Beyoncé Turns “Texas Hold ‘Em” Into A New Orleans Bounce Remix

Beyoncé continues to innovate with her recent Cowboy Carter album, engulfing country music’s Black history through and through. In addition to her boot-kicking and hat-tilting single, “Texas Hold ’Em,” the queen Bey has dropped a “Pony Up Remix” to the track infused with a New Orleans bounce sound. In the wee hours of the morning (April 4), the Houston native released the track on her official website and YouTube channel with new lyrics, vocals, and a beat breakdown.

On the mix, the new second verse goes, “Woke up this mornin’, my heart keeps racin’ (Woo)/ Straight to the bottom, we all need salvation/ Need you to end this drought, take me downtown/ Gon’ leave the truck, whiskey, baby/ Let’s get weekend wasted/ Might as well just throw it all/ And pony up, bi**h, don’t hold back on me.”

The song ends with an all-new outro as she sings, “Pony up and salute your town/ Chasin’ our sins away, way brown/ And I’ll be damned if I cannot dance with you/ Baby, pour that sugar and liquor on me, too/ Furs, spurs, boots.”

Listen below.

The original “Texas Hold ‘Em” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts after its premiere. Bey also made history with the track as the first Black woman (or biracial woman) to make such a feat on the country music chart. The single also earned Bey the highest-ever Billboard Hot 100 debut of her career.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES,” Bey expressed in a lengthy Instagram post. “I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you.”

Bey also reflected on a time in her career when she was not accepted by the country music community. She added that her new LP “forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me” and “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”

In addition to the “Pony Up (Remix),” the mother-of-three also launched a mysterious new website titled, beencountry.com.

As of publication, the site only shows a photo of teenage Bey in a pageant, a school photo labeled with the name “Celestine Beyince,” a newer shot of her in her American flag cowboy get-up, a banjo, and a reminder that “This ain’t a country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”

Speculating that a Cowboy Carter tour may be coming, posters of Bey with the quote “Always Been Country” have been plastered all around Los Angeles. However, in true Beyoncé form, she has kept quiet about any surprises.

However, she did proudly accept the Innovator Award from Stevie Wonder at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards earlier this week. She also revealed that Wonder played the harmonica on her rendition of Dolly Parton’s 1973 classic, “Jolene.”

“Thank you so much Stevie, I love you. I love you and I honor you,” Bey started as she joined the 73-year-old on stage. “I want to thank you for making a way for all of us. I’m honored to receive this recognition from you, Stevie Wonder. Whenever anyone asks me if there’s anyone I can listen to for the rest of my life, it’s always you. So thank you, God bless you.”

“And thank you for playing the harmonica on ‘Jolene,’” she added as the living legend praised her “for motivating the world to be a better place.”