The Beehive is buzzing after Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Packing the set list with nearly 40 songs — a combination of tracks from the Grammy-winning country album, songs from its predecessor “Renaissance” and hits from her wider catalog — the three-hour performance was layered with much to unpack.
Let’s break down what you can expect when Cowboy Carter comes to MetLife stadium at the end of May:
Visual commentary about America
Much like the album, the Cowboy Carter tour explores patriotic themes while also using powerful images to display thought-provoking visuals reflecting American society throughout the generations.
The superstar starts the show with “American Requiem” before transitioning into a Jimi Hendrix-inspired take on the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Hendrix famously performed the version of the anthem in 1969 during a time of social unrest after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
As Beyoncé sang, a pointed message on the big screen read: “Never ask permission for something that already belongs to you.”
She then continued with “Freedom,” from “Lemonade,” which was the same song used during Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in 2024.
Beyoncé then fittingly transitions into “America Has a Problem” and “Formation,” symbolically declaring that “they’ll never take the country out me.”
Multiple cameos from Blue Ivy Carter
Beyoncé’s eldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter stole the show several times during the opening concert, including the “America Has A Problem” dance break, which dazzled the crowd as the stadium erupted with cheers.
The 13-year-old returned later for another viral moment when she performed to her mom and dad’s 2006 hit “Deja Vu.” Blue began the performance strutting down center stage doing her best model walk before flawlessly breaking into a rendition of the uptempo song’s choreography.
This marks two years since Blue made her stage debut with Beyoncé in 2023 during the “Renaissance” tour.
Tributes to the Black origins of country culture
Beyoncé also didn’t shy away from boldly calling out her critics while giving a visual reminder of the origins of country music: Black American musicians.
“I want to thank all of those who came before me,” Beyoncé said, as images of Linda Martell and other Black country pioneers were displayed on the screen.
No genre limitations
The Cowboy Carter tour, which will travel to nine cities in the U.S. and then Europe, is much more than a country tour.
Beyoncé has paved her own lane void of genre and creative limitations, proving she is in a league of her own. “I want to thank my fans for letting me make this album. Thank you for giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself.”
