CONCERT REVIEW: BEYONCÉ’S ‘COWBOY CARTER’ TOUR TURNS METLIFE INTO A MODERN-DAY RODEO ROYALE
The opening show of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour didn’t just bring the country to the city — it brought the culture.
By Rob Shuter Sussman
In a sea of cowboy hats, boots, and ponchos, a diverse and devoted Beyhive came ready to two-step, and Beyoncé delivered a genre-blending spectacle that was equal parts rodeo, revival, and revolution.
From the defiant opening chords of “American Requiem,” Beyoncé made it clear this was not your grandfather’s country concert. “They used to say I spoke ‘too country’ / Said I wasn’t ‘country enough,’” she snarled, reclaiming the very sound that once tried to reject her.
The show smartly leaned into the politics of genre and identity. A poignant run from her haunting Beatles cover “Blackbird” into “The Star-Spangled Banner” and then “Freedom” wasn’t just powerful — it was personal. This was Beyoncé’s America, steeped in Black artistry and defiance, wrapped in fringe and framed by the stars and stripes.
Musically, the show was a rich, rootsy blend of folk, gospel, soul, and twang.
“Alligator Tears,” “Just for Fun,” and “Flamenco” turned a stadium into a saloon, complete with raw harmonies and a flamenco dancer. But there was still spectacle: a mechanical bull on “Tyrant,” a floating horseshoe for “Jolene,” and visuals that had the New York crowd erupting — especially when Bey lit a cigar with the Statue of Liberty on screen.
And while Cowboy Carter took center stage, Beyoncé didn’t forget her legacy.
She dusted off hits like “Irreplaceable” and “If I Were a Boy” with fresh vocal brilliance, and kept the crowd buzzing with timeless anthems like “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies.”
Her vocal on “Daughter,” complete with an Italian aria, was nothing short of breathtaking — a reminder that she’s not just a performer, she’s a technician.
Even with temperatures in the 40s and rain falling, Beyoncé was radiant — warm, commanding, and fully in her power. She didn’t just bring Cowboy Carter to life — she made it feel like destiny fulfilled.
