Beyoncé headlined this Christmas’s NFL halftime show in Houston, debuting tracks from her game-changing album “Cowboy Carter”. It wasn’t just brilliance on stage that played center; she is also making conscious moves to challenge the country music genre and celebrate all of its roots. The performance marked a new chapter in her career, one in which she melds sharp cultural commentary with dizzying artistry.
Country Music Reimagined
Ahead of “Cowboy Carter”’s release, Beyoncé indicated the album was the product of sometimes feeling out of place within traditional country spaces. But its critical success-11 Grammy nominations notwithstanding-apparently means little to the CMA Awards. On “Cowboy Carter”, Beyoncé celebrates many of those Black performers often lost to history, while teasing out more general questions of genre confinement.
Her “Beyoncé Bowl” halftime show, if anything, was that times ten. The number came alive with an army of dancers, musicians and extras all in brilliant white. Throughout, it felt inclusive. A Southern cultural explosion-in everything from marching bands to HBCU step performances-cemented the album’s underlying message: country could belong to everyone.
Celebrity Contributions
Beyoncé’s generous spirit shone throughout the 13-minute set. She shared the stage with rising Black country artists featured on her album and brought in special guests like Shaboozey, who performed his hit verse from “Sweet Honey Buckiin’”. Post Malone also made an appearance, breaking the white-themed dress code in denim for a lighthearted duet of their track “Levii’s Jeans”. Even Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, joined in on the choreography, which further evidenced the family-like camaraderie evident in the evening.
A Visual and Musical Spectacle
The show was an assault on the senses, jolting imagery against impeccably choreographed sequences. Beyoncé, riding a white horse at the opening, was delivering the stirring ballad, “16 Carriages”. She segued seamlessly into a six-song medley finishing with “Texas Hold ‘Em”. This got the whole crowd on its feet as further solidifying her Texan heritage.
Though it lacked the in-your-face confrontation of some of her previous, more politically-based works, there were subtle messages throughout. Lines like “Whole lotta red in that white and blue, history can’t be erased,” from “Ya Ya”, hinted at deeper commentary, but for the most part, the show was pure joy, unity, and artistic excellence.
A Grammy-Worthy Showcase
Amidst the chaos of Grammy voting, Beyoncé’s halftime set played out like one determined but organic push for validation. By concentrating wholly on “Cowboy Carter”, tonight’s setlist may have suffered a dearth of setlist surprises, but came away with a forceful plea on the album’s merits.
True to her character, it was a mix of hard work, skill, and mission. Whether “Cowboy Carter” wins the Album of the Year Grammy or not, the halftime show has forever marked a point in culture. And Beyoncé once again proved that she’s not an artist but a vision changing the face of music.
