Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?
Beyoncé
Whether it’s subtle website changes or carefully chosen uploads, Beyoncé has a habit of keeping fans guessing. But no detail goes unmissed by the Beyhive.
Speculation about the much anticipated Act III has been making the rounds for months. First came Act I: Renaissance, a celebration of Black dance music that embraced disco, house, and bounce. Then came Act II: Cowboy Carter, which blended country, folk, and Americana with R&B, hip-hop, gospel, rock, blues, and even classical opera.
Now, all eyes are on what could come next, with the leading fan theory that Act III will be a rock-inspired album.
While Beyoncé has confirmed it will be a “three-act project,” she has neither confirmed nor commented on the wild speculation – but that hasn’t stopped fans from connecting dots they believe have been hidden in plain sight.
Here are some of the biggest theories taking over.
The three lemons
One theory stems from an Instagram post Beyoncé shared to mark the 10th anniversary of Lemonade, where she posed holding three lemons.
And…? You might say.
Fans were quick to point out that, in the lead-up to Lemonade‘s release in 2016, Beyoncé started sharing lemon-coded snaps.
So when she returned to Instagram in April 2026, with three lemons, fans started wondering whether the number was intentional.
Their reasoning goes like this: if the three lemons equate to the third track on Lemonade, there’s only one answer: “Don’t Hurt Yourself”, her explosive rock collaboration with Jack White.
Beyoncé and White have seemingly remained on good terms over the years, with the star sending him flowers in 2024, thanking him for his inspiration.
The supposed Tina Turner reference
If there’s one artist Beyoncé has never hidden her admiration for, it’s Tina Turner – the legendary performer widely regarded as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
In fact, Beyoncé has often credited Turner as one of her biggest inspirations. “If you’re a fan of mine, you’re a fan of Tina Turner, ’cause I wouldn’t be on this stage without Tina Turner,” she told the crowd during a London stop on the Renaissance World Tour.
Now, fans think that admiration could extend beyond tribute.
When Beyoncé recently made a surprise appearance at Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversary concert, she stepped out in a custom navy and silver pinstripe Giuseppe Di Morabito look, styled by Ty Hunter, complete with matching capri trousers.
Capris may be all the rage this summer, but some fans are convinced the outfit wasn’t just following trends – especially given she’s known for trend setting, not following. Instead, they believe it echoed Beyoncé and Turner’s iconic 2008 Grammy Awards performance, where Turner wore striking silver capri pants of her own.
All eyes on 4 September
“SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON”
@.xivian/TikTok
Another fan theory centres on one of the easiest details to miss: “SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON”, the radio-style interlude on Cowboy Carter.
The track begins with the sound of someone flicking through radio stations before landing on Willie Nelson’s voice. Nelson is recognised as one of the pioneers of the Outlaw Country movement, a genre that emerged in opposition to the polished “Nashville Sound” – and a response to the growing popularity of rock ‘n’ roll.
But it’s the end of the interlude that’s really got the Beyhive talking.
As the radio continues scanning through stations, a snippet from Roy Hamilton’s 1957 “Don’t Let Go” plays: “Come on baby, it’s time to rock.”
The Levi’s ad theory
View this video on YouTube
Beyoncé’s Levi’s ad certainly caught the attention of fans, as she’s spotted arriving on a horse (which fans interpreted as a nod to her Cowboy Carter era) before leaving on a motorbike. One fan wrote: “THE MOTORBIKE!! ACT III IS UPON US.” Another added: “Coming on her horse, leaving with her motorbike. Oh we love it here, rock and roll is coming!!!!”
The two-year release pattern
Despite the internet detective work, there’s still no official confirmation from Beyoncé that Act III is coming this year. Until Queen Bey decides to break her silence, the Beyhive will just have to keep connecting the dots and waiting for the next supposed clue to drop.
BuzzFeed reached out to Beyoncé’s representative for comment.
