Fans have been speculating that Swift provided uncredited vocals to the song.

Despite what it would have meant for the prospect of world peace, Taylor Swift does not appear on Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter.

Fans across the aisle have been speculating that Swift sings background vocals, uncredited, on the track “Bodyguard,” but Entertainment Weekly can confirm that the “Anti-Hero” songstress is not a part of Bey’s packed rodeo.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. JOHN SHEARER/GETTY

Beyoncé touted the many collaborators she worked with on the album, which has been five years in the making, in a press release issued Friday morning. Each song, she says, is “its own version of a reimagined Western film,” inspired by movies like Five Fingers for Marseilles, Urban Cowboy, The Hateful Eight, Space Cowboys, The Harder They Fall, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

However, Swift is not one of those collaborators, and appears nowhere on the new record.

“Cowboy Carter” is the second act in a musical trilogy, succeeding 2022’s “Renaissance.” Beyoncé initially intended to release “Cowboy Carter” first, but amidst the weight of the pandemic, she felt a need for upliftment and celebration.

With her latest project, Beyoncé has embarked on one of her most ambitious creative journeys yet. “Cowboy Carter” delves into history and culture, weaving together elements of country music, rock & roll, Americana, bluegrass, and various other genres.

“I think people are going to be surprised because I don’t think this music is what everyone expects,” remarked Beyoncé in a statement. “But it’s the best music I’ve ever made.”

Who is Linda Martell on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter?

The country pioneer pops up on the song “Spaghettii” and on the interlude “The Linda Martell Show.” Here’s what you should know about her.

On “The Linda Martell Show,” an interlude on Beyoncé’s freshly released Cowboy Carter, a round of applause greets Linda Martell before she introduces the album’s next song, “Ya Ya.”

Before that, she pops up on the record’s 12th track, “Spaghettii,” in which she nods to the controversy over Cowboy Carter being called a country album. “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?” she ponders. “In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand… But in practice, well, some may feel confined.” Not Bey.

If you’re wondering who Martell is, we’ve got answers.

A genuine trailblazer, she was the first commercially successful Black female singer in country music — her 1969 single “Color Him Father” peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Charts. In February, 55 years later, Beyoncé forged another path in the genre, becoming the first Black woman to score a No. 1 country song, for her hit “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

Linda Martell c. 1969.MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY

Martell’s sole album, “Color Me Country,” released in 1970, marked a significant milestone as she became the first Black solo female singer to perform at the prestigious Grand Ole Opry. However, her promising career was marred by a combination of racism and dubious industry practices that eventually led to her departure from the music scene.

Reflecting on her experiences in a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Martell recounted facing heckling and racial slurs from audiences while performing. Despite the challenges, she persevered, leaving a lasting mark on the country music landscape.

Born Thelma Bynem in 1941 and raised in Leesville, S.C., Martell began her musical journey with her sister and cousin in a group called the Anglos. It was a local DJ who suggested she adopt the stage name Linda Martell, leading the group to become Linda Martell & the Anglos. Although their initial singles didn’t gain traction, Martell continued as a solo performer.

During a performance at an Air Force base, Martell’s talent caught the attention of William “Duke” Rayner, a furniture salesman with ties to the music industry. Rayner introduced her to Nashville producer Shelby Singleton Jr., who recognized the potential to market Martell as the first Black female country singer. In a whirlwind recording session spanning just 12 hours, Martell laid down tracks for her groundbreaking album.

Linda Martell in 2021.SEAN RAYFORD/2021 CMT AWARDS/GETTY

Released on Singleton’s unfortunately named Plantation Records, Color Me Country spawned three moderately successful singles, and the album peaked at No. 40, spending two weeks on the country charts. But Singleton’s attention quickly turned from Martell to Jeannie C. Riley, Plantation’s biggest act, a white country and gospel singer to whom Martell refused to play second fiddle.

Martell and Singleton parted ways and, according to her, Singleton “blackballed” her from the rest of the industry, and she retired from country music in 1974. She spent the next two decades traveling around hoping to reignite her career, eventually returning home to South Carolina to be closer to her children.

Martell later worked as a bus driver for the Batesburg-Leesville school district, but in 2014 Color Me Country was re-released. Martell has only recently begun to get the recognition she deserves, receiving an honorary tribute at the CMT Music Awards in 2021 that featured artists like Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Rhiannon Giddens (who also appears on Cowboy Carter), and Mickey Guyton.

Now, with those brief but special moments on Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé has helped bring Martell to a whole new audience.