Beyoncé Turns Negative Experience into Inspiration for 'Cowboy Carter'

With just 10 days to go until Beyoncé releases Act II: Cowboy Carter, the superstar is opening up about her new album - what inspired it, and what we can expect!

In a post to her 319 million followers on Instagram, Beyoncé begins by expressing her gratitude for all the support "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages," her two previously released tracks from Act II, have received so far:

"I feel honoured to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant."

She goes on to explain that her new album has been over five years in the making, born out of a negative experience where she "did not feel welcomed".

"And it was very clear that I wasn't. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history."

While Beyoncé doesn't specify the exact incident, she reveals how the negativity she's faced has only motivated her more:

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"The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act II is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work."

So what are we in for, exactly? No doubt one of her best albums yet...

"I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound. I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop."

And while she hasn't shared who her collaborators on Cowboy Carter are just yet, she does say they are "some brilliant artists who I deeply respect."

Beyoncé ends her message, "This ain’t a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album. This is Act II: COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!"

The album will be released on March 29.