Beyoncé releases surprise song Morning Dew (Donk) for B'Day 20th anniversary

Beyoncé releases surprise song Morning Dew (Donk) for B'Day 20th anniversary

Beyoncé released a surprise single titled Morning Dew (Donk) in the early hours of Saturday, July 4. The track serves as the first new music from the artist in two years and acts as the opening for a 60-day countdown leading to September 4, the 20th anniversary of her second studio album, B'Day.

The song was written by Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, and Darius Dixon, with production handled by Beyoncé and Williams. According to Parkwood Entertainment, the track was originally conceived during the era surrounding the 2006 release of B'Day. A press release describes the song as a direct nod to her loyal BeyHive.

The release is accompanied by a lyric video directed by Cliff Watts, a frequent collaborator who repurposed archival footage from the B'Day period. Watts is also the photographer who shot Beyoncé's 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, a milestone that marked the first time a non-model or non-athlete appeared under the masthead. Reflecting on that shoot, Beyoncé previously stated that it was a great launch for the now-defunct House of Deréon clothing line designed by her mother, Tina Knowles.

Morning Dew (Donk) will be included on the forthcoming 20th Anniversary edition of B'Day. The original album, released on September 4, 2006, coincided with Beyoncé's 25th birthday and debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, selling more than 541,000 copies in its first week. That era produced hits such as Irreplaceable, Ring the Alarm, and Déjà Vu.

This surprise drop follows the 2024 release of Cowboy Carter, an exploration of country and southern music. That project won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys, marking the first time Beyoncé won the Album of the Year honor. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the win to Ms. Linda Martell.

The Beyhive has speculated that a forthcoming Act III project will be a tribute to rock music, following the disco and house influences of 2022's Renaissance (Act I) and the country roots of Cowboy Carter (Act II). This theory is supported by Beyoncé's recent choices, including dressing as Betty Davis for Halloween 2024 and posting photos in purple in April, which fans interpreted as a reference to Prince.

Further fueling this theory, the opening lines of Morning Dew (Donk) mention the 1984 film Purple Rain, the legendary project by Prince.

The 20th Anniversary edition of B'Day is scheduled for release on September 4.