Beyoncé wowed fans at the NFL Christmas Day halftime show, where she performed songs from her country music album Cowboy Carter for the very first time. The 43-year-old Texas native took to the stage in her hometown of Houston during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game, following the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In a stunning opening, Beyoncé rode onto the stage on a white horse, kicking off her performance with the track 16 Carriages, dressed in a dramatic white feathered outfit and cowboy hat. After dismounting, she transitioned to a soulful rendition of Blackbird, a cover of The Beatles’ classic.
Her arrival on the field was nothing short of spectacular. Wearing a white long-sleeved corset and chaps, Beyoncé was accompanied by a large brass band and dancers. She performed several tracks from Cowboy Carter, including Levi Jeans, joined by Post Malone for a duet by a pickup truck. The crowd went wild as she sang Sweet Honey Buckin’ and her cover of Dolly Parton’s iconic hit Jolene, which she performed from the back of the truck, flanked by a marching band.
The highlight of the show came when her 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, joined her on stage, reported by the Independent. The pair danced together, much like during Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour. The grand finale saw Beyoncé perform Texas Hold ‘Em, declaring it only fitting to debut the track in her home state of Texas during Christmas.
As the performance drew to a close, Beyoncé was lifted to the roof of the stadium on a platform in a jaw-dropping finale. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey performed her 1994 hit All I Want For Christmas Is You in a pre-recorded video shot atop a skyscraper.
This performance marked Beyoncé’s return to NFL halftime shows, following her iconic appearances at the 2013 Super Bowl and Coldplay’s 2016 Super Bowl performance.
While Beyoncé’s show-stealing performance took center stage, it comes amid controversy surrounding her husband, Jay-Z. He recently denied accusations of sexually assaulting a teenage girl with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, which broke on December 8. In a statement, Jay-Z shared his emotional response to the allegations, expressing concern about the impact on their children, particularly their daughter Blue Ivy. Despite the allegations, Jay-Z and Beyoncé appeared united at recent events, such as the red carpet for The Lion King: Mufasa film debut.