TYLER, Texas — A Tyler native photographer is behind the newly released album cover art for Beyoncé's "Act II: Cowboy Carter."
On Tuesday, the Grammy Award winning singer and Houston native shared the cover art for her highly anticipated follow-up to 2022's "Act I: Renaissance."
Blair Caldwell, who hails from Tyler, revealed that he took the photo for Beyoncé's eighth studio album. On his social media, Caldwell said he moved to Los Angeles, California from Tyler 10 years ago.
He thanked God for bringing him through any challenges and being there every step of the way.
"Mannnn I just woke up and I’m pretty numb, I can’t believe my eyes or I’m even typing this, I’ve waited my whole career for this moment and it’s finally here!! wowwww thank you @beyonce & @parkwood , @lens_face for making this possible, this means more than anything. Never stop dreaming no matter how long it takes or what you face in life," Caldwell said in part on Facebook and Instagram.
According to his bio from Parkwood Entertainment, Caldwell's talent knows no bounds and his journey is to a testament to his persistence, faith and self-belief.
"He is a force to be reckoned with, weaving his artistry through images that capture the essence of the extraordinary. Blair is on his inspiring quest as he continues to ignite the world with his artistry, one captivating photograph at a time," his bio reads. "Armed with his camera, he has had the privilege of capturing the essence of renowned artists, from the incomparable Beyoncé to the trendsetting Kylie Jenner, the charismatic Michael B. Jordan, and the soulfully talented SZA. Blair's lens has immortalized the moments that resonate with us."
The Tyler ISD Foundation congratulated Caldwell as a Tyler ISD alumni for being the phenomenal photographer behind Beyoncé's latest project.
Caldwell has photographed several celebrities, including Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner and Normani among others. His photography can be found on his Instagram profile.
"Act II: Cowboy Carter, "which has been five years in the making, will be released on March 29. Beyoncé's single, "Texas Hold 'Em," gave her on her first number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart, making her the first Black woman to reach such a feat.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES," Beyonce's statement on Instagram read in part. "I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant."