Beyoncé’s surprise April 2016 studio album about infidelity and healing was Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, initially as a visual album on HBO and through digital services. Its music moves through country, rock, blues, pop, R&B, and hip-hop, while its lyrics examine betrayal, anger, reconciliation, Black identity, and family history.
The album’s visual component consists of a film divided into chapters such as “Intuition,” “Anger,” “Apathy,” and “Redemption.” It features appearances by Serena Williams, Zendaya, and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Jay-Z is widely understood to be connected to the album’s marital themes, although the work is artistic rather than a literal documentary.
Lemonade earned widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album. It is separate from Renaissance, Beyoncé’s 2022 album centered on dance and club music.