Beyoncé Confirms ‘Cowboy Carter’ and ‘Renaissance’ Will Not Get Visual Albums

Beyoncé fans won’t get to see Cowboy Carter and Renaissance music videos anytime soon.

In a rare interview with GQ, Beyoncé explained that following her various visual albums, including for her self-titled LP and Lemonade, she decided to not accompany her latest releases with visual components. “I thought it was important that during a time where all we see is visuals, that the world can focus on the voice,” she explained.

“The music is so rich in history and instrumentation. It takes months to digest, research and understand. The music needed space to breathe on its own,” Beyoncé continued. “Sometimes a visual can be a distraction from the quality of the voice and the music. The years of hard work and detail put into an album that takes over four years! The music is enough. The fans from all over the world became the visual. We all got the visual on tour. We then got more visuals from my film.”

Similarly, the 32-time Grammy winner shared that while releasing her hair care line, Cécred, she didn’t want to be the face of her products; instead, she wanted to let her line shine by itself. “I wanted it to be recognized for what it does for real people and their hair,” Beyoncé explained. “When it launched, I made a conscious decision not to appear in the ads. The brand’s first impression needed to stand on its own merit, not be swayed by my influence. I’ve been using these products for years, so I know firsthand how magical they are.”

Beyoncé is coming off the heels of a restless time in her career. She embarked on a world tour in 2023 for her album Renaissance, released in the summer of the previous year. This past spring, she followed up the record with the second of her trilogy, Cowboy Carter. Merely a month before Cowboy Carter‘s release in March, she unveiled Cécred. Then, in August, Beyoncé launched her own brand of whiskey in collaboration with Moët Hennessy, SirDavis, named after her moonshiner grandfather.

However, it’s clear that Beyoncé still finds immense joy from her main career — singing — despite her busy schedule. When asked what is one thing she does just for herself, separate from her work and family, Beyoncé shared that singing “is not work” for her. “I love music and I love to sing. It’s a passion that runs deep. There’s magic in the way it feels on my throat, a resonance that vibrates through me. When I am at my lowest, when I’ve been sad or in a heavy fog, sick or anxious with sleepless nights, I sing. And, often, I sing alone,” she revealed.

“My voice has always been my companion,” the superstar added. It’s why I have always been able to be happy alone. Music understands my heart even when I can’t find words. But always, it’s in those private sanctuaries — the studio, the car — where I find my peace.”