Beyoncé recently unveiled the meaning of the title of her latest album, Cowboy Carter. The 43-year-old told GQ, whose October edition she covers, that she wanted to address the often-overlooked history of Black cowboys in America.
“I wanted everyone to take a minute to research on the word cowboy,” she said when asked about her decision to name the album Cowboy Carter instead of Cowgirl Carter. “History is often told by the victors. And American history? It’s been rewritten endlessly.
“Up to a quarter of all cowboys were Black. These men faced a world that refused to see them as equal, yet they were the backbone of the cattle industry. The cowboy is a symbol of strength and aspiration in America. The cowboy was named after slaves who handled the cows.
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“The word cowboy comes from those who were called boys, never given the respect they deserved. No one would dare call a Black man handling cows ‘Mister’ or ‘Sir.’”
She continued by saying that this served as the inspiration for the name of her new whisky brand, SirDavis, which she described as “a sign of earned respect. We all deserve respect, especially when we give it.”
The mompreneur also mentioned that she started working on Cowboy Carter five years ago, referencing the song “16 Carriages” which mentions her age.
Beyoncé clarified that her love for different genres since infancy had shaped her career in music and her choice to release a country song on Cowboy Carter.
She stated, “I believe genres are traps that box us in and separate us. I’ve experienced this for 25 years in the music industry. Black artists, and other artists of color, have been creating and mastering multiple genres, since forever.”
“I hope it inspires artists, as well as fans, to dig deeper and learn more about the Black musical innovators who came before us. Some of the most talented artists never achieve the mainstream praise they deserve, especially when they defy the norm.”
Meanwhile, despite Cowboy Carter’s rich history and record-breaking popularity, it was not nominated for the 2024 Country Music Awards, much to the disappointment of the Bey Hive.
