Beyoncé announces her new album, 'Renaissance: Act II', and drops two new songs at Super Bowl 2024

Did you know the Super Bowl halftime show is the most-watched event in the United States? If you don’t believe us, here are some numbers: This year's Super Bowl had an average of 123.4 million viewers in the US alone, making it the most-watched broadcast since the 1969 Moon landing. Now what, along with the high-octane sporting action, could be the reason for this unfathomable viewership? We think it's Beyoncé!

The diva broke the Internet and several viewership records with the announcement of her new album—Renaissance Act II—minutes after a surprise appearance in a Verizon commercial for the Super Bowl. She followed it with an announcement of two singles titled 'Texas Hold ‘Em' and '16 Carriages'.

The first song, 'Texas Hold ‘Em', is a peppy, uptempo country number that transports listeners back to the time of the Wild West. The video features a group of men in cowboy hats gathered in the middle of a desert, looking up at a billboard that reads "Texas! Hold 'Em" alongside Beyoncé's image, who's donning a cowboy hat. As the music changes, the artist, in her sultry voice, sings, “This ain't Texas, ain't no hold 'em / So lay your cards down, down, down, down", referencing the poker game named after the singer’s home state.

The second track, '16 Carriages', is a slow burn with ascendant organs and a steel guitar. With the hard-hitting lyrics of this song, Beyoncé pays homage to the hard work that has been put into building her legacy. “I miss my kids / Overworked and overwhelmed,” she sings in the pre-chorus, continuing, “Still workin’ on my life, you know / Only God knows, only God knows”.

If you're still wondering why the number 16 is in the song title, here's what we know: That's how old Beyoncé was when the girl group Destiny’s Child signed with Columbia Records and dropped its single 'No, No, No'.

Both songs feature contributions from veteran producer Raphael Saadiq, best known for hits with D’Angelo ('How Does It Feel?') and Beyoncé’s sister, Solange.

Fashion on point

In the images for her songs, 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages,' Beyoncé sports a metallic bikini and a Western shirt, respectively. This fuelled speculation about her upcoming album being in the country music genre, especially since she wore a cowboy hat to the Grammys, too.

Set to release on March 29, the album is the second part of a three-act project that began with Beyoncé's acclaimed Renaissance album in 2022. She earned four Grammys for it in 2023, including Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards' history.

Following the release of Renaissance, Beyoncé embarked on her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour, earning over $500 million from its 56 shows. We're eagerly anticipating what's next!

Also read: Inside Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' world tour wardrobe–all her custom-made looks

Also read: How Beyoncé redefined what it means to be a pop icon