Yes, yes, that’s true. On Christmas Day, fans turned up the volume while Beyoncé took the stage at halftime of the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game.
This show was the first time she performed songs from her country album “Cowboy Carter” in front of a live audience.
Beyoncé, dressed all in white, entered NRG Stadium in her hometown of Houston on a white horse and performed “16 Carriages,” before transitioning into a cover of the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” She was joined by Tierra Kennedy, Tanner Adele, Brittney Spencer, and Rayna Roberts, who all sang together on the album.
Surprise appearances included Shabouzi, who co-starred with Beyoncé in “Sweet Honey Buckiin’,” and Post Malone, who co-starred with Beyoncé in “Levi’s Jeans,” to perform in front of a truck covered in jeans. The two collaborated with Beyoncé on the song “Cowboy Carter.”
Beyoncé also sang “Jolene,” “Ya Ya,” and a mashup of “Spaghetti” and “Riverdance.” She treated the audience to an excerpt of “My House,” which does not appear on any country albums.
Beyoncé’s 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, was among the many backup dancers. She ended up at the front with her mother and closed the show with “Texas Hold’em.” Beyoncé held hands with Blue as the song began, but ended her performance by climbing into the sky on a platform.
After the show, Beyoncé teased that something might happen on January 14th with an Instagram post featuring herself on a white horse.
The performance was streamed on Netflix and featured two notable NFL games during the holiday season. Mariah Carey kicked off Netflix’s Christmas NFL doubleheader with a taped performance of her holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Netflix described the concert at X as the “Beyoncé Bowl.” Several people believed to have been attending the game posted photos on social media of lighted bands that were reportedly distributed before the game.
Netflix announced on social media that the halftime show will be available as a standalone special on the platform, but did not announce a date.
In the month leading up to game day, Beyoncé teased her performance in various social media posts, with the streaming giant cross-promoting it.
In one video posted on Christmas Eve, she appeared to make fun of the streaming issues Netflix has had during previous live events. Netflix’s X account then temporarily changed its profile to read “Roasted by Beyoncé on December 24, 2020.”
“Cowboy Carter” was released on March 29 and debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart and Top Country Albums on that chart. She is the first black woman to top the country albums list.
According to Billboard, it is Beyoncé’s eighth consecutive studio album to top the Hot 200 chart. That means every solo record she’s released since leaving Destiny’s Child has topped the charts.
“Cowboy Carter” garnered 11 Grammy nominations, including nominations for the coveted Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Billboard named Beyoncé the biggest pop star of the 21st century, followed closely by Taylor Swift. Although the two both began world tours last year and attended premieres of each other’s concert films, Billboard notes that even before Swift’s own music debut in 2006, Beyoncé was “aspiring to greatness in every conceivable form.” I have demonstrated that,” he said.
Beyoncé broke the record for the most recognized titles for a female artist this month, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Earlier this year, “Texas Hold’em,” the first single from her country album, went double platinum.
