16 Carriages

Verizon, an American multinational telecommunications company, released a short Super Bowl teaser with American actor and comedian Tony Hale squeezing lemons, referencing Beyoncé's sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016).{{cite web |last=Getahun |first=Hannah |title=The Beyhive was right: Verizon's cryptic teasers led to a Beyoncé Super Bowl ad |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-mysterious-super-bowl-commercial-hint-beyonce-appearance-las-vegas-2024-2 |date=February 10, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211032000/https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-mysterious-super-bowl-commercial-hint-beyonce-appearance-las-vegas-2024-2 |url-status=live }} Another teaser commercial was released featuring Hale and the horse depicted on the cover of Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance (2022).{{cite web |last=Roeloffs |first=Mary Whitfill |title=Verizon Seemingly Confirms Beyoncé Starring In Super Bowl Ad—Here's What We Know |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/beyonce-super-bowl-commercial-verizon-advertisement-renaissance/?sh=6d98876341a6 |date=February 9, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Forbes |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215061249/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/beyonce-super-bowl-commercial-verizon-advertisement-renaissance/?sh=6d98876341a6 |url-status=live }}

Throughout the Super Bowl LVIII, a minute-long commercial was released with Tony Hale challenging Beyoncé to break "Verizon's 5G internet service."{{cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |title=Beyoncé Confirms New Music in Verizon Super Bowl 2024 Commercial: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/beyonce-announces-new-music-verizon-super-bowl-commercial-1235605215/ |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217075854/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/beyonce-announces-new-music-verizon-super-bowl-commercial-1235605215/ |url-status=live }} During the commercial, Beyoncé attempts to break the internet by running a lemonade stand, releasing a jazz saxophone album, launching a "Barbey" doll collection, announcing her presidential campaign, and flying into space for a performance.{{cite magazine |last=Gonzales |first=Erica |title=Beyoncé Is Bound to Break the Internet Again With Her Super Bowl Commercial |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a46723610/beyonce-super-bowl-commercial/ |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Elle |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215061227/https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a46723610/beyonce-super-bowl-commercial/ |url-status=live }} Shortly after the commercial aired, Beyoncé posted a video teaser on Instagram with an unidentified woman starting up a car and driving afar on an empty road.{{cite magazine |last=Denis |first=Kyle |title=Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils 'Act II' Release Date: Here's When It Arrives |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-releases-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-super-bowl-2024-1235605227/ |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218143949/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-releases-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-super-bowl-2024-1235605227/ |url-status=live }} The same day, the artist's official website was updated to announce her eighth studio album, Act II. The album's two lead singles, "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em", were surprise released for digital download and streaming.{{cite web |last=Chelosky |first=Daniella |title=Beyoncé Surprise Drops New Songs "Texas Hold 'Em" & "16 Carriages" Following Super Bowl Commercial |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2251413/beyonce-act-ii-super-bowl-verizon/music/ |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Stereogum |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218144139/https://www.stereogum.com/2251413/beyonce-act-ii-super-bowl-verizon/music/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-releases-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-super-bowl-2024-1235605227/|title=Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils Act II Release Date: Here's When It Arrives|magazine=Billboard|last=Denis|first=Kyle|date=February 11, 2024|access-date=February 12, 2024|archive-date=February 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218143949/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-releases-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-super-bowl-2024-1235605227/|url-status=live}}

The track was written when Beyoncé was 38,{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/16-carriages-producer-breaks-down-renaissance-cowboy-carter|title="16 Carriages" Producer Breaks Down the Difference Between Working on 'Renaissance' and 'Cowboy Carter'|website=Complex|date=2024-03-22|access-date=2024-03-23|first=Joe|last=Price}} likely the summer of 2020.{{cite web |last=Trapp |first=Malcolm |title=Beyoncé Announces 'Renaissance Act II' Release Date And Delivers Two Country Singles |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2024/02/12/beyonce-announces-renaissance-act-ii-release-date/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Rap-Up |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212175333/https://www.rap-up.com/2024/02/12/beyonce-announces-renaissance-act-ii-release-date/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Partridge |first=Ken |title=Beyoncé Describes The Struggles Of Touring Life On New Song "16 Carriages" |url=https://genius.com/a/beyonce-describes-the-struggles-of-touring-life-on-new-song-16-carriages |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Genius |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212180108/https://genius.com/a/beyonce-describes-the-struggles-of-touring-life-on-new-song-16-carriages |url-status=live }}

The song is a country ballad written in the key of C♯ major {{cite magazine |last=Mitchell |first=Gail |title=Beyoncé Lays Down Her Country Cards With New Singles '16 Carriages' & 'Texas Hold 'Em': Review |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/beyonce-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-review-1235605857/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212210600/https://www.billboard.com/music/country/beyonce-new-songs-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-review-1235605857/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=McClay |first=Caché |title=Listen to Beyoncé's two new songs, '16 Carriages' and 'Texas Hold 'Em' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/11/listen-to-beyonce-new-singles-16-carriages-and-texas-hold-em/72565942007/ |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212133409/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/11/listen-to-beyonce-new-singles-16-carriages-and-texas-hold-em/72565942007/ |url-status=live }} with percussion instrument and steel pulse; thematically the lyric provides reflection about "growing-up", linked to the evolving relationship between parents and their children.{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |title=Beyoncé Shows Her Country Music Cards With 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages': Song Review |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/reviews/beyonce-song-review-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-1235907579/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Variety |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212133414/https://variety.com/2024/music/reviews/beyonce-song-review-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-1235907579/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |title=Beyoncé Announces New Album in Super Bowl Commercial |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/arts/music/beyonce-super-bowl-act-ii-country-album.html |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212033049/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/arts/music/beyonce-super-bowl-act-ii-country-album.html/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live }}

The song was co-produced by Beyoncé Knowles, alongside Atia Boggs and Dave Hamelin; it was co-written by Knowles, Boggs, Hamelin, and Raphael Saadiq.{{cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=February 11, 2024 |title=Beyoncé Drops Two New Songs: 'Texas Hold Em' and '16 Carriages' |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2024/02/beyonce-drops-two-new-songs-texas-hold-em-and-16-carriages/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Rated R&B |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212133415/https://ratedrnb.com/2024/02/beyonce-drops-two-new-songs-texas-hold-em-and-16-carriages/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |title=Beyoncé Announces New Album Act II, Shares Two New Songs: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonce-announces-act-ii-for-march-29/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212022554/https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonce-announces-act-ii-for-march-29/ |url-status=live }} Robert Randolph and Justin Schipper were credited as the players of the steel guitar.{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |title=Beyoncé announces her new album is on the way: Hear two songs now |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-02-11/beyonce-new-album-act-ii-texas-hold-em-16-carriages |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212040056/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-02-11/beyonce-new-album-act-ii-texas-hold-em-16-carriages |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Tamburin |first=Adam |title=Some of Beyoncé's country collaborators have Nashville ties |url=https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/02/13/beyonce-country-album-songs-nashville |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=Axios |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214141636/https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/02/13/beyonce-country-album-songs-nashville |url-status=live }} Beyoncé wore a hat designed by Gladys Tamez, named "Houston" for her digital cover art.{{cite web |title=Houston |url=https://gladystamez.com/products/taurus |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=Gladys Tamez Millinery |language=en |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214054631/https://gladystamez.com/products/taurus |url-status=live }}

In an interview for Rolling Stone, Randolph explained the recording session in Los Angeles with Beyoncé, Rhiannon Giddens, Saadiq and Khirye Tyler:{{Blockquote|quote=When we did the first session, [...] Beyoncé already had an idea of what she wanted to do. She wanted to do something with some playing, with some country fire. [...] It's great for her to go this route. In country music for a longest time, it almost seemed like it was supposed to be out of left field when a Black artist says, 'Hey, I'm going to do a country record.'|author=Robert Randolph|source=in an interview with Rolling Stone about "16 Carriages" composition.{{Cite magazine |last=Browne |first=David |date=February 13, 2024 |title=Beyoncé Wanted Some 'Country Fire.' She Knew Just Who to Call |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beyonce-country-songs-players-robert-randolph-rhiannon-giddens-1234967138/ |access-date=February 14, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213230330/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beyonce-country-songs-players-robert-randolph-rhiannon-giddens-1234967138/ |url-status=live }}}}

"16 Carriages" received widespread acclaim from music critics.{{efn|Attributed to Clash Magazine{{'s}} Shahzaib Hussain,{{cite web |last=Hussain |first=Shahzaib |title=Beyoncé - 16 Carriages |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/beyonce-16-carriages/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Clash Magazine |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212224856/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/beyonce-16-carriages/ |url-status=live }} Consequence{{'s}} Mary Siroky,{{cite web |last=Siroky |first=Mary |title=Beyoncé's Country Era Starts Strong with Two Songs: Review |url=https://consequence.net/2024/02/beyonce-country-songs-review-act-ii/ |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Consequence |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212195249/https://consequence.net/2024/02/beyonce-country-songs-review-act-ii/ |url-status=live }} Vulture{{'s}} Craig Jenkins,{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |title=Beyoncé's New Country Songs Are Plain Ol' Fun |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/beyonce-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-review.html |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212210547/https://www.vulture.com/article/beyonce-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-review.html |url-status=live }} and The Times{{'s}} Will Hodgkinson.{{cite news |last=Hodgkinson |first=Will |author-link=Will Hodgkinson |title=Beyoncé: Texas Hold 'Em/16 Carriages review — the star goes country |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/beyonce-new-singles-review-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-music-f0smnrjr3 |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |work=The Times |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212225801/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/beyonce-new-singles-review-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-music-f0smnrjr3 |url-status=live }}}} Chris Willman of Variety stated that the song is lyrically associable with Beyoncé's "Daddy Lessons" song from her sixth studio album Lemonade (2016) for its reflective "overt growing-up narrative" and for exploring "daddy issues", even if the song is "mostly just about having become a workhorse that got rode too hard before she had a chance to be a teenager". Gail Mitchell of Billboard wrote that the song is "a vulnerable yet empowering autobiographical ballad" with "melodious vocals". Talking about the title, Mitchell suggested that the number "16" could refer to the age when Beyoncé signed with Columbia as a Destiny's Child member.

In a four-out-of-five review, Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian described the song as a {{"'}}Halo'-proportioned" country song with "blues and gospel-infused", in which Beyoncé is singing about "the graft of her career since her mid-teens". The writer stressed that it could "recalls the [Black] work song" for "claiming country as part of Black musical expression".{{cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |title=Beyoncé: Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages review – country gets brilliantly Beyoncéfied |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/12/beyonce-texas-hold-em-and-16-carriages-review-country-gets-brilliantly-beyoncefied |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212160128/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/12/beyonce-texas-hold-em-and-16-carriages-review-country-gets-brilliantly-beyoncefied |url-status=live }} Ben Sisario of The New York Times described the song as "an epic ballad" with the guitars swelling between the "organ-loud percussion" as the artist sings about losing innocence "at a young age." Maria Sherman of The San Diego Union-Tribune described the song as "a soulful slow-burn" in which Beyoncé sings "an ode to hard work and legacy".{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Maria |title=Beyoncé drops new songs 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages.' New music 'Act II' will arrive in March |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/national/story/2024-02-11/beyonce-says-new-music-act-ii-will-drop-in-march |url-status=live |date=February 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=The San Diego Union Tribune |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212030825/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/national/story/2024-02-11/beyonce-says-new-music-act-ii-will-drop-in-march }}

In a less positive review, Chris Richards of The Washington Post found that "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em" were released as a pair "because neither could stand on its own" and had less impact than the previous lead singles "Formation" or "Break My Soul". The writer wrote that both the songs "feel dull, dry, unimaginative, unnecessary, unconfident and uncool."{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Chris |title=Beyoncé goes country? Might be a wrong turn. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/02/13/beyonce-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-review/ |date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213174310/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/02/13/beyonce-texas-hold-em-16-carriages-country-review/ |url-status=live }}

"16 Carriages" debuted at number nine on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Beyoncé second top-ten entry appearing simultaneously on the chart with "Texas Hold 'Em", which debuted at one.{{Cite magazine |last1=Unterberger |first1=Andrew |last2=Denis |first2=Kyle |last3=Lipshutz |first3=Jason |date=February 22, 2024 |title=Beyoncé's New Era Is Giving Other Black Women in Country a Big Boost, Too |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/beyonce-black-female-country-artists-streams-1235612581/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223011710/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/beyonce-black-female-country-artists-streams-1235612581/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main article|Beyoncé 2024 NFL Halftime Show}}

On December 25, 2024, Beyoncé debuted "16 Carriages" live as the opening song of her 2024 NFL Halftime Show set list.{{Cite web |last=McClay |first=Caché |date=December 25, 2024 |title=Beyoncé Bowl: See the setlist of the Ravens-Texans game halftime performance on Christmas |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/12/25/beyonce-bowl-set-list-christmas/77216004007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226061936/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/12/25/beyonce-bowl-set-list-christmas/77216004007/ |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Cowboy Carter Tour}}

Beyoncé included "16 Carriages" as part of the Cowboy Carter Tour, singing on a flying car across the audience every show. {{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |date=2025-04-29 |title=Beyoncé Set List: Every Song Played on 'Cowboy Carter' Tour Opener in Los Angeles County |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beyonce-set-list-every-song-played-cowboy-carter-tour-1236380629/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Performers

• Vocals by Beyoncé

Musicians

• Atia "INK" Boggs – guitars
• Lemar Carter – drums
• Dave Hamelin – piano, organ, synths, guitars
• Robert Randolph – steel guitar
• Justin Schipper – steel guitar
• Ryan Svendsen – trumpet
• Justus West – guitars
• Gavin Williams – organ

Technical credits

• Beyoncé – production, vocal production
• Atia "INK" Boggs – production
• Matheus Braz – engineering assistance
• Dave Hamelin – production, recording engineering
• Hotae Alexander Jang – recording engineering
• Colin Leonard – mastering engineering
• Andrea Roberts – Pro Tools engineering
• Raphael Saadiq – additional production
• Stuart White – additional production, Beyoncé vocal recording, mixing engineering

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Beyoncé|title=16 Carriages|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=June 12, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Beyoncé|title=16 Carriages|award=Gold|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=December 17, 2024}}

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{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Beyoncé songs}}

Category:2024 songs

Category:2024 singles

Category:2020s ballads

Category:American country music songs

Category:Beyoncé songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Country ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Beyoncé

Category:Songs about parenthood

Category:Songs written by Atia Boggs

Category:Songs written by Beyoncé

Category:Songs written by Raphael Saadiq