Beyoncé’s Act III: Is ‘Betty Black’ the Final Chapter?
After postponing the announcement on January 14, the release remains a mystery
Everything seemed set for January 14. But what the industry didn’t anticipate was that the Los Angeles wildfires would delay what everyone believed would be the theoretical conclusion to Beyoncé’s ACT music trilogy.
Allegedly (and now we may never know), Queen B was expected to announce her Betty Black Tour, possibly the title of her ACT III.
The big question now is when the artist will decide to resume her plans while theories and rumors continue to swirl around her. The name Betty Black has appeared multiple times in her videos and posts related to the Renaissance and Cowboy Carter projects. Everything points to this album being a blend of rock and funk, marking yet another turn in Beyoncé’s illustrious career.
Since Beyoncé released Renaissance in 2022, fans have eagerly awaited each new act of the trilogy. Speculation about the title Betty Black began when it was discovered that the domain bettyblacktour.com redirected to the official site of the superstar.
Beyonce’s Betty Black: A Rock and Funk Hybrid
Betty Black is expected to be an album that fuses rock and funk elements—genres Beyoncé has previously explored but which could now take center stage in her new work. This would follow in the footsteps of the electronic and country sounds she embraced in her two preceding albums.
Whether by coincidence or design, both of Beyoncé’s recent albums were released 29 days after their first singles dropped. As we’ll see in the following timeline, Queen B has historically released her albums on the 29th, leading many fans to speculate that Betty Black could also debut on a 29th.
Timeline of Beyoncé’s ACT Trilogy
Act I: Renaissance
The first act of the trilogy was released on July 29, 2022. This album marked Beyoncé’s return to dance music, drawing influences from disco and house. Conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, Renaissance was meant to inspire joy and offer an escape for her fans.
Act II: Cowboy Carter
The second act dropped on March 29, 2024. This album delved into country and Americana, paying homage to Black pioneers in those genres. Cowboy Carter was framed as a fictional radio broadcast, featuring collaborations with artists like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.
With the anticipated release of the alleged Betty Black, fans are eager to see how Beyoncé will close out this trilogy. Expectations are sky-high for what is sure to be one of the year’s most talked-about albums. Now, the only question is: will it be in 2025 or 2026?