How Beyoncé Ditched the Cadillac for a Flying Golden Steed on the Cowboy Carter Tour
Look, I don’t want to be the one to say it, but here we are—Beyoncé now soars above stadium crowds on a gold horse because a red Cadillac apparently wasn’t enough spectacle. After that mid-air wobble threw her off during “16 Carriages” in Houston, Queen Bey’s creative team must’ve thought, “Let’s double down on over-the-top.”
During her July 10 opener in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Beyoncé, decked out in full rodeo-chic, emerged suspended on a newly debuted flying westward steed for her revamped “16 Carriages” finale. The plush gold prop glided smoothly across the sold-out arena, keeping the 43-year-old icon upright—and mercifully safe—from the kind of tilt that forced her to holler “Stop, stop, stop” into her mic back on June 28 in Houston’s NRG Stadium. That night, her red Cadillac leaned sideways mid-flight, leaving Bey paused mid-verse, flashing a tight-lipped smile before quipping, “Thank y’all for your patience,” per eyewitness reports on E! Online and backstage chatter shared on X.
Fans on X couldn’t help but chirp their approval once the horse made its debut: one user applauded, “’16 Carriages’ is Back and she’s on a horse now,” while another enthused, “I just witnessed the rebirth of ‘16 Carriages.’” Even Beyoncé’s own Instagram feed got a dose of comedic timing when she set footage of the Cadillac scare to Big Pokey and Paul Wall’s “Sittin’ Sidewayz,” captioning it with the song title—proof that even a glitchy prop can become meme-worthy content.
Of course, the Cowboy Carter Tour hasn’t been glitch-free. Between a wardrobe mishap that revealed more than intended and a pair of mechanical robotic arms that nearly whacked her mid-twirl, Bey’s team has been fire-fighting spectacle-sizing risks every step of the way. One viewer noted under a viral TikTok, “It’s a major safety hazard. Good for her for hitting her mark anyways,” while another joked, “She’s probably checking the zip ties backstage right now.” I told you so.
Beyond the tech drama, the tour has been a star-studded affair. Beyoncé’s daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter, have joined her onstage, adding sweet family flair. Notables from Cardi B and Kelly Rowland singing along from Paris’ VIP suites to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s L.A. rodeo-themed date night, fans have flocked globally to watch this country-meets-pop extravaganza. Even tennis legend Serena Williams couldn’t resist cheering “La vie est belle!” during the Paris shows.
So here’s the grumpy guru takeaway: you want high-octane stunts? Expect occasional chaos. Replace one flying vehicle with another, and pray for flawless execution. Otherwise, you’re left singing “Stop, stop, stop” before you can belt out “My baby’s gone.” And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, fan posts on X (formerly Twitter)
Attribution: John Katsilometes (Creative Commons)
