Cowboy Carter cover art

  Studio Album · No. 8

Cowboy Carter Songwriting Credits by Beyoncé

2024 Parkwood / Columbia 27 tracks 78 min

Produced by Beyoncé, No I.D., Jon Batiste, Tyler Johnson, Khirye Tyler, Derek Dixie, Kuk Harrell, Paul McCartney, Dave Hamelin, Ink, Raphael Saadiq, Stuart White, Jack Rochon, Mamii, Killah B, Nate Ferraro, Hit-Boy, Mariel Gomerez, Nova Wav, Alex Vickery, Camaron Ochs, Simon Mårtensson, Swizz Beatz, The-Dream, Shawn Everett, Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus, Jonathan Rado, Louis Bell, Cadenza, Harry Edwards, Bah Christ, Marcus Reddick, D.A. Got That Dope, Pharrell, Ian Fitchuk, 070 Shake, Sean Solymar  ·  Engineered by Stuart White, Alex Vickery, Jonathan Rado, Louis Bell, Mariel Gomerez, Sean Solymar

Parkwood / Columbia CountryCountry PopAmericanaPop
93%
Authorship
Artist

Beyoncé wrote 25 of 27 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 25 / 27 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 27 tracks with documented writers, by whether Beyoncé carries a lyricist or composer credit.

93%
25 trackswritten by Beyoncé 2 tracksoutside writers
Beyoncé's roles on this album

Share of the 27 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist93%
Composer0%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

27
Tracks
66
Lyricists
38
Producers
1
No.1 Single
2024
Released

Awards & Recognition 3

Grammy Award for Album of the Year (2025)
Grammy Award for Best Country Album (2025)
Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (2025, 'II Most Wanted')
Data Insight

Cowboy Carter is a curatorial epic, and the credits show it: Beyoncé co-wrote all twenty-seven tracks but the album is built from covers, interpolations, and collaborations that bring in writers from Lennon and McCartney on 'Blackbiird' to Dolly Parton on 'Jolene' to Chuck Berry on 'Oh Louisiana.' She is the constant authorial presence and executive producer, while the surrounding names map the Black country and roots lineage she is reclaiming. As with Renaissance, the song credits are long because the project is as much a history lesson as a record.

Cowboy Carter is the eighth studio album by Beyoncé, released in March 2024 as Act II of her trilogy and a sweeping reclamation of country, Americana, and the Black roots of American roots music. Across its long, suite-like running order she co-wrote every track and executive-produced the project, weaving in covers and interpolations such as the Beatles' 'Blackbird' on 'Blackbiird,' Dolly Parton's 'Jolene,' and Chuck Berry on 'Oh Louisiana.' The guest list mixes country elders with a new generation of Black country artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, and Willie Jones. The writing rooms are large and the histories layered, so most tracks carry many names once samples, interpolations, and co-writers are counted. The album won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to win Best Country Album.

Track Listing & Credits 27 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Ameriican Requiem
BeyoncéErnest WilsonJon BatisteRaphael SaadiqAtia BoggsCamaron OchsTyler JohnsonDarius ScottDerek DixieJay-ZMichael PriceDan WalshStephen Stills Beyoncé Knowles-CarterErnest WilsonJon BatisteRaphael SaadiqAtia BoggsCamaron OchsTyler JohnsonDarius ScottDerek DixieShawn CarterMichael PriceDan WalshStephen Stills BeyoncéNo I.D.Jon BatisteTyler JohnsonKhirye TylerDerek DixieKuk Harrell Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
2
Blackbiird
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney BeyoncéPaul McCartneyKhirye TylerKuk Harrell Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Brittney Spencer (Featured Vocals)Reyna Roberts (Featured Vocals)Tanner Adell (Featured Vocals)Tiera Kennedy (Featured Vocals)
3
16 Carriages
BeyoncéDave HamelinAtia BoggsRaphael Saadiq Beyoncé Knowles-CarterDave HamelinAtia BoggsRaphael Saadiq BeyoncéDave HamelinInkRaphael SaadiqStuart White Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
4
Protector
BeyoncéRyan BeattyCamaron OchsJack Rochon Beyoncé Knowles-CarterRyan BeattyCamaron OchsJack Rochon BeyoncéJack Rochon Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Rumi Carter (Vocals)
5
My Rose
BeyoncéShawntoni Nichols Beyoncé Knowles-CarterShawntoni Nichols BeyoncéMamii Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
6
Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson
BeyoncéLeah TakeleCharles AndersonEdward House Jr.Sister Rosetta TharpeChuck BerryJesse Stone Beyoncé Knowles-CarterLeah TakeleCharles AndersonEdward House Jr.Sister Rosetta TharpeChuck BerryJesse Stone Beyoncé Beyoncé (Vocals)Willie Nelson (Spoken Word)
7
Texas Hold 'Em #1
BeyoncéElizabeth Lowell BolandMegan BülowBrian BatesNate FerraroRaphael Saadiq Beyoncé Knowles-CarterElizabeth Lowell BolandMegan BülowBrian BatesNate FerraroRaphael Saadiq BeyoncéKillah BNate FerraroRaphael SaadiqStuart WhiteHit-BoyMariel Gomerez Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
8
Bodyguard
BeyoncéRaphael SaadiqRyan BeattyElizabeth Lowell BolandLeven KaliShawntoni Nichols Beyoncé Knowles-CarterRaphael SaadiqRyan BeattyElizabeth Lowell BolandLeven KaliShawntoni Nichols Raphael SaadiqBeyoncé Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
9
Dolly P
Dolly PartonBeyoncéLeah Takele Dolly PartonBeyoncé Knowles-CarterLeah Takele BeyoncéJack RochonNova Wav Beyoncé (Vocals)Dolly Parton (Spoken Word)
10
Jolene
Dolly PartonBeyoncéDenisia AndrewsBrittany ConeyThe-Dream Dolly PartonBeyoncé Knowles-CarterDenisia AndrewsBrittany ConeyTerius Gesteelde-Diamant BeyoncéJack RochonKhirye TylerAlex Vickery Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
11
Daughter
BeyoncéCamaron OchsSimon MårtenssonThe-DreamJay-ZDerek Dixie Beyoncé Knowles-CarterCamaron OchsSimon MårtenssonTerius Gesteelde-DiamantShawn CarterDerek Dixie BeyoncéCamaron OchsSimon MårtenssonDerek Dixie Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
12
Spaghettii
BeyoncéThe-DreamJay-ZCollins ChibuezeKhirye TylerDedé Mandrake Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius Gesteelde-DiamantShawn CarterCollins ChibuezeKhirye TylerDedé Mandrake BeyoncéSwizz BeatzKhirye Tyler Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Linda Martell (Spoken Word)Shaboozey (Featured Vocals)
13
Alliigator Tears
BeyoncéThe-DreamKhirye TylerJack Siegel Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius Gesteelde-DiamantKhirye TylerJack Siegel BeyoncéThe-DreamKhirye Tyler Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
14
Smoke Hour II
BeyoncéLeah TakeleDave HamelinJeff Gitelman Beyoncé Knowles-CarterLeah TakeleDave HamelinJeff Gitelman BeyoncéDave Hamelin Beyoncé (Vocals)Willie Nelson (Spoken Word)
15
Just for Fun
BeyoncéRyan BeattyDave HamelinJeff Gitelman Beyoncé Knowles-CarterRyan BeattyDave HamelinJeff Gitelman BeyoncéDave HamelinAlex Vickery Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Willie Jones (Featured Vocals)
16
II Most Wanted
BeyoncéMiley CyrusMichael PollackRyan Tedder Beyoncé Knowles-CarterMiley CyrusMichael PollackRyan Tedder BeyoncéShawn EverettMichael PollackMiley CyrusJonathan Rado Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Miley Cyrus (Featured Vocals)
17
Levii's Jeans
BeyoncéPost MaloneThe-DreamNile RodgersJay-Z Beyoncé Knowles-CarterAustin PostTerius Gesteelde-DiamantNile RodgersShawn Carter BeyoncéThe-DreamLouis Bell Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Post Malone (Featured Vocals)
18
Flamenco
BeyoncéShawntoni Nichols Beyoncé Knowles-CarterShawntoni Nichols BeyoncéMamii Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
19
The Linda Martell Show
BeyoncéLeah Takele Beyoncé Knowles-CarterLeah Takele Beyoncé Beyoncé (Vocals)Linda Martell (Spoken Word)
20
Ya Ya
BeyoncéThe-DreamJay-ZOliver RodiganHarry EdwardsKlara Mkhatshwa Munk-HansenAnaïs MarinhoLee HazlewoodBrian WilsonMike Love Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius Gesteelde-DiamantShawn CarterOliver RodiganHarry EdwardsKlara Mkhatshwa Munk-HansenAnaïs MarinhoLee HazlewoodBrian WilsonMike Love BeyoncéThe-DreamCadenzaHarry EdwardsKhirye Tyler Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
21
Oh Louisiana
Chuck Berry Chuck Berry BeyoncéThe-Dream Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
22
Desert Eagle
BeyoncéJabbar StevensMiranda JohnsonMarcus Reddick Beyoncé Knowles-CarterJabbar StevensMiranda JohnsonMarcus Reddick BeyoncéBah ChristMarcus Reddick Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
23
Riiverdance
BeyoncéThe-DreamRayeMark Spears Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius Gesteelde-DiamantRachel KeenMark Spears BeyoncéThe-Dream Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
24
II Hands II Heaven
BeyoncéDave HamelinRyan BeattyJack RochonThe-DreamMark Spears Beyoncé Knowles-CarterDave HamelinRyan BeattyJack RochonTerius Gesteelde-DiamantMark Spears BeyoncéDave HamelinJack Rochon Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)
25
Tyrant
BeyoncéCamaron OchsThe-DreamDavid DomanDominic RedenczkiEzemdi Chikwendu Beyoncé Knowles-CarterCamaron OchsTerius Gesteelde-DiamantDavid DomanDominic RedenczkiEzemdi Chikwendu Dave HamelinD.A. Got That DopeKhirye TylerBeyoncéKuk Harrell Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Dolly Parton (Featured Vocals)
26
Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin'
BeyoncéPharrell WilliamsCollins ChibuezeThe-DreamJay-ZHank CochranHarlan Howard Beyoncé Knowles-CarterPharrell WilliamsCollins ChibuezeTerius Gesteelde-DiamantShawn CarterHank CochranHarlan Howard BeyoncéPharrell Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)Shaboozey (Featured Vocals)
27
Amen
BeyoncéDave HamelinDanielle BalbuenaCamaron OchsTyler JohnsonIan FitchukDarius ScottDerek DixieRicky Lawson Beyoncé Knowles-CarterDave HamelinDanielle BalbuenaCamaron OchsTyler JohnsonIan FitchukDarius ScottDerek DixieRicky Lawson BeyoncéDave HamelinTyler JohnsonDerek DixieIan Fitchuk070 ShakeSean Solymar Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 100 contributors

More from Beyoncé

Frequently Asked Questions Cowboy Carter

Who wrote Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter?
Beyoncé co-wrote all twenty-seven tracks and executive-produced the album, working with collaborators including The-Dream, Raphael Saadiq, Dave Hamelin, and No I.D., plus the original writers of the songs she covers and interpolates.
Is Jolene on Cowboy Carter a cover?
Yes. Beyoncé reworks Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' with new lyrics, and Parton is credited as a writer alongside Beyoncé and her co-writers.
Who are the guests on Cowboy Carter?
Guests include Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Willie Jones, and the new-generation country singers featured on 'Blackbiird.'
Did Cowboy Carter win Album of the Year?
Yes. It won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys, and Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album.
What is the Beatles connection on Cowboy Carter?
'Blackbiird' is a version of the Beatles' 'Blackbird,' credited to Lennon-McCartney and co-produced by Paul McCartney, performed with four Black women country artists.
How does Cowboy Carter fit Beyoncé's trilogy?
It is Act II, following the dance-focused Renaissance (Act I), and turns toward country and American roots music as its central subject.

Sources