It’s an authentic boogie and an authentic hoedown.
Beyoncé, aided by her daughter Blue Ivy, showcased her popular tracks from the genre-blending album “Cowboy Carter” during the halftime performance of the Christmas Day match between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
The “Drunk In Love” artist appeared on stage at the NRG Stadium in her native Houston on Wednesday, beginning the performance atop a white horse and singing her popular track “16 Carriages.”
After dismounting the horse, she sang “Blackbird” alongside country artists Tanner Addlell, Brittany Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.
Beyoncé dazzled in a white bodysuit paired with chaps embellished with crystals and a white cowboy hat.
She invited special guest performers, such as Shaboozey and Post Malone, to sing “Sweet Honey Buckiin’” and “Levii’s Jeans,” respectively.
The former Destiny’s Child member also sang “Ya Ya,” “Jolene,” and “My House.”
While performing “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Blue Ivy, the eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, accompanied her mother on stage to line dance to the song.
The halftime show was the first occasion Beyoncé, 43, performed tracks from her new studio album since it came out in March.
Last month, the NFL and Netflix revealed that the most awarded artist in Grammy history would headline the game in her hometown of Houston and bring along some special guests.
Read more: Beyoncé is named as the greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard
Even though Beyoncé’s country album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and produced several successful singles like “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” it did not receive any nominations at the 2024 CMA Awards.
“Cowboy Carter” also made the “Cuff It” artist the first black female to reach the top of Billboard’s Country Albums chart since it started in 1964.
The initiative familiarized audiences with various black country musicians, such as Tanner Addell and Shaboozey, the latter of whom achieved Billboard history by matching the record for the longest-lasting No. 1 track on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
In September, Beyoncé stood by her controversial choice to refrain from releasing music videos for her seventh and eighth studio albums, “Renaissance” and “Cowboy Carter,” respectively.
“I believed it was crucial that in an era dominated by visuals, the world could pay attention to the voice,” she stated in her October 2024 GQ cover feature.
“The sound is incredibly deep in heritage and musical instruments.” It requires months to process, investigate, and comprehend. “The music required room to flourish independently.”
The “Single Ladies” singer mentioned that visuals can occasionally “divert attention from the quality of the vocals and the music.”
She remarked, “The years of dedication and effort invested in an album that spans more than four years! The sound is sufficient. Supporters from across the globe became the image. We all experienced the visuals on tour. “Next, we received additional visuals from my movie.”
Beyoncé is familiar with taking the stage at significant NFL sports events.
In 2013, she was the main performer of the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, delivering all her top-charting songs, such as “Crazy in Love” and “Love on Top.”
The mother of three also invited her former Destiny’s Child colleagues Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to sing “Independent Women, Pt. “1″ and “Bootylicious.”
Three years later, Beyoncé performed alongside Coldplay and Bruno Mars in a spectacular show at Super Bowl 50.
Queen Bey’s recent halftime performance followed accusations against her spouse, Jay-Z, of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 with his imprisoned associate Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusations that the “99 Problems” rapper, 55, categorically refuted.
The pair, who tied the knot in 2008, are parents to three kids: daughter Blue Ivy, age 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, both 7.
