Music
Happy Independence Day to Beyoncé fans, who were surprised with a new music release to commemorate the patriotic holiday.
Beyoncé, 44, dropped “Morning Dew (Donk)” in the early hours of Saturday, July 4.
“Beyoncé marks the 4th of July Holiday with a special gift to her fans with the release of ‘Morning Dew (Donk),’” a press release reads. “[This is] a new song that also starts a 60-day countdown to her next birthday, and the re-issue of B’Day, her ground-breaking second album that was released two decades ago on September 4, 2006.”
Beyoncé cowrote the track, her first new release in two years, alongside Pharrell Williams, The Dream and Darius Dixon. Beyoncé and Williams, 53, also produced the single.
According to the press release, “Morning Dew” is “a direct nod to her loyal BeyHive” ahead of B’Day’s 20th anniversary milestone.
“The song, which will be included on the 20th Anniversary edition of B’Day, arrives accompanied by a lyric video that repurposes old footage, directed by frequent collaborator Cliff Watts,” the statement notes. “It was Cliff Watts who shot Beyoncé’s iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover around her 25th birthday.”
Beyoncé graced the SI cover in 2007, marking the first time a non-athlete or non-model appeared underneath the masthead.
“It’s amazing to me and I never thought it would happen. It’s great for us [and] our clothing line, House of Deréon. I’m wearing all of our swimsuits. My mother was able to design them,” the music icon gushed, referring to mom Tina Knowles and their now-defunct fashion label. “It’s a great launch for us, and I’ve never done a swimsuit spread.”
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Beyoncé continued at the time, “What better place to do that [than] a magazine that’s so classy and so elegant, still very sexy, but in a very, very upscale way. It is a music issue. Music and fashion, they go hand in hand. When these beautiful models are posing for their shoots, they’re listening to music. We’re all inspired by music and I think it’s so great that they’re acknowledging us musicians.”
Beyoncé had released B’Day, her second solo album, the year before and seven more in the years that followed. The R&B superstar last released Cowboy Carter, her foray into country music, in 2024. The record won both Best Country Album and Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys, which was Beyoncé’s first time taking home the latter honor.
“I just feel very full and very honored. It’s been many, many years, and I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work,” Beyoncé said in her acceptance speech. “I want to dedicate this to Ms. [Linda] Martell, and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors. God bless y’all.”