Beyoncé’s New Country Song ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Is a Tribute to Her Roots

66th grammy awards showKEVIN MAZUR//GETTY IMAGES

She might not be performing at halftime tonight, but Beyoncé still made her musical mark during the Super Bowl by dropping new songs during the big game. Titled “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages,” the tunes debuted shortly after her Verizon ad. The biggest surprise? They’re country tracks. She teased a snippet on Instagram as well, while announcing that Renaissance Act II, her next album, is due March 29.

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Fans have been speculating that Beyoncé would go country ever since she showed up at the Grammys last Sunday dressed in a cowboy hat and a Western-inspired look. Some wondered whether “Act II” of her Renaissance era would be an entire country album. She previously dabbled in country with the song “Daddy Lessons” on her 2016 album Lemonade, even collaborating with The Chicks.

When she released Renaissance in 2022, Beyoncé shared a letter on her website, saying, “This three act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic. A time to be still, but also a time I found to be the most creative. Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving.”

The new songs follows her latest single “Our House,” which coincided with the theatrical release of her concert documentary, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, in December. The track still carried the house and dance influences of her last album, so today’s country release marks a big shift.

In the meantime, Beyoncé is working on the release of her new hair care line, Cécred, which launches February 20.

Listen to the song and read the full lyrics to “Texas Hold ‘Em” below.