Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Beyoncé’s eighth album, Cowboy Carter, dominates multiple Billboard charts in its opening week.

The sprawling body of work bolts to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with 407,000 equivalent units sold in the first week.

According to Billboard, Cowboy Carter sold 168,000 pure copies and garnered 300.41 million official streams — Beyoncé’s biggest streaming week.

Cowboy Carter is Beyoncé’s eighth solo album to top the pop albums chart. 

Here is a breakdown of Beyoncé’s No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, in order by longest run:

• Beyoncé, three weeks at No. 1 (2013)
• 4, two weeks at No. 1 (2011)
• Dangerously In Love, one week at No. 1 (2003)
• B’Day, one week at No. 1 (2006)
• I Am…Sasha Fierce, one week at No. 1 (2008)
• Lemonade, one week at No. 1 (2016)
• Renaissance, one week at No. 1 (2022)
• Cowboy Carter, one week at No. 1 so far (2024)

Elsewhere on Billboard, Cowboy Carter commands the No. 1 spot on the Top Country Albums chart. Beyoncé makes history as the first Black woman to ever reach No. 1 on this chart, which was launched 60 years ago. This isn’t Bey’s only historic moment this era. The album’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” became the first song by a Black woman to hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. 

“Texas Hold ‘Em” was released Sunday, Feb. 11, and debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100. It later reached No. 1, tallying Bey’s ninth chart-topper. Last week, Beyoncé dropped “Texas Hold ‘Em (Pony Up) Remix.” 

Circling back to Cowboy Carter, the 27-track sonic experience includes collaborations with country legends Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson. 

The album also features rising Black country acts Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, and Shaboozey. Pop stars Miley Cyrus and Post Malone also appear on the set.

“This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” Beyoncé shared in an open letter.

“It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”

She added, “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”

Cowboy Carter is the second act in Beyoncé’s three-act album series. She launched her trilogy with her Grammy-winning, No. 1 album Renaissance.