It’s been nearly a week since Beyoncé blessed us with Cowboy Carter and yet I still can’t find enough time in the day to get sick of playing it around the clock. The Queen’s Act II follow-up to Renaissance not only has us in the mood to kick ass first and take names later with revenge anthems like “Jolene,” but also manages to educate us at the same time. No one multitasks better than moms, can I get an amen? Throughout the powerful record that has country legends and renegades alike shook in their cowboy boots, Beyoncé has included an illustrious list of female Country artists. Including these voices provides depth to Bey’s work while exposing listeners to the roots this album was borne of and which artists have inspired her along the way. Here’s a roundup of every female country icon featured on Cowboy Carter.
Tanner Adell
The self-proclaimed “Glam Country” star has been making waves in the music industry since her entrée into the Nashville country music scene in 2021. Tanner has taken on the challenge of being a Black millennial woman in the white male-dominated genre head-on, with songs like her viral single “Buckle Bunny.” In the hit, Tanner sings a now full-circle line “Lookin’ like Beyoncé with a lasso on” which is why she’s thanked fans for tagging her under Beyoncé’s posts, all of which have culminated in landing her dream feature on acclaimed Cowboy Carter ballad “BLACKBIIRD” along with background vocals on “AMERIICAN REQUIEM.”
Brittney Spencer
Singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer is no stranger to sharing the stage with her favorite country legends like Willie Nelson and The Highwomen. In fact, Spencer’s cover of The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” kickstarted the upcoming singer’s career when the group retweeted her video. Since then the proud plus-sized industry trailblazer has dropped her debut album, My Stupid Life, ahead of her feature on “BLACKBIIRD,” which left Tiera speechless after its release.
Tiera Kennedy
You may recognize the self-described ‘R&B Country’ singer from her Apple Music series “The Tiera Show” or perhaps from the golden curly locks that I’m going to need the natural haircare routine details for, IMMEDIATELY. Before joining the A-team featured on “BLACKBIIRD” and supporting the harmony of “TYRANT,” Tiera has released fan faves such as “Jesus, My Mama, and My Therapist” (cheers to good role models) and has a new single dropping April 26, 2024 entitled “I Ain’t A Cowgirl” that I’m sure will make Beyoncé proud.
Reyna Roberts
Reyna is known as the “Outlaw Princess of Country” as evidenced by her bad bitch music videos that have me convinced I too could run a traphouse in head-to-toe leather if I wanted to. With her trademark fiery attitude (and the red hair to match) and multiple appearances on Act II (via “BLACKBIIRD” and “TYRANT”) it’s only a matter of time until the singer becomes a new classic.
Dolly Parton
The iconic blond lends her voice to Beyoncé’s latest masterpiece by introducing the “JOLENE” cover on the preceding “DOLLY P”. Dolly likens her infamous fictional rival Jolene to “that hussy Becky With The Good Hair” that Beyoncé sings about on Lemonade. Seeing two female legends combine forces on a betchy anthem for the ages? Ya, we’re living in the best timeline.
Linda Martell
Those familiar with country music’s history will be no stranger to Linda Martell. For the rest of us, let’s all say “Thank you Beyoncé” for enlightening us to the underrated queen of the genre whose singular solo album “Color Me Country” (we see what you did there Linda) has made an irrevocable yet oft underemphasized mark on the industry. Maren Morris got it right when she said seeing Linda’s name on a Beyoncé album will “never not be” chills-worthy. Linda herself, who has seen quite a bit being raised in segregated 1940s South Carolina, was elated to find “THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW” on Cowboy Carter writing “it is Beyoncé after all.” Took the words right out of my mouth, girl.
Miley Cyrus
I honestly would’ve expected her best friend Leslie to appear on a Beyoncé album before Miley herself, but here we are and, to my pleasant surprise, Miley’s emotional duet “II MOST WANTED” is one of the best of the 27 tracks. Like, I’ve listened to the song so many times I think the harmonies accidentally healed my inner child somehow? Miley’s previously dabbled in some extremely questionable behavior surrounding Black music, so this is a huge achievement for the genre-bending singer who is the goddaughter of Dolly P and daughter of Achy Breaky country bad boy, Billy Ray, after all.
