Beyoncé made the surprise album drop a signature move back in 2013 with the release of her self-titled record. On Saturday, July 4, she pulled off the same trick again — this time with a single, not an album, but with just as much fanfare.
The superstar released “Morning Dew (Donk)” over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, marking her first new music since 2024’s Cowboy Carter. According to reports, the track was originally intended for her second studio album, B’Day, released in 2006.
In a statement from her representatives, the song was described as “a direct nod to her loyal BeyHive to commemorate the upcoming epic celebration of B’Day,” Rolling Stone reported.
Behind the Track
“Morning Dew (Donk)” was co-written by Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream and Darius Dixon, and produced by Beyoncé and Williams. It arrived alongside a lyric video built from two-decade-old footage shot by Cliff Watts — the same photographer behind Beyoncé’s 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover.
The release kicks off a 60-day countdown to September 4, which marks both the 20th anniversary of B’Day and Beyoncé’s birthday. The track will appear on a reissue of the album, though no further details have been shared.
While the song was reportedly slated for the 2006 album, it also became tied to years of BeyHive speculation. In 2014, rumors swirled that Beyoncé — now a 35-time Grammy winner — was preparing a follow-up to her acclaimed 2013 self-titled album, one rumored to include a track called “Donk.” A composition by that name was registered with ASCAP in October 2014, fueling years of fan theories before the song finally surfaced in full form.
Lauryn Hill Honoured At The 2026 BET Awards
B’Day featured standout tracks including “Déjà Vu,” “Irreplaceable” and “Ring the Alarm.” It became Beyoncé’s second No. 1 album and won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2007 Grammys.
“Morning Dew (Donk)” marks Beyoncé’s first new music since Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024. That album saw her team up with country icons Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Shaboozey, debuting at No. 1 in multiple countries and becoming her first album to top the country albums chart.
To support Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé launched a global tour that included a six-night residency at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June 2025.