Another day, another record shattered by Beyoncé.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Despite debunked claims that she broke campaign finance laws and being told by songwriter Gavin Adcock that 'Cowboy Carter' "ain't country music," her three-month tour to support the album has reached another milestone.
The 32-date tour grossed over $407.6 million in ticket sales. This makes the nine-city tour the highest-grossing country tour in history. It is also the shortest tour to gross over $400 million. These statistics are according to Billboard.
Notable names that Beyoncé bypassed to become the highest-grossing country music tour include country legend Garth Brooks and fellow genre superstar Morgan Wallen. Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood's 2014 tour earned north of $364 million across 390 shows. Wallen's 2023 tour, One Night At A Time World Tour, also brought in $300 million.
Beyoncé Put on a Hell of a Show
The 1.6 million fans who saw Beyoncé perform witnessed a three-hour show with a setlist of over 40 songs. It also boasted some unbelievable visuals and an impressive roster of guest stars.
The elaborate stage design featured a convertible, a mechanical golden horse, and a red horseshoe. Miley Cyrus, Shaboozey, The Mayyas, and Destiny's Child all made appearances. It was also a family affair, with Beyoncé's husband Jay-Z, mother Tina Knowles, and daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi joining her onstage.
Is 'Cowboy Carter' Country Music?
The album 'Country Carter' won the Grammy award for Best Country Album. However, plenty of others have stated otherwise. In addition to Adcock's statements, the album didn't garner any nominations at the 58th Annual Country Music Awards.
Perhaps the loudest critic of whether 'Cowboy Carter' fits in the Nashville mold is Beyoncé herself. She has stated from the beginning that it was inspired by a moment when she "did not feel welcomed" in country music. She added that it "ain't a Country album."
Does this mean that her tour should be considered a country tour? That assessment probably depends on the audience. Additionally, the record and tour have introduced so many to the genre. Certainly, labeling it only limits what she and her shows have truly accomplished both personally and for culture as a whole.
"It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history," Beyoncé said in an Instagram post when 'Cowboy Carter' was released.
"The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work."
