Beyoncé’s surprise album drop, Cowboy Carter, has sent shockwaves through the music industry. Although labeled as a country album, Cowboy Carter defies genre boundaries and not just sticking to one type of music. It mixes in bits of gospel, blues, funk, and rock, showing off Beyoncé’s amazing singing skills.
Plus, what’s another layer of interest to the album? It’s the song Jolene, which is a reimagined cover of Dolly Parton’s classic song of the the same name. Not only is it a genre-bending foray into country music, but its lyrics seem to be about Jay-Z’s past cheating.
Beyoncé’s Reimagined Jolene Addresses Past Infidelity
In her recently released album, fans have discovered that Beyoncé has rewritten the song Jolene and changed its lyrics to talk about Jay-Z‘s cheating.
In Beyoncé’s version of Jolene, she changed things up from the original song. Instead of begging Jolene (a beautiful woman who the narrator fears will steal her partner) away not to take her man, Queen Bey tells Jolene not to mess with her relationship. She sings in the chorus:
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man / Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Don’t take the chance because you think you can.”
The 42-year-old also expressed her enduring love for her husband, whom she married in 2008 after dating since around 2002. She sings, “We’ve been deep in love for twenty years / I raised that man, I raised his kids / I know my man better than he knows himself.” This has made some fans wonder if it’s about their past problems with cheating.
Even though the song hints at tough times, it’s mostly about forgiving and moving forward. People are connecting it to the 2016 Becky With The Good Hair scandal, where Beyoncé talked about cheating in her album Lemonade, and Jay-Z later admitted to it in his album 4:44. Cowboy Carter seems to show Beyoncé feeling strong and celebrating the love that’s still there between the two pop-stars.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter’s Chart-Topping Country Fusion Success
Cowboy Carter is a groundbreaking album for Beyoncé in many ways. The lead single, Texas Hold ‘Em, made her the first Black woman to reach the number one spot on the Country charts (via Billboard).
Additionally, she achieved another milestone by being the first artist to simultaneously dominate both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
Despite some criticism for her foray into country music, Dolly Parton herself has publicly endorsed the album. “I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” Parton noted in an Instagram post.
Although opinions on Cowboy Carter are mixed, there’s no denying it’s a bold artistic step for Beyoncé. Her fresh take on Jolene sparks curiosity among fans, who debate whether it signals renewed love or carries a subtle warning to Jay-Z. What’s clear is Beyoncé’s knack for pushing boundaries, proving her ability to dominate across musical genres.
