Beyoncé’s New Country Song ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Is a Tribute to Her Roots

She might not be performing at halftime tonight, but Beyoncé still made her musical mark during the Super Bowl by dropping new songs during the big game. Titled “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages,” the tunes debuted shortly after her Verizon ad. The biggest surprise? They’re country tracks. She teased a snippet on Instagram as well, while announcing that Renaissance Act II, her next album, is due March 29.

Fans have been speculating that Beyoncé would go country ever since she showed up at the Grammys last Sunday dressed in a cowboy hat and a Western-inspired look. Some wondered whether “Act II” of her Renaissance era would be an entire country album. She previously dabbled in country with the song “Daddy Lessons” on her 2016 album Lemonade, even collaborating with The Chicks.

When she released Renaissance in 2022, Beyoncé shared a letter on her website, saying, “This three act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic. A time to be still, but also a time I found to be the most creative. Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving.”

The new songs follows her latest single “Our House,” which coincided with the theatrical release of her concert documentary, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, in December. The track still carried the house and dance influences of her last album, so today’s country release marks a big shift.

In the meantime, Beyoncé is working on the release of her new hair care line, Cécred, which launches February 20.

Listen to the song and read the full lyrics to “Texas Hold ‘Em” below.

This ain’t Texas
Ain’t no hold ’em
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus, and throw your keys up
Stick around, round, round, round, round
And I’d be damned if I can’t slow dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown
Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

There’s a tornado
In my city
In the basement that shit ain’t pretty
Rub your whiskey, cause we surviving
On red cup kisses, sweet redemption passing time, yeah

Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, run me to the left
And spin me in the middle boy, I can’t read your mind

This ain’t Texas
Ain’t no hold ’em
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus, and throw your keys up
Stick around, round, round, round, round
And I’d be damned if I can’t slow dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me honey too
It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown
Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now
And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some liquor on me, honey too
It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown
Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

There’s a heatwave
Coming at us
Too hot to think straight
Too old to panic
All of the problems, just feel dramatic
Now we’re running to the first bar that we find, yeah

Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, you run to the left
Just work me in the middle boy, I can’t read your mind

This ain’t Texas
Ain’t no hold ’em
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus, throw your keys up
Stick around, round, round, round, round
And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown
Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now
And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some liquor on me, honey too
It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown
Don’t be a … come and take it to the floor now, ooh

Take it to the floor now, ooh
To the floor now, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Come take it to the floor now, ooh
And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you
Baby pour that sugar and liquor on me too