Beyoncé ignites Atlanta on night 1: Flying horse, Blue Ivy, Rumi's viral dance, more gems
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter debuted her "Cowboy Carter" tour in the Atlanta, and the opening show was filled with electrifying energy, unforgettable viral moments and more fan favorites.
The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her first concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta around 8:15 p.m. local time on July 10. The concert marked her first of four shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, and she's set to hit the stage again July 11, July 13 and July 14.
"Atlanta, Georgia!" Beyoncé greeted the energetic crowd as she took the stage. "I’m so happy be there standing on this stage tonight."
And that seemed to be true as Beyoncé set the stage on fire from the start to finish – so much so, that many fans speculated this might be one of the shows she's filming, as she often does at select stops on tour. (That remains unconfirmed.)
"Oh she's feeling it!" one fan wrote on social media. Another said, "She's giving ATL a show It's got me wanting to book a flight."
Toward the end of the show Beyoncé told the crowd, "Thank y'all so much for your incredible Southern hospitality."
The ATL stop comes after Beyoncé delivered two dazzling concerts at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland – five miles east of Washington, D.C. The first show fell on the Fourth of July, with the follow-up performance taking place July 7. The holiday made for an especially significant night given the messages and motifs pertaining to country music, America's complex past and its ongoing cultural reckoning.
Here are some highlights from the Atlanta opener.
Beyoncé brings back '16 Carriages,' switches out flying car for soaring horse
One of the standout moments of the night came toward the end of the show, when Beyoncé revived her "16 Carriages" performance. Beyoncé cut her hit single "16 Carriages" and its accompanying stunt, which featured flying in the air in a car, from her set list after facing a technical mishap during her opening show in her hometown of Houston.
During the Atlanta opener, she not only brought back the song, she also swapped out the flying car for a golden, soaring mechanical horse, complete with spinning rims.
Blue Ivy, Rumi Carter nail the viral 'Whim Whamiee' dance move
Another highlight of the night one involved Beyoncé's daughters: 13-year-old Blue Ivy Carter and 8-year-old Rumi Carter. After showing off her moves during "America Has A Problem," Blue strutted off the stage and hit a viral dance popularized by the song "Whim Whamiee" by Atlanta artists Pluto and YKNIECE. The dance, which syncs with the lyrics "I'm talking about in it," features signature arm movements that had the crowd cheering.
One fan wrote, "I'm talmbout init. Blue Ivy is such a TikTok girl omg." And to fans' surprise, Rumi also hit the move when she made the appearance on stage. And many took note of the adorable moment.
Beyoncé bring back more stunts, songs to the set list on night one
The flying horse during "16 Carriages" wasn't the only stunt to return to the show. During Beyoncé's performance of "Levii's Jeans," her dancers carried her through the air on a mini sofa shaped like a lip. While that lift was a staple early in the tour, recent shows saw her staying seated on stage instead.
Beyoncé also brought back another fan favorite during the show – her 2019 hit "Before I Let Go." And many were thrilled to see the song return to the set list after being skipped in some cities, including her most recent stop in Washington D.C.
Beyoncé first debuted her "Cowboy Carter" tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with a 39-song set list. Her shows have been filled with family, fashion and different music genres.
Follow Caché McClay, the Paste BN Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.