On Thursday, the superstar singer Beyoncé released a new “Pony Up Remix” of “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the lead single from her newly unveiled album “Act II: Cowboy Carter”.
The remix features elements of Bounce music, a genre native to New Orleans, paying homage to the roots of her mother, Tina Knowles, who is from Louisiana—as referenced in her 2016 single “Formation”.
The surprise release comes at a time when Beyoncé has been making headlines with her “Cowboy Carter” album. This week, she was honored with the Innovator award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, which she dedicated “to all the innovators who have dedicated their lives and their art to creating shifts.”
“Texas Hold ‘Em” made history for her when it was first dropped in February, as Beyoncé became the first Black artist to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in modern times.
All this—coupled with eager anticipation from her Beyhive—has heightened expectations that an announcement of a tour is on the horizon.
Speculation hit a fever pitch on Thursday after her website beencountry.com was updated, which many believe to be a precursor to a major announcement.