Beyonce Delivers a Rousing Kickoff to Her 'Cowboy Carter' Tour

Beyonce, shown here performing with her daughter Blue Ivy during an NFL game on Christmas Day 2024, is the artist with the most Grammys ever. Alex Slitz / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
Beyonce, shown here performing with her daughter Blue Ivy during an NFL game on Christmas Day 2024, is the artist with the most Grammys ever. Alex Slitz / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
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Beyonce Delivers a Rousing Kickoff to Her 'Cowboy Carter' Tour

Beyonce, shown here performing with her daughter Blue Ivy during an NFL game on Christmas Day 2024, is the artist with the most Grammys ever. Alex Slitz / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
Beyonce, shown here performing with her daughter Blue Ivy during an NFL game on Christmas Day 2024, is the artist with the most Grammys ever. Alex Slitz / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

Singer Beyonce launched her "Cowboy Carter" stadium tour on Monday, rolling through "Texas Hold 'Em" and other country-inspired hits and sharing the stage with her two daughters.

Beyonce opened the nearly three-hour show at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles with "American Requiem," appearing in an all-white cowboy outfit with long fringe on the sleeves as dancers in red performed around her, Reuters said.

For her cover of Dolly Parton classic "Jolene," Beyonce sat on a lighted horseshoe that floated above the crowd. She rode a gold mechanical bull for "Tyrant" and flew through the air in a red car while holding an American flag for "16 Carriages."

Beyonce's 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, joined the backup dancers for several songs, including "Ya Ya" and "America Has a Problem." She strutted down a long runway to lead a dance to "Deja Vu," flipping her hair as she turned to walk back.

Seven-year-old Rumi Carter appeared on stage while Beyonce performed the lullaby "Protector." She waved both hands to the crowd and turned around to give her mom a hug.

"Cowboy Carter" earned Beyonce her first album of the year Grammy in February. It was viewed by experts and fans as a reclamation and homage to an overlooked legacy of Black Americans within country music and culture.

"I want to thank all of those who came before me that allowed me to be on this stage today," Beyonce said at Monday's show. "I want to thank you my fans for allowing me to make this album. Thank you for giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself."

Beyonce also performed hits including "Formation,Cuff It" and "Crazy in Love" from previous albums.

The tour, called the Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, is scheduled to run through July in the US and Europe.

Many fans went all in on the cowboy theme, wearing Western hats, cowboy boots and rhinestone-studded denim. Beyonce thanked the crowd before ending with the song "Amen."

"I feel so overwhelmed," Beyonce said.



Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Premiere for 'Highest 2 Lowest'

US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
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Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Premiere for 'Highest 2 Lowest'

US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS

Denzel Washington sandwiched a whirlwind trip to the Cannes Film Festival, in between Broadway performances, for the premiere of Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” on Monday — and was rewarded with a surprise: an honorary Palme d'Or.

Cannes had flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington's speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing “Othello” in New York. Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux surprised Washington with the award before the Monday night premiere, The Associated Press reported.

“This is my brother, right here,” said the film’s director, Spike Lee, who passed the award to Washington.

“This is a total surprise for me,” said Washington.

The festival usually gives out one or two honorary Palmes each edition — last year, the awardees were Studio Ghibli and George Lucas. Last week, Robert De Niro received one on the festival's opening night. De Niro's award was announced in advance, but surprise prizes aren't unheard of: In 2022, Tom Cruise was presented with a surprise honorary Palme d'Or just before the screening of “Top Gun: Maverick.”

The premiere also had another surprise: Rihanna attended and walked the carpet afterward with partner A$AP Rocky. Earlier this month, she revealed at the Met Gala that she was pregnant with their third child.

While the festival's photo calls usually happen the day after a film's premiere, Cannes hosted one for “Highest 2 Lowest” earlier Monday so Washington could attend. The actor, playfully posing with Lee and co-star A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and left once the screening began.

“He told me to tell you: Thank you for the love,” Lee told the crowd after the screening. “He's on Broadway doing ‘Othello,’ so it really took a lot for him to fly here. Let's give it up for Denzel Washington, please.”

Lee also came to Cannes with obligations back in New York on his mind. He arrived at the film’s premiere decked out in Knicks colors and wearing a blue and orange striped suit. Lee ended his brief speech in the Palais by hollering: “New York Knicks!”

That Washington would be able to make the trip had been a sticking point for Cannes.

When the festival first announced its lineup last month, “Highest 2 Lowest” wasn't included. Within hours, however, Lee himself announced the film was heading to Cannes. Representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Washington would attend to walk the red carpet.

“Highest 2 Lowest,” a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film “High and Low,” will be released in theaters by A24 on Aug. 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.