Beyoncé finally announced “Renaissance Act II” — here's everything you need to know
At long last, Beyoncé is releasing Renaissance Act II.
The superstar teased the project during a surprise cameo in a Verizon commercial that aired during the 2024 Super Bowl on February 11. The ad shows Beyoncé attempting to break Verizon's 5G feature by performing a number of 'internet-breaking' skits — from opening a lemonade stand to putting a “BarBey” spin on Barbie — before ultimately resorting to “drop[ping] the new music”. Soon after the commercial aired, Beyoncé released the first teaser video for Act II on her Instagram.
This is far from Beyoncé's first time dropping Easter eggs in anticipation of new music. She previously teased the arrival of Renaissance in an interview for Harper's Bazaar's September 2021 cover story.
“I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible,” she said at the time. “I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”
Ahead, we break down everything to know about the project.
What will the focus of Act II be?
Though we don't know much about the specific contents of Act II yet, it looks likely that it will pay homage to her Texan roots — judging from the teaser clip Beyoncé shared on Instagram. The video shows her driving through a desert landscape as banjo strings play in the background, leading many fans to speculate that she'll be shifting gears to release an entire album of country music. The teaser ends with a giant billboard of Beyoncé and the words, "Texas! Hold 'Em" – which is the name of one of the singles.
What is the release date for Act II?
The Instagram video confirmed that Act II will officially drop on 29 March.
What's the tracklist?
While we don't know the full tracklist yet, Beyoncé did announce the name of the two lead singles: “Texas Hold 'Em”and “16 Carriages.” (Both tracks are already available to stream.)
Are there any visuals?
Yes, Beyoncé has already released two cover art images.
One image shows the singer wearing a metallic bra, chain garter and matching underwear, which she layered underneath a cropped leather jacket. She went big with her accessories, which included a black baseball cap and a massive pair of sparkly earrings.
The second image features a black-and-white portrait of Beyoncé, clad in a cowboy hat and a studded Western-style shirt.
You Might Also Like
