bey on horseback

Beyoncé breaks the internet again with striking new album cover art and message to fans

The Queen, on horseback.

Houston’s pop culture queen Beyoncé has once again broken the internet, this time with a striking new album image.

Queen Bey shared the cover artwork for her wildly anticipated new album Renaissance, which is set to drop July 29. Variety and the Houston Chronicle were the first to report the news.

The stark photo sees the icon posing on a luminous, silvery horse that neatly matches her metallic, spiky, very revealing fit. Regarding the album, Beyoncé wrote:

Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.

Fans – as they do — are already speculating as to the inspiration of the image. Varietynotes that some see an homage to the instantly recognizable, 19th-century painting Lady Godiva by John Collie. Others, meanwhile, see similarity to a photograph of Bianca Jagger on horseback at the legendary Studio 54.

As fans and the Beyhive well know, Renaissance marks the queen’s first solo work since the wildly popular and deeply personal 2016 effort, Lemonade. On June 16, she teased the album name but had conspicuously removed profile pictures from her social accounts.

Renaissance, Variety reports, will feature both dance and country-leaning tracks. Ryan Tedder, leader of One Republic, who co-wrote her 2008 hit “Halo” will contribute, as well as other heavy hitters.

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welcome back, frank!

Broadcaster Frank Billingsley finds second act at Houston radio station

Al Torres Photography

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When he announced his retirement from KPRC, Frank Billingsley told the late Ken Hoffman that he probably wasn’t done with media.

“I love all forms of communication so I'm sure I'll gravitate toward that either as a hobby or a second act. I'll weigh options and go from there,” he said in May.

Turn out that second act will be at one of Houston’s most prestigious radio stations. Billingsley has joined Houston Public Media as an executive producer and meteorologist.

"Frank Billingsley’s reputation as a Houston legend precedes him,” station manager Josh Adams said in a statement. “His experience and connection to our community align perfectly with Houston Public Media’s mission to inform and inspire. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to the impact his presence will have."

Beginning in early 2025, Billingsley will serve as one of the hosts for a new talk show called Hello, Houston!. Led by Billingsley, veteran HPM host Ernie Manouse, and producer Celeste Schurman. Hello, Houston! will tell stories about a wide range of Houston happenings.

“Of course, I'll still get to talk about the weather, but Celeste, Ernie, and I will have fun and fascinating discussions about politics, arts, concerts, restaurants, clubs, people: everything that makes this city so great,” Billingsley said. “We have a great team behind us and I'm really looking forward to the challenge!”

Frank Billingsley worked at KPRC for 30 years. Prior to that, he worked at ABC13 for six years. He has earned multiple honors from the Associated Press, Houston Press Club, Houston Press Newspaper, and Dallas Press Club.

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