Beyonce Goes Country, Nearly Nude for Essence Cover — Video

Beyonce brings it back to her Texan roots with a country-themed cover shoot for the July issue of Essence magazine.

In the behind-the-scenes video of the shoot, the Houston-born superstar, whose upcoming album '4' just leaked onto the Internet two weeks ahead of schedule, is one sexy cowgirl. Beyonce was shot for the mag hanging out in the haystacks, riding a white horse -- like the one in her 'Run the World (Girls)' music video -- and whipping around a lasso in bottom-less chaps.

Queen B looks great in a cowboy hat, but she looks even better posing next-to-nude in a tin washtub. B rocks a white swimsuit with her arms and super-toned legs draped over a tub in the middle of a field, which from some naughty camera angles make her look like a bathing beauty in the nude.

Beyonce's sexy editorial spread comes along with a personally penned cover story entitled 'Eat, Play, Love,' in which the songstress shares how her nine-month hiatus from the biz and dedication to enjoying the "simple," "regular everyday things" reignited her creativity and became a source of "inspiration."