Concert Review: Beyoncé stuns in first ‘BeyTL’ Cowboy Carter show
The first of Beyoncé’s four Cowboy Carter shows at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was intricate, stunning, and easily the best concert I’ve ever attended.
The first “BeyTL” night started with a bang, featuring 40 songs through 10 acts and three hours of nonstop excellence. Beyoncé’s ability to perform while wowing the crowd with her vocals is completely unmatched. Her already immaculate production was enhanced by jaw-dropping outfits and staging.
I’ve been a Beyoncé fan for as long as I can remember, ever since my sister left her “B’Day (Deluxe Edition)” CD in my room. I have videos of myself as a kid singing “Single Ladies” and “Irreplaceable,” and dancing to “Diva.” I stayed a fan and saw her live for the first time during her Renaissance tour in 2023. Safe to say, I was thrilled to see Cowboy Carter in concert.
Walking into Mercedes-Benz Stadium felt like entering a different world. I was surrounded by a sold-out crowd dressed in hats, chaps, cowboy boots, decked out with folding fans and other elaborate Western gear. A warning for those going to future shows: the merchandise lines are insane. The upper-level line easily had hundreds people in it an hour before showtime, so if you want merch, go early.
Beyoncé emerged from the top spike of a star cut into the screen behind the stage, and opened with the first track on “Cowboy Carter,” “AMERIICAN REQUIEM.” From the start, the theme of reclamation was clear. Beyoncé aimed to reclaim both Black contributions to country music and the meaning of American patriotism today.
Before singing her cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Beyoncé honored the Black artists who came before her: “This next song is dedicated to all the beautiful, strong, and brave blackbirds who came before me, so people like myself can be on this stage, doing the things that I love.”
Beyoncé’s quest to reclaim the American dream was especially powerful when she sang the National Anthem and transitioned directly into her song “Freedom,” famously used throughout Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. Between that moment, her American flag costumes, and a massive Statue of Liberty prop, Beyoncé celebrated American ideals while challenging the current political climate in the United States. This performance made me feel truly patriotic for the first time in a while.
On top of all of the patriotic messages woven throughout, the set design and Western influence made the show incredibly unique. Beyoncé sang while standing on a moving gold mechanical bull, had a robot pour her a drink, and soared above the crowd in both a giant horseshoe and a robotic gold carriage horse, which she debuted in Atlanta after having a malfunction with the Cadillac prop in Houston. The effort that went into the staging was perfectly curated and creative, keeping the audience engaged the whole time.
I was stunned by how involved Beyoncé was in every moment of the show, especially at age 43. She did things that I don’t think I or many people my age (19) could pull off. One instance that stood out to me was when she continued singing flawlessly while her dancers carried her laying down on her back. I don’t think there are any other artists who can sing with such elegance while dancing and performing stunts. This is why I believe Beyoncé is the greatest performer of the century and maybe of all time.
One of the most special parts of the show was seeing Beyoncé perform with her two daughters and seeing montages of all three of her children on the screen. Her oldest daughter Blue Ivy danced behind her mom during multiple songs and had a few solos, which were all incredibly impressive, especially for a 13 year old. Her daughter Rumi came out for a heartwarming moment during the song “PROTECTOR,” hugging Beyoncé and making hearts with her hands to the crowd. Both daughters even snuck in the viral “I’m so ATL” TikTok dance for the hometown crowd.
The TikTok dance was not the only part of the concert that was particular to Atlanta. During the show, Beyoncé brought out the French dancers Les Twins, who have toured with Beyoncé in the past (the twins previously appeared in the European leg of the Cowboy Carter tour, but did not show up at U.S. shows until Atlanta). There were also two exclusive Atlanta-themed shirts at the merch stand, and, of course, the debut of the gold carriage horse for the song “16 CARRIAGES.”
Whether you’re a casual fan hoping to hear hits like “Single Ladies” and “Love on Top,” a fan of her newer work from “Cowboy Carter” or “Renaissance,” or someone who just wants to see extraordinary stage design and dancing – this show has something for everyone. Throughout the show, Beyoncé performed songs of multiple genres, including pop, country, opera, rap, and more.
Beyoncé plays Mercedes-Benz three more times (July 11, 13, and 14), and I can’t recommend it enough. This concert will give you a new level of respect for the talent, artistry, and creativity that Beyoncé embodies.
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