Will Beyoncé’s new album be rock? Scenarios and theories on Act III

Just days after the end of the Cowboy Carter World Tour, speculation has already begun about what will be the third and final act of Beyoncé’s album trilogy. After reclaiming African American roots in country music, it’s rumored that the next musical territory the artist is ready to conquer is rock. While waiting for an official release date for the third chapter, which, following the gap between the previous two albums, likely won’t arrive before the end of 2026, fans have started crafting conspiracy theories suggesting a possible rock transition for Queen Bey.

Beyoncé's third act: the clues

The latest and, according to many, most credible clue lies in a commercial released on August 4, promoting the partnership between Beyoncé and Levi’s, which began over a year ago with Cowboy Carter. In the video, the artist portrays The Denim Cowboy: she arrives in town on horseback, interrupts a men’s pool game, and challenges them. After defeating them, her opponents lower their pants in surrender, while Queen Bey, triumphant, exits the scene on a motorcycle. Beyoncé’s fanbase has no doubt: she’s moved from country to rock. Speculation is growing about what the cover of the upcoming album might look like, and the most devoted members of the BeyHive believe it may have already been teased during the final tour dates. At the June 28 concert in Houston, the singer experienced some tension when a red Cadillac suspended above the audience malfunctioned. In the following shows, however, she replaced the car with a golden mechanical horse, which some believe could star on the cover of Act III.

A collab with Lady Gaga?

Theories about the motorcycle’s role in Beyoncé’s new artistic phase have been circulating for quite some time. In 2022, Beyoncé posed on a motorcycle for British Vogue (July Issue 2022) to mark the release of Act I: Renaissance, a kind of easter egg, a “hidden” detail now rediscovered by her community as a clue to her new musical direction. Some fans interpreted the image of motorcyclist Beyoncé as a possible reference to the iconic Born This Way album cover by Lady Gaga. This visual detail has reignited hopes for a new collaboration between Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, possibly in the third act, where fans speculate there could be a sequel to the hit song Telephone.

Another confirmation of Beyoncé’s rock phase came during last Halloween, when the artist paid tribute to Betty Davis, an overlooked icon of funk rock, by faithfully replicating one of her signature looks. A move that seems to reflect Beyoncé’s desire to recover the Afro-American rock legacy, both aesthetically and musically, restoring visibility and value to a historically marginalized tradition.

Is Beyoncé compatible with rock music? We think so

While many skeptics have questioned (as they did with country) the compatibility between Beyoncé and rock, the artist has shown from the very start of her career a strong affinity with this musical genre. One can’t overlook the relationship between Beyoncé and Prince. Their duet at the 2004 Grammy Awards was unforgettable, opening the show with a medley of their hits. On that occasion, Prince, known for his elitism, didn’t hesitate to praise Beyoncé for her vocal agility, calling her a promising rockstar even then. The artist has never hidden her deep love for female rock voices, especially Tina Turner, whom she has often referred to as her artistic godmother. In addition to their personal bond, the two shared similarities in vocal power and stage presence. A standout moment was Beyoncé’s performance of Proud Mary in 2005 during a tribute to Turner at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Rock has woven through Beyoncé’s discography, most notably in Don’t Hurt Yourself, one of the most intense and aggressive tracks from the Lemonade album. This song, a collaboration with Jack White, a legend of alternative rock, isn’t just another revenge song aimed at Jay-Z, it’s a musical experiment where Beyoncé proves she speaks the language of rock fluently. All that’s left is to wait and see whether Beyoncé will swap cowboy boots for biker boots, and trade in her denim shirt for a leather jacket.