Beyonce’s new album “Cowboy Carter” features a shoutout to Gadsden

Gadsden, Alabama is known for many things. The beautiful Coosa River and formerly home to one of the largest tire manufacturing plants in the world. Thanks to international superstar Beyonce, it is now featured in the first song on her debut country music album.

During the Super Bowl in February, Beyonce revealed to the world she was planning to drop a country music album. That’s not a misprint — country music. Since then everyone has been anxiously waiting for it to come out.

That album was released Friday at midnight Eastern time. Called “Cowboy Carter,” the album has 27 tracks totaling 80 minutes long, including a rendition of the Dolly Parton classic anthem  “Jolene.”

Gadsden, Alabama featured in first track

Country music is a very personal autobiographical genre and Beyonce is no different. On the very first track –  Ameriican Requiem – she mentions her father, Matthew Knowles’ hometown of Gadsden, Alabama.

Here is the verse:

Looka there, looka in my hand

The grandbaby of a moonshine man 

Gadsden, Alabama

Got folk down in Galveston, rooted in Louisiana 

Used to say I spoke “Too country”

And the rejection came, said I wasn’t country

‘Nough

Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but

If that ain’t country, tell me what is?

Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years

They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to

Fight for this.

When I sang my song

Kent Back, President of the Gadsden City Council, told The Bama Buzz the city is honored she recognized the town.

“It is quite an honor to be mentioned in the song. She’s an icon in music entertainment. Her roots are from here in Gadsden on her father’s side of her family.”

Back said his daughter Kirkland, who is a Gadsden resident and big Beyonce fan, can’t wait to go to her next concert and show off some Gadsden gear in the crowd.

 “I can tell you that my daughter and her friends are already working on what they are gonna wear that denotes Gadsden. They are looking at getting retro Gadsden basketball jerseys made and caps with GAD for the next concert they can go to where she’s gonna sing this song. They are all in.”

Destiny’s Child supported Gadsden school in 2001

Even though Beyonce’s primary connection to Gadsden is through her father, she did something very special 23 years ago for the community. While she was with the band Destiny’s Child, the group performed a benefit for Litchfield High School in Gadsden, Matthew Knowles alma mater. 

This was a big deal when you consider the group, which was managed at the time by her father, had sold 15 million records worldwide. Proceeds from the fundraiser were used to buy the high school new football uniforms.

Gadsden claims her

Because of that fundraiser, Beyonce’s cousins on her father’s side who still live in Gadsden, and now a lyric in her latest album they are forever linked, 

Councilor Back and Gadsden residents are beaming with pride today about their connection with Beyonce.

“We’re gonna say she’s from Gadsden. We’re gonna own that. I’m sorry, I hope that doesn’t make Beyonce upset,” Back chuckled.

He also informed The Bama Buzz, that Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford is introducing a proclamation naming April 2nd  Beyonce Day.

Did you know Beyonce had Gadsden connections? Tell us what you think about her new country music album by tagging us on social media at @thebamabuzz