Beyoncé released Lemonade as a visual album in 2016, premiering its film on HBO.
The project was released on April 23, 2016, alongside a one-hour film broadcast on HBO. Its music moves through R&B, rock, country, blues, soul, hip-hop, and pop, while its visuals draw on themes of identity, family, betrayal, healing, and Black womanhood.
Lemonade features guest appearances from artists including Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, James Blake, and The Weeknd. Its songs include “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” “Freedom,” and “All Night.” The project’s use of poetry, Southern imagery, and references to African American history helped make it a major cultural event.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and earned nine Grammy nominations. It won Best Urban Contemporary Album, while “Formation” won the Grammy for Best Music Video. Lemonade is often discussed as both a conventional album and a tightly integrated audiovisual work.