The 27 Tracks Of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter: Decoding Every Song, Sample, And Star Collaboration

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024 as the second act of her musical trilogy, is not merely a country album—it is a sprawling, 27-track manifesto that reclaims the genre's Black roots and challenges the industry’s historical boundaries. As of late 2025, the album continues to be a seismic cultural event, with each song offering layers of historical context, genre fusion, and personal narrative.

This deep-dive analysis provides a definitive breakdown of every track on the album, from the explosive lead singles to the profound interludes featuring country legends, offering the freshest insights into the most talked-about project of the year. The album, an ambitious blend of country, R&B, rock, opera, and trap, solidifies Beyoncé’s status as a master of musical reinvention and cultural commentary.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter: A Brief Profile

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, born on September 4, 1981, in Houston, Texas, is one of the most successful and influential artists in music history. She first achieved fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B group Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.

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• Full Name: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter
• Born: September 4, 1981 (Houston, Texas)
• Spouse: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter (m. 2008)
• Children: Blue Ivy Carter, Rumi Carter, Sir Carter
• Career Highlights: Lead vocalist of Destiny's Child; record-breaking solo artist; first Black woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with a country song ("Texas Hold 'Em"); most awarded artist in Grammy history.
• Studio Albums (Solo): *Dangerously in Love* (2003), *B'Day* (2006), *I Am... Sasha Fierce* (2008), *4* (2011), *Beyoncé* (2013), *Lemonade* (2016), *Renaissance* (2022), *Cowboy Carter* (2024)
• Act II: *Cowboy Carter* is the second installment in a three-act project that began with the dance-focused *Renaissance* (Act I).

A Track-by-Track Breakdown: The 27 Songs of Cowboy Carter

The album’s 27-song tracklist is meticulously structured, using interludes as narrative devices to guide the listener through the sonic landscape of "Act II." The album is a powerful exploration of the American West, Black identity, and the very definition of country music.

The Singles and Statement Tracks: Reclaiming the Narrative

These tracks serve as the album's pillars, instantly garnering global attention for their genre-bending sound and profound cultural statements.

• 1. AMERIICAN REQUIEM: The album’s powerful opener sets the tone, blending rock and gospel elements. It features a subtle, yet striking, interpolation of Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture," a traditionally bombastic piece, to underscore the album’s grand, re-examination of American culture.
• 2. BLACKBIIRD: This is a poignant cover of The Beatles' classic "Blackbird," which Paul McCartney originally wrote about the struggle of the Little Rock Nine during the Civil Rights Movement. Beyoncé’s version features four rising Black female country artists: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts, explicitly connecting the song's civil rights history to the Black presence in modern country music.
• 5. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM: Released as a joint-lead single, this track made history as Beyoncé became the first Black woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with a country song. Co-written by a diverse team including Raphael Saadiq, Lowell, and Nate Ferraro, the song immediately establishes that her country sound is a global, modern, and inclusive one, with the opening line: "This ain't Texas."
• 17. LEVII'S JEANS (feat. Post Malone): A smooth, R&B-infused track that is a clear nod to the iconic denim brand, but also a metaphor for a deep, lasting relationship. The song’s release triggered a massive "Beyoncé effect," reportedly boosting the stock of the Levi’s brand by nearly 20%.

The Iconic Collaborations and Reinterpretations

Cowboy Carter is rich with collaborations, not just with contemporary stars but also with foundational figures who lend the album historical weight and topical authority.

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• 4. 16 CARRIAGES: This track, released alongside "TEXAS HOLD 'EM," is a deeply personal, autobiographical ballad reflecting on the sacrifices and relentless labor of her career, starting from the age of 15. It is a powerful narrative of a child star's journey into adulthood.
• 6. PROTECTOR: A tender, acoustic track that features a spoken-word vocal from her daughter, Rumi Carter, adding a layer of maternal intimacy to the album’s themes of guardianship and strength.
• 11. DOLLY P (Interlude): This spoken-word track features country legend Dolly Parton, who directly addresses Beyoncé, warning "that hussy with the good hair" about the song "Jolene," setting up the next track.
• 12. JOLENE: A fiery, aggressive reimagining of Dolly Parton’s 1973 classic. Unlike the original, where the narrator pleads with Jolene, Beyoncé’s version is a stern warning to the "hussy," transforming the song into a modern, assertive anthem that immediately sparked fan discourse about her relationship with Jay-Z.
• 15. II MOST WANTED (with Miley Cyrus): This duet is a standout "highway love song" with an outlaw-buddy theme, co-written by Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, and Ryan Tedder (who also co-wrote her hit "Halo"). Fans have noted its subtle interpolation of the sound of Fleetwood Mac, giving it a classic rock feel.
• 19. SPAGHETTII (feat. Linda Martell & Shaboozey): A hard-hitting track that blends rap and country trap. The song features an interlude from Linda Martell, one of the first commercially successful Black female artists in country music, who provides a powerful spoken-word segment on the genre's history.
• 20. ALLIIGATOR TEARS: A bluesy, soulful track that delves into the emotional core of the album, showcasing the deep-rooted Black blues and folk influences that underpin the entire project.

The Full Tracklist: All 27 Chapters of Act II

The complete list of songs on Cowboy Carter demonstrates the sheer ambition and topical authority of the project, weaving together songs, interludes, and genre explorations into a cohesive, cinematic experience.

1. AMERIICAN REQUIEM
2. BLACKBIIRD (feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts)
3. 16 CARRIAGES
4. PROTECTOR (feat. Rumi Carter)
5. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
6. SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON (Interlude)
7. II HANDS II HEAVEN
8. DAUGHTER
9. SPAGHETTII (feat. Linda Martell & Shaboozey)
10. ALLIGATOR TEARS
11. SMOKE HOUR II (Interlude)
12. JUST FOR FUN
13. II MOST WANTED (with Miley Cyrus)
14. LEVII'S JEANS (feat. Post Malone)
15. FLAMENCO
16. THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW (Interlude)
17. YA YA
18. OH LOUISIANA
19. DESERT EAGLE
20. RIVER DANCE
21. TYRANT
22. SWEET HONEY BUCKIN'
23. AMEN
24. DOLLY P (Interlude)
25. JOLENE
26. MY ROSE
27. BODYGUARD

The Hidden Layers: Samples, Influences, and LSI Keywords

To achieve its topical authority, Cowboy Carter utilizes a vast array of samples and genre influences that stretch far beyond traditional country music, firmly rooting the album in Black American music history.

The album is a masterclass in musical genealogy. It draws inspiration from a broad spectrum of genres including original rhythm & blues, blues, zydeco, and Black folk music, which were the sounds Beyoncé heard growing up in Houston, Texas.

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Key Samples and Interpolations

Beyond the Tchaikovsky interpolation in "AMERIICAN REQUIEM" and the obvious Beatles cover, the album features deep cuts from foundational American artists:

• Son House: The blues pioneer's "Grinnin' In Your Face" is sampled, connecting the album directly to the raw, emotional roots of Black American music.
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Known as the "Godmother of Rock and Roll," her work is sampled, highlighting the Black female figures who shaped modern music genres.
• Chuck Berry: The rock and roll legend is also sampled, further demonstrating the album’s argument that genres often categorized as "white" have deep Black origins.
• Fleetwood Mac: The potential interpolation in "II MOST WANTED" shows the album's use of classic rock tropes within a country framework.

The album's use of classic country figures like Willie Nelson and Linda Martell as "radio DJs" on the interludes "SMOKE HOUR" and "THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW" is a deliberate narrative choice. It frames the entire project as a radio broadcast, a common vehicle for country music, but one that is now unapologetically centered on the Black experience. This thematic depth ensures the album's longevity and its continuous relevance in the ongoing conversation about cultural appropriation and artistic freedom.