Beyoncé has announced her ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour is on the way. The announcement comes as her latest album has already broken streaming records with over 1 million units sold in its first week.
The singer, 43, had told fans during the L.A. wildfires earlier this month she was postponing a major announcement amid the disaster, but has now teased fans with a promotional video and photo posted on Instagram hours before the 2025 Grammy Awards about her upcoming shows. She is yet to reveal the tour’s dates and locations but has already sparked excitement for what will be her first live shows since 2023. The teaser video garnered over 5 million views within the first hour of posting.
The tour follows the release of ‘Cowboy Carter‘ in March 2024, the second instalment of a three-part project that began with her Grammy-winning album ‘Renaissance’. Industry experts estimate the album’s production costs exceeded $10 million, making it one of the most expensive country albums ever produced.
Her previous tour ‘Renaissance’ saw her perform 56 two-and-a-half-hour shows across Europe and North America between May and October 2023, becoming her highest-grossing tour to date with a box office total of $579 million. The tour employed over 300 staff members and required 30 trucks to transport the stage equipment between venues.
A concert film documenting the tour, released in December 2023, added a further $44.4 million to her earnings. The film became the highest-grossing concert movie of 2023, playing in over 2,000 theaters worldwide.
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” Beyoncé described the inspiration behind ‘Cowboy Carter’ in a post on Instagram last year. Her venture into country music marks a significant shift in the genre’s demographics, with streaming data showing a 40% increase in diverse listeners.
The album, which leans heavily into country influences, features collaborations with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. The recording sessions took place across five different studios in Nashville, Tennessee, involving more than 50 musicians and traditional country instruments.
It has already surpassed the impact of ‘Renaissance’, landing 11 Grammy nominations and topping lists of the best albums of the year. Music critics have praised the album’s authentic approach to country music while maintaining Beyoncé’s signature style.
Beyoncé, born and raised in Houston, Texas, has long drawn from her Southern roots but embraced them more explicitly with the release. Her connection to Texas’s rich musical heritage dates back to her childhood, where she performed at local rodeos and country music venues.
She debuted songs from ‘Cowboy Carter’ live for the first time on Christmas Day, performing during the halftime show at the Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans game, which was streamed on Netflix. The performance reached an estimated 28 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched halftime shows of the season.
Industry analysts predict the upcoming tour could potentially surpass her previous tour’s success, with preliminary estimates suggesting it could generate over $600 million in ticket sales. The tour is expected to feature an elaborate stage design incorporating both country and modern elements, with sources claiming the production budget exceeds $20 million.
The announcement has already impacted the country music industry, with streaming platforms reporting a significant increase in country music consumption among younger demographics. Major country music venues across the United States have reportedly begun preparing for potential tour dates.
Ticket vendors are preparing for unprecedented demand, with some experts predicting it could become one of the most sought-after tours of 2025. The tour is expected to combine elements of traditional country concerts with Beyoncé‘s signature spectacular production values.
