By Sarah Fortsch 
Beyoncé has never been one to shy away from reinvention, and her latest album, Cowboy Carter, is the ultimate testimony to her fearless genre-blending prowess. The highly anticipated follow-up to Renaissance is a genre-bending exploration of country music through the prism of Beyoncé’s distinctive artistry. When the tracklist for Cowboy Carter was first revealed, it became pretty apparent this wasn’t going to be some sort of straight country album. Instead, it’s a thick, layered work that breaks stereotypes and expectations with as much elegance as the artist herself. This review of Cowboy Carter provides an in-depth look at the brilliant moments of this album and its cultural effect.
In what can only be described as the ultimate acknowledgment of her artistic evolution, Beyoncé clinched her first-ever Grammy for Album of the Year at the 2025 ceremony for Cowboy Carter. It’s no surprise—this record is monumental in both sound and cultural impact. If you’ve come here looking to understand why Cowboy Carter won the prestigious award, this review will offer you the answer: it’s a masterclass in reinvention, boundary-pushing, and powerful storytelling. But don’t just stop here—make sure to check out the other 2025 Grammy winners as well, as they each reflect a year rich with musical excellence.
The Sound and Style of Cowboy Carter
At the heart of Cowboy Carter is not country, but the ownership of sound and storytelling. The album stitches together classic country elements with modern production, gospel harmonies, and even blues influences. This isn’t Beyoncé’s attempt to “go country” in the traditional sense; she’s reclaiming a space that has long been resistant to Black artists. Lyrical themes of resilience, empowerment, and history make Cowboy Carter one of Beyoncé’s most thematically rich projects to date.
Among its most striking cuts, “Jolene” is a ballsy reinterpretation of the Dolly Parton classic. In place of the pleadings, Beyoncé flips the dynamic in the song from lamentation to warning. Her voice drops with restrained power as she whispers, “I know I’m a queen, and I ain’t gotta beg,” reconfiguring the entire meaning of the song. On the strength of this track alone, Cowboy Carter cements itself as more than an experiment—it’s a statement.
Another highlight is “II Most Wanted,” which features Miley Cyrus. It’s a soft, acoustic-driven storytelling that recalls some of the finer moments of classic Fleetwood Mac. The harmonies between Beyoncé and Cyrus are dizzying, both nostalgia-tinged and refreshing—a feature of Beyoncé’s ability to dip in and out of genres with such fluidity.
The Deeper Cowboy Carter Meaning
Beyond the sonics, Cowboy Carter plays in ownership—music, culture, and history. The presence of country legends like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton serves as a nod to the past, while the inclusion of contemporary Black country artists like Brittney Spencer and Reyna Roberts reminds listeners that country music has always had Black roots. The lyrics of Cowboy Carter often speak on legacy, justice, and self-determination, really making it known that this album is as much about rewriting the narratives as it is about making great music.
Final Thoughts
The ambition of this project simply can’t be overlooked in this Beyoncé Cowboy Carter review. While some purists may argue it strays too far from traditional country, that’s exactly the point—Beyoncé has never been one to fit inside anyone’s box. The Cowboy Carter tracklist is long and winding, and while some tracks feel more essential than others, the album as a whole is an undeniable artistic achievement. Be a country fan or not, this review makes it very clear that Cowboy Carter is a must-listen, proving once more that Beyoncé is a force like no other musically.