Beyoncé brought her record-breaking Cowboy Carter Tour to Northwest Stadium, just five miles from Washington, D.C., on July 4. “Happy July Fourth. Today is all about freedom,” Bey, wearing a red, white and blue faux fur coat, told the roaring Beyhive after leading with “Ameriican Requiem.”
A few hours before, as fans waited to enter the venue, President Trump was 10 miles away at the White House, where he had just signed the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill,” legislation that will see millions of Americans lose access to healthcare, regressions to renewable energy efforts and will add over $3 trillion to the national debt.
It’s no wonder fan-made signs like “BEY THE PEOPLE” and “BEYONCÉ 2028 — AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” waved in the crowd.
“I hope you have a wonderful time tonight. I know we will,” Queen Bey assured fans before singing “Blackbiird,” which she noted as her ode to those who came before her, made sacrifices and opened doors. It’s the same reckoning with the past — honoring those who paved the way while boldly standing in a space that others attempted to shut her out of — that runs through Cowboy Carter, where she reminds the world exactly where country started.
While “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been part of her set for this tour, it was even more striking to hear her — a Black Southern woman — belt the words on Independence Day, miles from the nation’s capital, amid such political turmoil. Watching her sing along to Jimi Hendrix’s rendition at the 1969 Woodstock Festival was chilling — because his version wasn’t a celebration but an indictment of who America was then, amid the Vietnam War and civil rights movement. And she didn’t sing the entire song, ending with “You were only waiting for this moment to be free,” before transitioning to her politically-charged “Freedom,” which was the official anthem for Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign.
“Freedom” wasn’t just a song added to her setlist; it captured the electric feeling of the packed stadium and the unity of the Beyhive. Freedom to dress how you want — there was a lot of Western-inspired attire, of course. Freedom to scream as loudly as you so desire. Freedom to soak in the moment.
Throughout the show, Beyoncé would react to signs that she spotted in the audience, including wishing multiple people happy birthday. She even said hello to devoted Beyhive members like Anthony Cosby Hyphen Knowles, who has been her long-time “cousin-husband.” “Come on, Anthony. I see you, cousin. Husband,” Bey said as she sashayed across the stage. Cosby became well-known during her I Am…World Tour, where he playfully declared himself to be her husband.
If you come to a Beyoncé show, you can expect to be thoroughly entertained — it’s a given. The Cowboy Carter Tour was no different. The 35-time Grammy winner delighted fans for nearly three hours, performing Cowboy Carter songs like “Alliigator Tears,” “Protector,” “Tyrant,” “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “Bodyguard.”
She noticeably skipped “16 Carriages,” after she experienced a production glitch at the Houston show — her convertible prop got stuck midair. Thankfully, she was brought down safe and sound.
For those who missed out on the Renaissance World Tour — or wanted to relive the moment — Bey delivered a rousing performance of favorites like “America Has A Problem,” “Thique,” “Cuff It” and “Heated.”
Although some fans were anticipating fireworks, in light of Fourth of July, Beyoncé chose to close the show by showering the crowd with red, white and blue confetti as she sang “Amen” in an all-gold ensemble.
Beyoncé began her Cowboy Carter Tour on April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where she performed for five nights. Since its launch, the tour has unsurprisingly set multiple records. Her five-night stay at MetLife Stadium became the highest-grossing show on a single run and of all time, with over $70 million grossed.
At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Beyoncé broke her own all-time record for the most performances by any artist at the venue, with six shows — it’s also the most by any artist. At the same venue, Bey set the record for the highest-grossing concerts for any artist with £45 million (over $61.5 million USD) and the most tickets for any artist (over 275,000 sold).
The Cowboy Carter Tour will make a stop at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Beyoncé will perform five nights. She will conclude the tour at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with two shows on July 25 and July 26.
The tour supports her groundbreaking album, Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the No. 1 hit “Texas Hold ’Em.” At the 67th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won both Album of the Year and Best Country Album — becoming the first Black woman to do so — while her Miley Cyrus-assisted “II Most Wanted” took home Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour is another chapter in the iconic album’s legacy. Her July 4th show in Washington, D.C. was a night of celebration, reflection and sheer excellence. It was more than a wonderful time; it was an immersive experience and a declaration of place and purpose by one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour Remaining Dates
Jul 7 – Washington, D.C. @ Northwest Stadium
Jul 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Jul 11 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Jul 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Jul 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Jul 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
Jul 26 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
