Some of the best moments include Shaboozey and Post Malone

Twenty years ago, Beyoncé rode into NRG Stadium in Houston on the back of a palomino horse. She smiled broadly and waved to the hometown crowd as she was led to the stage for her first solo performance at the Houston Rodeo. Last night she made another horse appearance at the stadium – not as a rodeo performer, but as the headliner of the NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show. That was the Beyoncé Bowl.

Beyoncé didn’t wait for the white stallion to lead her through the tunnels to the field to sing. There was no grinning or gesticulating, just a one-of-a-kind performer showing up to do what she does best on a level all her own. Her microphone was already in hand as she delivered the live debut of “16 Carriages,” one of the earliest Cowboy Carter Singles released back when the album was still called Act II. There’s one lyric from the song that doesn’t make it into the medley, but thoroughly sums up the performance: “Ain’t got time to waste. I gotta make art.”

Over the course of about 15 minutes, Beyoncé performed nearly a dozen songs Cowboy Carter for the first time, plus a Renaissance-Era unique piece. Some special guests — including Blue Ivy, Shaboozey and Post Malone — played a role in opening the album’s world wide open on the field. But it was the allusions hidden in the intricate details of the performance that really brought to life the story that runs throughout the record.

Here are the best moments from the Beyoncé Bowl, streaming as a standalone special on Netflix later this week.

Beyoncé’s “Blackbiird” flies into the light with four rising country stars
“You were just waiting for this moment to happen.” The lyrics from The Beatles’ “Blackbird” were written by Paul McCartney in the summer of 1968 as part of his observation of the collective desire for freedom during the American civil rights movement. Beyoncé emphasized this collective when she performed her version of the record, alternately titled “Blackbiird,” alongside Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts. The rising country stars marched alongside Beyoncé in matching all-white outfits, their harmonies tight and eyes bright. Beyoncé is expected to branch out into a third genre Cowboy Carter, The moment felt like the real passing of a blazing torch lit for precisely that purpose: kicking down doors and leading the way.

Beyoncé declares NRG Stadium her home
In 2023, Beyoncé officially wrapped things up Renaissance era with the release of a feature-length documentary film that documented the creation and implementation of the accompanying stadium tour. During the end credits of the film, which only appeared in theaters, the bass and horn song “My House” boomed through the room. When Beyoncé switched from Cowboy Carter When we turned the standout “Ya Ya” into “My House,” it was an exciting curveball. She hasn’t acknowledged the documentary since its release, which mostly means she hasn’t set a digital or streaming release date for it despite endless requests (read: begging) from fans. Many assumed that she had also forgotten the song. The NRG Stadium crowd holding up signs reading “My House” from the stands made for an instantly classic shot.

Beyonce Bowl? It’s also Blue Ivy’s Bowl
Blue Ivy first began performing with Beyoncé Renaissance tour. The musician was hesitant to allow her eldest daughter to enter as a dancer. It’s a powerful creative outlet, but it comes with a lot of pressure and control. She would know. But Blue Ivy is her mother’s daughter, so she put in a lot of effort. It all led to this moment when she emerged in a sea of ​​dancers positioned directly behind Beyoncé, executing each choreographed move with the hunger and control of a real performer. And while Blue Ivy held her own alongside the other dancers, her nepotism made for one of the set’s sweetest moments: the do-si-do between Blue and Bey during “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Beyoncé kept turning around each other and adjusting the lyrics to quip, “Swing me in the middle, Blue, I can’t read your mind.”

Cowboy Carter It’s first a history lesson and then a masterclass album
There was a lot of movement during Beyoncé’s halftime show. There were floating platforms, moving stages and dozens of dancers on the field. As cars drove through the field during “Jolene” and a marching band performed on either side, the camera showed a waving Ja’Dayia Kursh – Arkansas’ first black rodeo queen. Also in attendance were Mexican cowgirl Melanie Rivera, bull riding legend Myrtis Dightman Jr. – the Jackie Robinson of rodeo – and Miss Rodeo Texas Princess 2004 and Miss Rodeo Texas 2015 Nikki Woodward. And the flowers that decorated the carriage wheels and stairs on its main stage podium were reminiscent of the flower-bedecked carts and floats used in the first Juneteenth parades in Texas from 1895 to the early 20th century.

The Cowboy Carter‘s Cowboy staff
Few artists had a better 2024 than Shaboozey. He began the year by performing “A Bar Song” at a showcase before it was released and became the chart-topping album and made history as we know it today. The set caught the attention of an A&R, who put the country musician on Beyoncé’s radar. This led to his appearances on “Spaghettii” and “Sweet * Honey * Buckiin'” on Cowboy Carter, both of which are nominated for the 2025 Grammy Awards. Both records made it to the halftime break in a medley that also included “Riiverdance” – and a stunning performance from Shaboozey. Beyoncé stayed by his side for a brief moment before strutting away, but the camera remained trained on him as he rapped his verse, “Sweet * Honey * Buckiin’.” It is a feat to capture the audience’s attention so strongly even in the presence of such a towering artist. It couldn’t be sweeter.

Post Malone was given the gift of pressure to follow up on that moment in the set. But the live debut of “Levii’s Jeans” went smoothly. Beyoncé began dancing the song in front of a denim-covered pickup truck with Texas license plates. And waiting for them in the back of the truck was a good-natured Posty, eliciting screams from the audience. His white, iridescent blazer shimmered in the lights just like hers. And when he finished his verse, he watched in awe as Beyoncé recorded her next verse. For this moment he had the best seat in the house. Their brief back-and-forth that followed was one of the most charismatic scenes of the entire set.