Beyoncé is keeping alive her recent tradition of featuring her children on her albums with the release of her newest LP Cowboy Carter.
The country music–inspired album — a sequel to her hit Renaissance — features a brief appearance from her youngest daughter, Rumi.
In addition to her famous family members, Beyoncé is also joined by several country icons on Cowboy Carter.
The six-year-old — half of Beyoncé’s fraternal twins with her son Sir — pops up early on the album at the very beginning of track four, Protector.
She follows in the footsteps of her older sister Blue Ivy, 12, who won a Grammy in 2021 for co-writing her mother’s song Brown Skin Girl, which was featured on her 2019 soundtrack album, The Lion King: The Gift.
Beyoncé is keeping alive her recent tradition of featuring her children on her albums with the release of her newest LP Cowboy Carter
The country music–inspired album — a sequel to her hit Renaissance — features a brief appearance from her youngest daughter, six-year-old Rumi; pictured bottom right with sister Blue Ivy and dad Jay Z at the 2024 Super Bowl
Rumi left the singing and rapping to her mother, and she was instead featured in what sounds like a repurposed home recording.
‘Mom, can I hear the lullaby please?’ Rumi asks haltingly, pronouncing the last word more like ‘wullaby.’
The brief clip didn’t sound as if it was recorded in the studio expressly for the album, as it was suffused with a hissing sound that wouldn’t have been present in a high-quality studio recording.
Protector is a fitting choice to feature Rumi’s voice, as the song appears to be inspired by Beyoncé’s children.
‘And I will lead you down that road if you lose your way / Born to be a protector, mm-hmm / Even though I know someday you’re gonna shine on your own / I will be your projector, mmm, mm-hmm,’ the hitmaker sings in the chorus.
She adds in the bridge: ‘I first saw your face in your father’s gaze / There’s a long line of hands carryin’ your name, mm / Liftin’ you up, so you will be raised.’
Beyoncé’s fans, who call themselves the BeyHive, were anticipating a guest spot from Rumi after an artist page was created for her on streaming platforms just a day before Cowboy Carter’s release, according to Variety.
The songstress’ older daughter Blue Ivy has not only worked behind the scenes with her mother, but she had a high-profile guest spot on her mother’s blockbuster Renaissance tour.
‘Mom, can I hear the lullaby please?’ Rumi asks in what sounds like a home recording that plays at the start of track four, Protector; pictured with dad Jay Z (center) and sister Blue Ivy (R) in February
Beyoncé appears to have written the song as a tribute to her children
She was given a special dance break to let her show off her moves for stadium’s full of adoring fans, and as the tour progressed Blue’s dance breaks became a standard part of the show.
Beyoncé revealed that some negative social media reaction after her early appearances led Blue Ivy to step up her game, leading to her regular spot in the show.
Rumi’s appearance on Cowboy Carter seemed to be an immediate hit with fans who stayed up to listen to Beyoncé’s new album.
‘So cuteeeeee Rumi is the SUPERSTAR !!’ one fan gushed in the comments to the YouTube version of the song featuring lyrics.
‘Now this is a MOMMA SONG. GO RUMI,’ added another pleased listener.
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are among the other big names lending their vocals to Beyonce’s highly-anticipated album.
Cyrus, 31, has done a duet with Beyonce, 42, on the track II Most Wanted.
She is among a slew of music stars appearing in the album.
Country legends Dolly, 78, and Willie Nelson, 90, also have collaborated on the project – they feature during interludes, serving as DJ’s on Country Carter’s abstract KNTRY radio station. They introduce several tracks on the album.
Post Malone, 28, is another big name appearing on the album – he also lends his voice to the track Levii’s Jeans.
Rumi’s appearance on Cowboy Carter seemed to be an immediate hit with fans who stayed up to listen to Beyoncé’s new album
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are among the big names lending their vocals to Beyonce’s highly-anticipated album, Cowboy Carter; Cyrus pictured last month
Country legends Dolly Parton, 78, and Willie Nelson, 90, also have collaborated on the project; Parton seen in 2023
She has also collaborated with Linda Martell, the first Black female solo artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, as well as Black country musicians Willie Jones, Rhiannon Giddens, and Tanner Adell.
The songstress will also be covering the classic Beatles track Blackbird. An interpolation of the Beach Boys song Good Vibrations also appears in her track Ya Ya.
Country Carter contains 27 tracks, interludes interludes..
It comes after Beyonce revealed the track list for her debut country album. ‘Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit,’ read the vintage country style graphic she shared Wednesday on Instagram. ‘Brought to you by Kntry Radio Texas.’
Among the songs is the notable inclusion of a cover of Dolly Parton’s 1973 single ‘Jolene’, which the country icon previously teased.
Parton, 78, told Knox News earlier this month that she ‘heard’ Bey laid down a cover of the song, which she ‘hopes’ to be true.
‘Well, I think she has!’ said Parton. ‘I think she’s recorded “Jolene” and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that.
‘I love her! She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer,’ she raved.
On Wednesday, Beyoncé graced fans with the tracklist for her upcoming debut country album Cowboy Carter, which drops on March 29
Parton said she and Beyoncé have ‘sent messages back and forth through the years,’ leading up to the cover.
‘And she and her mother were like fans, and I was always touched that they were fans, and I always thought she was great,’ added Parton.
Beyoncé previously teased that she ‘collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect,’ prompting fans to speculate about a track with Taylor Swift.
Although there’s no sign of Swift, another country legend appears on the tracklist with the song ‘Smoke Hour’ featuring Willie Nelson.
In addition to the previously released singles ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages’, the rest of the list includes such songs as ‘Ameriican Requiem’, ‘Blackbiird’, ‘Protector’ and ‘My Rose’.
Beyoncé previously teased that she ‘collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect,’ which also includes Willie Nelson
In addition to the previously released singles ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages’, the rest of the list includes such songs as ‘Ameriican Requiem’, ‘Blackbiird’, ‘Protector’ and ‘My Rose’
Beyoncé previously debuted the album cover earlier this month as she announced the Cowboy Carter title and March 29 release date
‘Bodyguard’, ‘Dolly P’, ‘Daughter’, ‘Spaghetti’, ‘Alliigator Tears’, ‘Smoke Hour II’, ‘Just for Fun’, ‘II Most Wanted’, ‘Levii’s Jeans’, ‘Flamenco’, ‘The Linda Martell Show’, ‘Ya Ya’, ‘Oh Louisiana’, ‘Desert Eagle’, ‘Riiverdance’, ‘II Hands II Heaven’, ‘Tyrant’, ‘Sweet Honey Buckin’ and ‘Amen’ round out the list.
Beyoncé previously debuted the album cover earlier this month as she announced the Cowboy Carter title and March 29 release date.
Cowboy Carter is now available for pre-order, releasing on March 29.