LOS ANGELES — Beyoncé brought her country music album “Cowboy Carter” to the stage, and it was a night full of family, politics, tradition — and of course soaring vocals, incredible costumes and masterful dancing.
Fans decked out in Western attire packed SoFi Stadium for opening night of the Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour on April 28.
The album came out more than a year ago, and aside from a brief NFL halftime performance on Christmas Day, Beyoncé hadn’t performed it live.
That changed as the music came bucking to life in Los Angeles while Beyoncé soared over the crowd in a giant horseshoe, rode a mechanial bull and shared sweet moments with her daughters onstage.
The show spanned nearly three hours and 39 songs — and that’s counting mash-ups as a single song. The night marked just the first of Beyoncé’s 32 stadium shows in nine cities across the U.S. and Europe.
Here are the top moments from opening night of the “Cowboy Carter” tour.
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A family affair
Beyoncé promoted her daughter Blue Ivy Carter from a featured dancer to a full-time member of the dance crew, and her younger daughter made her first onstage appearance, as well.
Blue, 13, made her debut on the 2023 Renaissance World Tour in Paris and also danced with her mom during the Beyoncé Bowl halftime show. This time around, she stayed onstage for most of the night.
When she took center stage for “America Has a Problem” early in the set list, the crowd went wild and Beyoncé grinned with pride.
Later, Beyoncé’s daughter Rumi Carter, 7, appeared alongside her mom onstage for the first time ever during “Protector.”The song features sentimental lyrics like, “Even though I know someday you’re gonna shine on your own/ I will be your projector.”
Blue, Rumi and Beyoncé ended the song standing together as they shared smiles with one another. Following the performance, a montage of Beyoncé and her children appeared on the screen, leaving fans in tears.
A message for America
Beyoncé started the concert the way she started the album: with “Ameriican Requiem” followed by her Beatles cover “Blackbiird,” a song inspired by the Civil Rights Movement.
“Oh Beyhive, it feels so good to be on this stage,” she said at the end of the first song. “I want to thank all of those who came before me that allowed me to be on this stage today. I want to say thank you to my fans for allowing me to make this album. Thank you giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself.”
Beyoncé has written that she was inspired to make “Cowboy Carter” because of a chilly reception she received from the country music industry earlier in her career.
The phrase “never ask for permission for something that belongs to you” appeared onscreen.
For her third song of the night, she chose the national anthem, followed by “Freedom,” the theme song of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. She wrapped up the night’s first act with “Ya Ya” — “Whole lotta red in that white and blue.”
Soaring vocals and viral dance moves
Beyonce’s voice alone provided some of the most mesmerizing portions of the night.
Early on, a set moved smoothly between “Alligator Tears,” “Just for Fun,” “Protector” and “Flamenco.” Later, Beyoncé stood alone in a showstopping dress to sing a haunting rendition of “Daughter.”
The diva also made sure to mix in some lighthearted moments, including a viral dance for “Buckin’” and a “II Hands II Heaven” routine by Drea Kelly. She also rode a mechanical bull during “Tyrant” and soared over the crowd twice — in a horseshoe and a red convertible.
An epic groove
Nearly two and a half hours after she took the stage, Beyoncé took the crowd home with her record-breaking hit “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
The fun anthem may have seemed like the perfect way to end the night, but instead Beyoncé outdid herself over and over, taking the crowd on a funky ride through “Crazy in Love,” “Heated” and “Before I Let Go.”
For her second to last song, Beyoncé soared above the crowd in a car belting “16 Carriages.”
She thanked fans for sharing the first show of the tour with her before singing “Amen” in front of a Statue of Liberty replica wearing a bandanna over her mouth.
“I feel so overwhelmed,” she said.
So do we, Bey.
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