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- Beyoncé kicked off the “Cowboy Carter” tour on Monday in Inglewood, California.
- The set list included a variety of hits and fan-favorite tracks from her country-inspired album.
- Every song she performed for opening night is listed below, excluding video intros and interludes.
Beyoncé took the stage on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to kick off her much-anticipated Cowboy Carter Tour.
Beyoncé previously hit the road in 2023 for the Renaissance World Tour, which was also adapted into a blockbuster concert movie.
The superstar’s eighth solo album, “Cowboy Carter,” was unveiled last year as the follow-up to “Renaissance” and the second installment in an ongoing trilogy that broadly examines genre, heritage, and legacy. It won over critics with its bold take on Nashville traditions and went on to win album of the year at the 2025 Grammy Awards in February, becoming Beyoncé’s first win in the category.
Beyoncé previously debuted live renditions of select “Cowboy Carter” tracks, including “16 Carriages,” “Ya Ya,” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” during a livestreamed NFL halftime show on Christmas Day. However, other fan-favorite tracks like “Bodyguard” and “II Most Wanted” — in addition to hits and deep cuts from across her discography — will finally get their time to shine during Beyoncé’s 32-show trek across the US.
The tour’s opening night set list is cataloged below, in chronological order of performance.
‘Ameriican Requiem’
“Ameriican Requiem” is the opening track on “Cowboy Carter.”
The lyrics allude to Beyoncé’s duet with The Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards, which sparked backlash among conservative country fans (“It’s a lot of talkin’ goin’ on / While I sing my song / Can you hear me? / I said, ‘Do you hear me?'”).
Upon the album’s release, Beyoncé told fans that “Cowboy Carter” was inspired by a time when she “did not feel welcomed” by the country music establishment.
‘Blackbiird’
Beyoncé’s cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” highlights the important role of Black women in Nashville, recruiting four of the genre’s rising stars to provide harmonies and backing vocals: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.
‘The Star-Spangled Banner’
Beyoncé’s performance of the United States national anthem underscores a key “Cowboy Carter” theme — that country music, much like the actual country where it was created, has always been indebted to the labor of Black people.
“Cowboy Carter” has often been cast as a “reclamation a genre that’s been divorced from its original creators,” in the words of Kofi Mframa for USA Today. At the tour’s opening show, Beyoncé’s merch stand sold T-shirts that read, “Never ask for permission for something that already belongs to you.”
‘Freedom’
“Freedom” is the 10th track on Beyoncé’s celebrated 2016 album, “Lemonade.” The studio version features Kendrick Lamar.
‘Ya Ya’ and ‘Why Don’t You Love Me’
Beyoncé performed a mashup of the standout “Cowboy Carter” track “Ya Ya” with a deep cut from her third solo album, “I Am… Sasha Fierce.”
‘America Has a Problem’
“America Has a Problem” is the 14th track on “Renaissance.” It was later released as a single, alongside a remix featuring Lamar.
‘Spaghettii’
“Spaghettii” is the 12th track on “Cowboy Carter.” The studio version features Linda Martell, a pioneering country singer from the early ’70s, and Shaboozey, a genre-bending country star whose 2024 hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” broke the record among solo songs for most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Formation’
“Formation” was released as the lead single from “Lemonade.” Beyoncé gave her debut performance of the song during a surprise appearance at the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show.
‘My House’
“My House” was released as a standalone track in 2023, sandwiched between “Renaissance” and “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Diva’
In a scene from “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” the superstar contemplates cutting “Diva” from the set list. Her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, protests. “You can’t do that!” she tells her mother.
“I appreciate your opinion, but you’ve gotta calm down,” Beyoncé replies.
Lo and behold, “Diva” remained in the “Renaissance” tour set list — and stuck around for “Cowboy Carter,” too.
‘Alliigator Tears’
“Alliigator Tears” is the 13th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Just for Fun’
“Just for Fun,” a duet with Willie Jones, is the 15th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Protector’
For the live debut of “Protector,” Beyoncé was joined onstage by her two daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter.
‘Flamenco’
“Flamenco” is the 18th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Desert Eagle’
“Desert Eagle” is the 22nd track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Riiverdance’
“Riiverdance” is the 23rd track on “Cowboy Carter.” It was cowritten by Beyoncé and Rachel Keen, aka Raye, who was recently nominated for best new artist at the Grammys.
‘II Hands II Heaven’
“II Hands II Heaven” is the 24th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Sweet Honey Buckiin,’ ‘Pure/Honey,’ and ‘Summer Renaissance’
Beyoncé performed a mashup of a high-energy “Cowboy Carter” standout with two fan-favorite tracks from “Renaissance.”
‘Jolene’
Beyoncé’s “Jolene” is a reimagined version of Dolly Parton’s classic country tune.
‘Daddy Lessons’
“Daddy Lessons,” the sixth track on “Lemonade,” marked Beyoncé first official foray into country music. The song is both a celebration and a critique of her family legacy, particularly her father, who hails from Gadsden, Alabama.
‘Bodyguard’
“Bodyguard” is the eighth track on “Cowboy Carter.” Beyoncé released a visualizer for the song last November, inspired by Pamela Anderson’s role in “Baywatch.”
‘II Most Wanted’
“II Most Wanted” is the 16th track on “Cowboy Carter.” The studio version is a duet with Miley Cyrus, a lifelong Beyoncé fan.
The song was also coproduced by Ryan Tedder, who previously worked with Beyoncé on ballads like “Halo” and “XO.”
‘Cuff It’
“Cuff It” is the fourth track on “Renaissance.”
‘Tyrant’
“Tyrant” is the 25th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Thique’
“Thique” is the 12th track on “Renaissance.”
‘Levii’s Jeans’
“Levii’s Jeans,” a duet with Post Malone, is the 17th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘Daughter’
“Daughter” is the 11th track on “Cowboy Carter.”
‘I’m That Girl’
“I’m That Girl” is the opening track on “Renaissance.”
‘Cozy’
“Cozy” is the second track on “Renaissance.”
‘Alien Superstar’
“Alien Superstar” is the third track on “Renaissance.”
‘Texas Hold ‘Em’
“Texas Hold ‘Em” was surprise-released as the lead single from “Cowboy Carter” during the 2024 Super Bowl. It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyoncé the first Black woman in history to hold the top position.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, where it remained for two weeks.
‘Crazy in Love’
Beyoncé released “Crazy in Love” featuring her future husband, Jay-Z, as her debut solo single in 2003 — three years before Destiny’s Child officially disbanded.
‘Heated’
“Heated” is the 11th track on “Renaissance.”
‘Before I Let Go’
Beyoncé previously covered “Before I Let Go,” the 1981 single by R&B band Maze, during her headlining performance at Coachella in 2018.
’16 Carriages’
“16 Carriages” was released alongside “Texas Hold ‘Em” as the lead single’s B-side.
‘Amen’
“Amen” is the closing track on “Cowboy Carter.”
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