Beyoncé performs with daughter, Blue Ivy, through the halftime present for the sport between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex Slitz/Getty Photos
Beyoncé introduced slightly nation Christmas to her halftime present efficiency through the NFL’s Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens sport, armed with many tips up her sleeve.
The Grammy winner, 43, carried out songs from her Cowboy Carter album throughout her set at NRG Stadium in her hometown of Houston on Wednesday, December 25, in what was dubbed the “Christmas Recreation Day Beyoncé Bowl.”
Beyoncé arrived on the stage by way of horseback, galloping previous a storage of classic vehicles whereas carrying a white outsized fur coat with a coordinating cowboy hat and a diamond choker necklace. After renditions of “16 Carriages” and “Black Hen,” the singing icon strutted onto the sector for a showstopping efficiency of “Ya Ya,” turning into a sequined bodysuit. Beyoncé additionally sang “RIIVERDANCE” with Shaboozey, “LEVII’S Denims” with Put up Malone (sitting in a denim-covered truck), “Jolene” and “Texas Maintain ‘Em” that includes 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy becoming a member of the backing dancers.
“It’s solely proper that we do ‘Texas Maintain ‘Em’ for the primary time in Houston, Texas on Christmas,” Beyoncé quipped in her introduction earlier than concluding, “Merry Christmas, God bless y’all.”
Whereas singing “Black Hen,” Beyoncé was joined by Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, all of whom had been featured on the LP.
The Christmas Day halftime present, which aired on Netflix, marks the primary time Beyoncé sang Cowboy Carter songs reside because the album’s March launch. Nevertheless, it’s not her first rodeo on the subject of the NFL as she beforehand headlined the 2013 Tremendous Bowl halftime present in New Orleans and returned to carry out alongside Coldplay and Bruno Mars through the 2016 Tremendous Bowl halftime present.
Earlier this 12 months, Beyoncé made historical past together with her Cowboy Carter album, venturing into the nation music style for the primary time in her profession after beforehand dominating the pop and R&B fields. Her single “Texas Maintain ‘Em” was the primary track by a Black feminine artist to achieve No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching Nation Songs chart, and he or she turned the primary Black girl ever to achieve No. 1 on the Billboard Prime Nation Albums chart.
It’s Beyoncé’s rodeo, and everybody’s invited! Beyoncé, 42, dropped Cowboy Carter on Friday, March 29, the second installment within the trilogy that started with Renaissance in 2022. The country-flavored album lassoed in stars from all throughout the music world to assist make it one of many 12 months’s greatest popular culture occasions. From Dolly Parton to […]
Regardless of its success, the mission nonetheless drew controversy, with some nation music radio stations ignoring fan requests to play the songs on air and the 2024 Nation Music Affiliation Awards fully snubbing the album.
Whereas accepting the Innovator Award from Stevie Marvel on the iHeartRadio Music Awards in April, Beyoncé referred to as out “all of the report labels, each radio station [and] each awards present,” emphasizing that the music trade must grow to be “extra open to the enjoyment and liberation that comes from having fun with artwork with no preconceived notions.”
In her speech, Beyoncé defined, “Innovation begins with a dream. However then you need to execute that dream, and that street could be very bumpy. Being an innovator is saying what everybody believes is unimaginable.”
“Being an innovator typically means being criticized, which regularly will check your psychological power,” she added. “Being an innovator is leaning on religion and trusting that God will catch you and information you.”
Beyoncé additionally talked about a number of artists who’ve “devoted their lives and their artwork to creating shifts,” together with Tracy Chapman, Prince, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson.
She famous, “[They] defied any label positioned upon them, thanks for executing your dream so we may all comply with.”
