Making a horseback entrance on Christmas day, Beyoncé delivered an epic performance converging music, fashion, and history for the NFL Halftime Show. Taking place in her hometown Houston, Texas, the show was the first time she performed songs from her “Cowboy Carter” album — her first country music album which has earned 11 Grammy nods since its release in March 2024, making her the most nominated artist in the Grammy Awards.
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé rides a white steed wearing a Roberto Cavalli white feather coat
Photo: Julian Dakdouk
The 15-minute set included a few special guests, nearly a dozen songs, backup dancers from the Houston Texan Cheerleaders, 200 members of Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band, and layers of historical references. It all began with the song “16 Carriages” performed before 16 Cadillacs and ended with Beyoncé being lifted high into the stadium as a banner that spelt out “B-E-Y-A-N-G” unfurled into the air.
Call it a halftime show if you will, but we’ll remember it as the Beyoncé Bowl. Here are 5 moments that left us completely starstruck:
1. Her custom rodeo-inspired look
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé performs onstage during the NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
December 25, 2024 An illustration of Beyoncé's 'Beyoncé Bowl' outfit
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
December 25, 2024 December 25, 2024 An illustration of Beyoncé's 'Beyoncé Bowl' feather jacket by Fausto Puglisi
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
Styled by Shiona Turini, Beyonce wore a full white look starring a custom ‘rodeo queen’ bedazzled long-sleeve bodysuit by Lindsey James Show Clothing, studded Christian Louboutin boots, a custom ASN Hats cowboy hat and Lorraine Schwartz earrings, necklaces and ring. The whole look was topped off with a huge Roberto Cavalli feather coat designed by Fausto Puglisi.
2. The celebration of rising stars and country icons
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé with "Blackbiird" singers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts (from left to right)
Photo: Julian Dakdouk
On the Cowboy Carter album, Beyoncé reimagined Beatles’ “Blackbird” as “Blackbiird” with rising country stars Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts who lent their voices on the new track. For the show, they marched alongside Beyoncé in white Dolce&Gabbana dresses, Paris Texas boots, and Stetson hats.
Throughout the show, Beyoncé shone the spotlight on groundbreaking country icons, including Mexican Cowgirl Melanie Rivera, pioneering bull-rider Myrtis Dightman Jr. (known as the “Jackie Robinson of Rodeo”), and the first Black Rodeo Queen in Arkansas Ja’Dayia Kursh among others.
3. Blue Ivy Carter: A star in the making
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter dancing together during the NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy Carter
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
The NFL Halftime show is not Blue Ivy Carter’s first rodeo. In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s eldest daughter performed with her mom in various cities for the “Renaissance World Tour”, joining dancers on stage for “My Power” and “Black Parade”.
On Christmas day, the 12-year-old showed off her dance moves once again in the “Texas Hold ‘Em” segment wearing a custom Frolov corset top with crystal embellishments, matching pants, Akira boots, a Stetson cowboy hat, and a custom scarf.
An ode to her daughter’s special performance, Beyoncé subtly changed the lyrics from “spin me in the middle boy” to “spin me in the middle Blue” — talk about a special mother-daughter moment!
4. Post Malone’s surprise cameo
December 25, 2024 Post Malone performing at the NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
December 25, 2024 Post Malone and Beyoncé perform during the NFL halftime show
Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
December 25, 2024 Post Malone performing at the NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
Among her collaborators on Cowboy Carter is “Sunflower” singer Post Malone who grew up in Grapevine, Texas. They performed their track “Levi’s Jeans” in front of a denim-upholstered pickup truck, sending the crowd into an uproar of excitement over their charismatic performance.
5. The historical references throughout the show
December 25, 2024 Beyoncé performs during the NFL halftime show
Photo: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
December 25, 2024 Dancers in white cowboy gear stand before a flower-adorned pickup truck at Beyonce's NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
December 25, 2024 A pickup truck adorned with white flowers at Beyonce's NFL halftime show
Photo: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
The flower-covered carriage wheels and stairs on her main stage platform mirrored the carts and wagons used in the earliest Juneteenth parades in Texas from 1895 to the early 1900s, while the shot of people standing proudly on horseback in the pre-taped intro also called to mind old photographs of African American horsemen standing atop of their steeds.
Produced by Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the show has been widely lauded for its rich references to historical moments and the way it pays homage to African American rodeo culture.
Editor
Karrie LamCredit
Lead Image: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
