Beyoncé’s highly anticipated country album Cowboy Carter is here, and it’s jam-packed with features. On March 28, Beyoncé dropped the tracklist to the album on Instagram. It revealed the radio theme included on the album and some of the artists featured on the project as well. The three names revealed were country music legends Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell.
As Beyoncé revealed on Instagram, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a Beyoncé album.” The album’s sound reflects that, and the features highlight how she made the genre her own. When the album was finally fully released on March 29, fans discovered it had many more exciting features, including Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and even Beyoncé’s own daughter, Rumi Carter. Here’s a breakdown of every artist on Cowboy Carter.
Tanner Adell
The Tanner Adell feature is truly a full-circle moment. Adell is a Black independent country pop artist who is a huge Beyoncé fan. When it was announced that Act II would be a country album, Adell tweeted about how she wanted to be featured on the project. Well, her wish came true!
Adell is featured on Beyoncé’s BLACKBIIRD, which is a cover of The Beatle’s hit track. After Cowboy Carter was released, Adell posted her reaction to the collab on X (formerly known as Twitter). “You can expect a long sappy post tomorrow, but for tonight I just wanna say thank you to Beyoncé,” Adell wrote.
Brittney Spencer
Brittney Spencer is another rising Black country music artist. She’s also featured on Beyoncé’s “BLACKBIIRD” cover. Spencer shared her excitement for the song on her Instagram right after the album’s release.
“i’ve typed and deleted at least 10 captions. i don’t hv anything clever or curated to say. i’m on a beyonce record. the album is a masterpiece. ily @beyonce 🐝🌻,” she wrote. Spencer adds something special to the track that only her voice could provide.
Tiera Kennedy
A singer and songwriter from Alabama, Tiera Kennedy is a Black R&B country artist who puts her own fun spin on the genre. Kennedy is on both BLACKBIIRD and TYRANT. On March 29, Kennedy posted her reaction to being featured on the album on Instagram.
“I grew up listening to her music, practicing her runs over and over. Whenever people would ask me “Who’s your dream collab?” the answer was always Beyonce but it was such a far away dream because BEYONCÉ?!,” Kennedy wrote.
Reyna Roberts
Country artist Reyna Roberts is also featured on Beyoncé’s BLACKBIIRD. She also used her dreamy voice for the background vocals of TYRANT. Roberts shared her gratitude for the feature on her Instagram.
“I’M ON BEYONCÉ’S ALBUM😭❤️🔥My first feature ever is with Beyoncé, Thank you God. And thank you to everyone who tagged her in my videos and comments yall made this happen,” she captioned the post. “This is literally a dream come true. I will remember this day forever!”
Rumi Carter
Already a young musical protégé, Beyoncé’s youngest daughter, Rumi Carter, is featured on her emotional track PROTECTOR. Carter’s voice opens the track with her saying, “Mom, can I hear the lullaby please.”
The song is about motherhood and uplifting someone you love. Beyoncé doesn’t shy away from working with the Carter kids. Rumi’s sister, Blue Ivy Carter, has a Grammy for her work in the Brown Skin Girl music video. She also toured with Beyoncé, dancing regularly on the Renaissance tour.
Willie Nelson
Country legend Willie Nelson is heard multiple times on the album, the first time being on the transition Smoke Hour. The album has a radio theme, and multiple singers introduce songs on the record as if they are radio show hosts. Nelson comes in at the end of Smoke Hour and says,” Welcome to “The Smoke Hour” on KNTRY Radio Texas. You know my name, no need to know yours. Now, for this next tune, I want y’all to sit back, inhale, and go to that good place your mind likes to wander off to. And if you don’t want to go, go find yourself a jukebox. Thank you.”
This is played before Beyoncé’s hit single Texas Hold ‘Em. We hear Nelson again on Smoke Hour II, as he continues to host the radio show and introduces the song Just For Fun.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton isn’t actually featured on a song on the album, but she iconically introduces Beyoncé’s cover of her country hit “Jolene.” “Hey, miss Honey B, it’s Dolly P. You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when, except she has flamin’ locks of auburn hair. Bless her heart. Just a hair of a different color, but it hurts just the same,” Parton says.
Beyoncé definitely makes this cover her own, switching up the lyrics and giving the song a whole new flavor.
Parton is also heard at the beginning of “Tyrant.” “Cowboy Carter, time to strike a match and light up this juke joint,” she said.
Linda Martell
Linda Martell is one of the most iconic Black country artists even known. She paved the way for many artists in the genre. She and Shaboozey open the song Spaghettii. “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? Yes, they are. In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand. But in practice, well, some may feel confined,” Martell said.
We hear her again on her radio show transition, The Linda Martell Show introducing YA YA. “Haha, okay, thank you so very much. Ladies and gentlemen, this particular tune stretches across a range of genres, and that’s what makes it a unique listening experience. Yes, indeed, it’s called “YA YA.”
Shaboozey
Nigerian-American artist Shaboozey is on multiple songs on Cowboy Carter. We first hear him on Spaghettii, and later again on Sweet Honey Buckin’. “It don’t matter what nobody says, country boy ‘till the day that I’m dead,” Shaboozey said on Sweet Honey Buckin.’ Reclaiming country music is a huge theme of this album, and his lyrics add to this.
Willie Jones
Louisiana artist Willie Jones is known for blending genres. Previously on The X Factor in 2012, the singer is on the track Just For Fun. His voice truly adds so much to the song and blends well with Beyoncé’s. The emotional lyrics express a deep message of looking for hope and finding peace.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is known for singing multiple genres, from country to rock. So, this collab just makes sense. Cyrus and Beyoncé go back and forth on II Most Wanted, a love song produced by the brilliant Ryan Tedder. What a way for Cyrus to return to country music. “I’ve loved Beyonce since long before I had the opportunity to meet & work with her. My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created along side of her. Thank you Beyonce. You’re everything & more. Love you. To everyone who spent time making this song so special thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Cyrus shared on her Instagram following the album release.
Cyrus is also known for her cover of her godmother’s song Jolene, so now these three legends have all sung the same song and are amazing representations of women in country music.
Post Malone
Post Malone has always shared his love for country music. You can hear how he blends the genre with hip-hop and pop in his songs like Chemical and Stay. Now, he’s singing country along with Beyoncé on their song Levii’s Jeans. It’s a clever love song, with Malone even referencing Act I, saying, “Need you all night long, you’re my Renaissance.”