrival followed “Texas Hold ’Em,” which made Beyoncé the first Black woman to reach number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The album’s country classification prompted extensive discussion about genre boundaries and the contributions of Black musicians to country music.
Cowboy Carter includes guest appearances from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. It won the 2025 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, giving Beyoncé her first victory in that category.