On Christmas Day, Beyoncé graced the NFL halftime stage during the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game, performing hits from her acclaimed country album Cowboy Carter for the first time live.
Entering Houston’s NRG Stadium on a striking white horse and dressed in all white, Beyoncé opened with “16 Carriages” before transitioning into a soulful rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Joining her were country music collaborators Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Reyna Roberts, all featured on the album.
The star-studded show featured surprise appearances by Shaboozey for their duet “Sweet Honey Buckiin’” and Post Malone, who performed “Levii’s Jeans” alongside Beyoncé in front of a stage adorned with denim-covered trucks. Both artists contributed to the Cowboy Carter album.
The setlist also included fan-favorites like “Jolene,” “Ya-Ya,” and a mashup of “Spaghetti” and “Riiverdance.” As a special treat, Beyoncé performed an excerpt of her non-country track, “My House.”
In a heartwarming moment, Beyoncé’s 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, joined the performance during the final number, “Texas Hold ’Em.” Hand in hand, the duo dazzled the crowd before Beyoncé ascended into the air on a platform to close the show.
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After the performance, Beyoncé teased a mysterious announcement slated for January 14 with an Instagram post featuring her atop a white horse.
Netflix streamed the halftime show as part of its Christmas NFL doubleheader, which began with Mariah Carey’s recorded performance of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Netflix later announced plans to release Beyoncé’s performance as a standalone special, though no release date has been set.
Fans attending the game shared photos of glowing wristbands distributed before the show, which enhanced the immersive stadium experience. Netflix’s social media account referred to the concert as the “Beyoncé Bowl.”
Cowboy Carter, released on March 29, debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to lead the country chart. The album has since earned 11 Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
In December, Beyoncé also broke the record for the most certified titles for a female artist, according to the RIAA. Billboard recently named her the greatest pop star of the 21st century, a testament to her extraordinary influence and longevity in music.
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