Beyoncé brought her critically acclaimed country album Cowboy Carter to life during the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens halftime show at NRG Stadium in a groundbreaking Christmas Day performance, per americansongwriter.com.
The native Texan, who made history earlier this year as the first Black woman to top both the Top Country Album chart and Billboard 200 simultaneously, delivered a spectacular fusion of country and pop that silenced critics and thrilled fans.
The performance, featuring hit singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” marked the live debut of material from Cowboy Carter. Adding to the excitement, surprise guests Post Malone and Shaboozey joined the superstar on stage, creating what quickly became one of the most talked-about moments in recent NFL halftime history.
The Christmas Day showcase held special significance, taking place at Houston’s NRG Stadium—home to the prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo—and represented a powerful statement about Beyoncé’s country music credentials. Despite facing initial skepticism from genre purists and a notable snub from the 2024 CMA Awards, the 43-year-old artiste’s country music venture has garnered unprecedented acclaim elsewhere.
This triumph comes on the heels of Beyoncé’s impressive showing in the 2025 Grammy nominations, where she leads with a career-best 11 nominations. The Recognition spans multiple country music categories, including Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Album and Best Country Song for “Texas Hold ‘Em.” This broad acclaim across both mainstream and country categories further cements Beyoncé’s position as a groundbreaking artist who continues to redefine genre boundaries while honoring her Texas roots.
•Featured image: Beyoncé during the show in Houston/David J. Phillip/AP
