Which Beyoncé album is the second act of her three-act project?

Cowboy Carter is the second act of Beyoncé’s three-act project. It follows Renaissance, released in 2022 as Act I, and was released on March 29, 2024.

The album’s official title is stylized as COWBOY CARTER. Its concept draws on country music and broader American roots traditions while connecting those styles to Black musical history. Beyoncé described the project as a continuation of ideas begun during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she developed Renaissance and its successor as parts of a larger body of work.

The album’s position is sometimes confused with its release order in Beyoncé’s broader discography. It is her eighth studio album, but its “Act II” identity refers to the planned trilogy rather than to a second album overall. Renaissance is Act I, while the third act had not been officially titled in the album’s initial release context.