Where does one begin when reviewing Beyoncé? The greatest artist of our generation. The most-awarded and most-nominated artist in GRAMMY history. The soundtrack of so many of our lives. For this southern girl, Cowboy Carter felt like a nod to me, my family’s lineage, and my hometown. After bringing out Miley Cyrus and Jay-Z in Paris, I (and thousands of others) was left to wonder what she had in store for her hometown show in Houston, Texas. For three hours, Beyoncé performed a 40-song setlist, and here are the standout moments from the show:
Texas Hold ‘Em
This IS Texas! From the Cécred pop-up at an Ulta in Katy, TX, where Tina Knowles made a surprise appearance to hundreds of fans lining up to take a picture in front of the mural by Devona Stimpson at Grooves of Houston on Pierce St, H-Town made sure to shower Beyoncé with love (and she showed it right back!) “When I look out there, I see myself so I say thank you to all of you guys. My foundation. Thank you for rocking with me, for riding with me, for holding me down. Houston. H-Town. Third ward. I love y’all so much,” the 43-year-old shared before performing her cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbiird.”
A Carter Family Affair
In 2023, Blue Ivy took over our for you pages with her performance of “My Power” during the Renaissance World Tour. Two years later, the thirteen-year-old is a permanent fixture of the Cowboy Carter Tour. The Grammy Award winner didn’t miss a beat as she joined her mother and the professional dancers on stage during “Spaghetti,” “Crazy in Love,” “America Has A Problem,” and more. The crowd went into an uproar as Blue took center stage during “Deja Vu.” Or should I say Deja Blue? But Blue Ivy isn’t the only Carter who joined her mother on stage. Eight-year-old Rumi stole the show as she joined both her mother and sister during “Protector.”
Professional As They Come
The biggest talk of the night was, unfortunately, the technical mishap during her second-to-last song, “16 Carriages.” While suspended above the crowd in a red convertible, we heard Beyoncé very calmly say “Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.” into her microphone as the vehicle began to tilt on its side. Fortunately, she was wearing a harness and was able to hold on to a secure cable. Her team was able to lower her down without injury.
While some artists would let that deter them, the Houston native handled it with grace and professionalism. “I want to thank y’all for loving me, and if I fall, I know you’ll catch me,” before finishing “16 Carriages” and ending the show with a confetti-filled performance of “Amen.”
The Visuals
It’s no secret that the Bey Hive has been begging for “the visuals” for over three years now. Although we don’t have any official music videos for Renaissance or Cowboy Carter, attendees get to watch a myriad of short films during the brief intermissions. Short films that are so well done, you don’t want to run to the bathroom or merch stand and miss a moment.
One of the first we get to see is Propaganda, which features “An American Poem” over the beat of Nina Simone’s “See-Line Woman”. The poem, written by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, focuses on racial injustice and the unfair treatment Black people face in America. Very fitting before performing “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.”
A fan favorite interlude was Attack of the 400-Foot Cowboy, where Beyoncé is seen traveling across the globe, specifically to cities she’s stopping in for the tour. As Houston native BigXthaPlug’s “The Largest” plays throughout the stadium, a 400-foot Beyoncé is seen lighting the Statue of Liberty’s torch with a cigar in New York, tipping her hat to President Abe Lincoln’s statue in DC, and pouring Sir Davis over a town!
The Houston Exclusive
Like thousands of others, I was unable to get my hands on a piece of Houston exclusive merch. Specifically, the H-Town shirt. After fans waited for 4+ hours in the Texas heat outside, they were informed that the merch line would be shutting down. Upsetting? Yes, but it was for the safety and betterment of everyone. Shortly after, an official announcement was made by the venue that for night two, merch would only be available for purchase for ticketholders.
The Setlist
They don’t call her the Queen for nothing! As Beyoncé appeared on stage during “AMERIICAN REQUIEM,” sporting a floor-length white fur coat, sequinned two-piece set, cowboy hat (of course!), and with knee-high boots, the crowd erupted in cheers. During her three-hour-long show, she performed over forty songs and had eight (maybe more!) outfit changes. If you’re a fan of Cowboy Carter, you need to see this tour because you’ll never have the opportunity to see essentially the entire album performed live again. If you’re an OG, don’t worry! She includes a number of her timeless hits such as “Crazy in Love,” “Love On Top,” “If I Were A Boy,” and “Irreplaceable.” My favorite additions are “MY HOUSE,” “Daddy Lessons,” and of course, her rendition of the late Frankie Beverly’s “Before I Let Go.”
Looking at the setlist, it’s crazy to think how all of this music seamlessly fits together on this tour, and after being in the industry for over three decades, Beyonceé is constantly evolving! While I’m sad my journey witnessing the Cowboy Carter Tour has come to an end, I’m sitting on the edge of my seat to see what she has in store with the third and final act! And hopefully, that tour makes its way to New Orleans!
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