Beyoncé’s Netflix Halftime Set: A Stunning ‘Cowboy Carter’ Showcase

Just before the release of her expansive, musically rich album Cowboy Carter in March, Beyoncé shared a personal statement about the project: “It was born,” she said, “out of an experience from years ago where I didn’t feel welcomed… and it was obvious that I wasn’t.”

Many assumed she was referencing her 2016 performance with the Chicks at the Country Music Association Awards, though that event has now become just one of many instances in which the Texas-born superstar faced pushback from Nashville’s traditional gatekeepers. In September, Cowboy Carter garnered no C.M.A. Award nominations, but just two months later, it led all artists with 11 Grammy nominations.

However, Beyoncé’s electrifying halftime performance at the Christmas Day N.F.L. game in Houston sent a very different message: her bold reinterpretation of country music and Southern culture makes it clear that everyone is welcome. This performance not only marked Netflix’s first foray into N.F.L. broadcasting, but it also showcased the debut of Cowboy Carter live, an album that reflects on the history of country music, highlights Black artists integral to its past and present, and explores the constraints imposed by genre.

The grand scale of the production, dubbed Beyoncé Bowl, seemed to rival a Hollywood blockbuster, featuring a supporting cast brimming with musicians, dancers, and extras, all clad in striking white. This visual abundance sent a clear message: while Beyoncé is known for her commanding presence as a solo artist, she used this performance to present a version of herself that was especially generous and eager to share the spotlight.https://wordpress.com/

During a segment of her cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” she was joined by the young Black country artists from the Cowboy Carter album: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. She stepped back to let the up-and-coming rapper Shaboozey perform his verse on “Sweet Honey Buckiin’,” an appearance that helped fuel the success of his chart-topping hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Beyoncé also participated in a two-step line alongside her impressively mature 12-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, and even allowed Post Malone to break the dress code in denim for their performance of the playful duet “Levii’s Jeans,” with Malone’s delighted grin reflecting the awe many viewers were likely feeling: Who else but Beyoncé could pull off such a spectacle?

At this stage of her unparalleled fame, Beyoncé continues to seek out and excel on the most prominent stages. She has particularly enjoyed her association with the N.F.L., having previously delivered one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows of the 21st century in 2013, and in 2016, her surprise performance of “Formation” at the Super Bowl upstaged the headliner, Coldplay. In February, she used the Super Bowl commercial platform to announce Cowboy Carter, and in 2019, Roc Nation—her husband Jay-Z’s entertainment company—partnered with the N.F.L., bringing more hip-hop artists to the Super Bowl stage.

Although Beyoncé’s Christmas performance was imbued with Americana, flags, and patriotic symbols, it didn’t carry the political edge of some of her more overtly politically charged works. The most pointed moment came during her lively rendition of “Ya Ya,” where she sang, “Whole lotta red in that white and blue, history can’t be erased.” Nevertheless, the performance was a masterclass in staging, with intricate details and compositions that were visually stunning, from Beyoncé’s entrance on a white horse while singing the poignant “16 Carriages” to the joyful finale, a spirited rendition of the banjo-driven “Texas Hold ’Em.”

“It’s only right that we do ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ for the first time in Houston, Texas, on Christmas,” she told the crowd. (It might have been even more fitting if the Texans had won, instead of suffering a 31-2 defeat.)

In comparison to Beyoncé’s most transcendent live performances—such as her 2018 Coachella show captured in Homecoming—this performance was somewhat limited by its focus on showcasing Cowboy Carter material. While it would have been great to see earlier songs, like “Daddy Lessons,” included to bridge her discography, the timing of the performance made it clear: this was an extravagant, carefully crafted For Your Consideration campaign for the Grammy Awards. Given how wide-ranging and polished her performance was, Beyoncé is certainly a strong contender for the coveted Album of the Year trophy.