beyonce renaissance tour band members

• Manage Account

Beyoncé Unveils Full List of Renaissance Tour Credits

Bey herself is listed as the tour's director, executive producer and creative director.

By Rania Aniftos

Rania Aniftos

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pinit
• + additional share options added
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Comment
• Share this article on Tumblr

Beyoncé ‘s long-awaited Renaissance tour is in full swing, and the superstar is giving credit where credit is due.

The “Break My Soul” singer updated the “tour” section of her official website this week with the full list of the run’s credits. She leads the list as the tour’s director, executive producer and creative director, before listing additional creative directors Andrew Makadsi, Ed Burke and Leah Nardos Takele; executive producers Justina Omokhua and Erinn Williams; and music directors Damian Smith, Khirye Tyler and Dammo Farmer. The list goes on to list everyone from stage designers, choreographers, videographers, costume designers, band members and dancers to glam team, tour management, SFX crew members, caterers, nurses, drivers and more.

Drake Responds to Kendrick Lamar With Eviscerating 'Family Matters' Diss Track: Listen

See latest videos, charts and news

Trending on Billboard

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Get Up Anthems by Tres Expand get-up-anthems-by-tres menu

Honda music expand honda-music menu.

Beyoncé Returns To The Global Stage For Renaissance World Tour

WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE

40 shows across north america and europe, verified fan registration open for north american dates now at   beyonce.livenation.com, citi cardmembers, verizon up and beyhive members will have additional access to presales.

Following the wildly successful release of BEYONCÉ’s seventh studio album,  RENAISSANCE , the global superstar has announced RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR  today, her first solo tour in over six years. The North American leg of the tour is leveraging Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan technology to ensure more tickets get into the hands of concertgoers. Fans can register now   HERE . Ticketing will begin Monday, February 6, 2023, starting with an exclusive presale to BeyHive members.

The 2023 tour, produced by Parkwood Entertainment, and promoted by Live Nation, kicks off on May 10, 2023, at Friends Arena in Stockholm, SE, making stops throughout Europe in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Paris, London, Marseille, Amsterdam, Warsaw and more. The tour then continues across North America with shows in Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston and more.

RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR  will also visit Brussels, Barcelona, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and more in Europe in May & June. Additional North American cities include Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Louisville, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, Vancouver and more.

As with previous tours, Beyoncé will make her mark offstage, too, with BeyGOOD, the initiative she founded in 2013 to support people and programs around the world.  BeyGOOD will continue its legacy of philanthropy, building out this focus on economic equity by supporting organizations that serve marginalized and underserved communities with access to scholarships, opportunities for internships that lead to job placement, and resources to support entrepreneurship.

In various cities throughout the tour, BeyGOOD will support entrepreneurs through Black Parade Route luncheons, celebrating small business owners, with grant opportunities being awarded and a foray of services with global partners to promote business sustainability. One thousand small businesses will be supported with a commitment totaling one million dollars.

BeyGOOD will also support students through scholarship funds that will be given to colleges and universities in ten different cities along the tour. Each school will be given one hundred thousand dollars and will select the student recipients. BeyGOOD’s total scholarship commitment during RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR will be one million dollars.

Working with Beyoncé and the BeyGOOD Foundation, Citi and Verizon will purchase 100 tickets combined in each market across the U.S. touring leg for distribution to local community initiatives.

A noted partner with Beyoncé, Tiffany & Co. is the official jeweler of  RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR.  Tiffany & Co. has a longstanding commitment to conducting itself responsibly, sustaining the natural environment, prioritizing diversity and inclusion, and positively impacting the communities in which it operates.

TICKETING DETAILS :

On sale dates:

• North American Dates:  Verified Fan Registration is open now and closes at different times based on city. Visit  beyonce.livenation.com  for the exact details as ticketing on sale timelines vary by city. 
• Europe an  Dates:  Check your local event listings for complete ticket information regarding European dates of the tour.

Pre sale dates:

• Citi Presale powered by Verified Fan:  Citi is the official credit card of  RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR . After the Verified Fan process, Citi cardmembers may have the opportunity to access the special Citi Presale powered by Verified Fan for tour dates in the United States. For those who are not existing Citi cardmembers, consumers can apply for the Citi Custom Cash Card online. If approved, new cardmembers may request instant access to their card for the Citi Presale powered by Verified Fan.* For complete presale details visit  www.citientertainment.com  and for details on Custom Cash instant access visit  www.citientertainment.com/faq . 
• Verizon Up Presale:  Verizon Up customers can access this presale by visiting   Verizon Up . Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for  RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR  in the U.S through the customer loyalty program Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select shows.

RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR DATES:

May 10, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends Arena

May 14, 2023 – Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium

May 17, 2023 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality Stadium

May 20, 2023 – Edinburgh, UK – BT Murray Field Stadium

May 23, 2023 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light

May 26, 2023 – Paris, FR – Stade de France

May 29, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

May 30, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

June 08, 2023 – Barcelona, ES – Olympic Stadium

June 11, 2023 – Marseille, FR – Orange Velodrome

June 15, 2023 – Cologne, DE – Rhein Energie Stadion

June 17, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Crujff Arena

June 21, 2023 – Hamburg, DE – Volksparkstadion

June 24, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park

June 27, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy

NORTH AMERICA

July 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

July 12, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field

July 15, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium

July 17, 2023 – Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium

July 20, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Huntington Bank Stadium

July 22, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium

July 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field

July 29, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Aug. 01, 2023 – Boston, MA – Gillette Stadium

Aug. 03, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium

Aug. 05, 2023 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field

Aug. 09, 2023 – Charlotte, SC – Bank of America Stadium

Aug. 11, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Aug. 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium

Aug. 18, 2023 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium

Aug. 21, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Dome at America’s Center

Aug. 24, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium

Aug. 26, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium

Aug. 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – Levi’s Stadium

Sept. 02, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

Sept. 11, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place

Sept. 13, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

Sept. 18, 2023 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium

Sept. 21, 2023 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium

Sept. 23, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium

Sept. 27, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars Superdome

For complete ticketing and additional information visit  beyonce.livenation.com  and  tour.beyonce.com .

*Citi Instant Access Process:  *If approved for the card after applying online, new Citi Custom Cash cardmembers must write down their temporary account information to have ready when they go to try to make a purchase during the presale. They will not have access to their information again until the physical card arrives in the mail, which may take 7-10 days. 

About Parkwood Entertainment

Parkwood Entertainment is a film and production company, record label and management firm founded by entertainer and entrepreneur, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter in 2010.  With offices in Los Angeles and New York City, the company houses departments in music, film, video, live performances and concert production, management, business development, marketing, technology, creative, philanthropy, and publicity.  Under its original name, Parkwood Pictures, the company released the film Cadillac Records (2008), in which Beyoncé starred and co-produced. The company has also released the films Obsessed (2009), with Beyoncé as star and executive producer, the winner of the Peabody Award for Entertainment, Lemonade (2017), the Emmy®-nominated Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé (2019), which documents Beyoncé’s history-making performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in 2018, and the Emmy®-winning Black Is King (2020). Parkwood Entertainment produced The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013-2014), The Formation World Tour (2016), and the aforementioned “Homecoming” performances at Coachella (2018) and co-produced the ON THE RUN Tour (2014) and ON THE RUN II (2018).

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit   www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Parkwood Entertainment

Yvette Noel-Schure, Parkwood Entertainment  |  [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski |  [email protected]

Maya Sarin |  [email protected]

Valeska Thomas |  [email protected]

Read more about

Beyoncé Celebrates the Massive Team Behind the ‘Renaissance’ Tour With Full Credits

By Jon Blistein

Jon Blistein

Any tour is a massive undertaking that requires an unbelievable amount of planning and logistics. That goes for a band in a van pulling double (or triple, or quadruple) duty as performers, drivers, merch salespeople, and backline technicians, or the biggest pop stars on the planet, who need hundreds of people to make their treks possible.

Despite that reality, it’s rare to see a major artist share the full production and services credits for their tours, so that everyone involved gets a chance to shine. It does happen every now and then: Madonna gave a big shout out to her personnel for her Madame X tour ; SZA let the credits roll on the big screen at the end of her SOS shows; and now Beyoncé has shared the credits for her Renaissance tour , which just launched in Europe. 

Amanda Shires Didn't Hide From Her Divorce at First Show With Jason Isbell

Trump ‘disgusted’ by kristi noem’s puppy execution story, lovers & friends festival canceled at last minute due to expected 'dangerous weather', kendrick lamar comes back for more on his second drake diss track this week '6:16 in la'.

Beyoncé launched Renaissance in Stockholm, Sweden last Wednesday, May 10. So far the shows have featured massive, career-spanning setlists stuffed with plenty of surprises, like a show-opening rendition of “Dangerously In Love” and clever mash-ups of old and new hits (like 2008’s “Sweet Dreams” mixed with Renaissance favorite “Alien Superstar”). 

The European leg of the Renaissance tour will continue through May and June. Beyoncé will kick off her North American trek July 8 in Toronto, with shows scheduled through Sept. 27 in New Orleans.

Lovers & Friends Festival Canceled at Last Minute Due to Expected 'Dangerous Weather'

• 'heartbreaking'
• By Daniel Kreps

The Pet Shop Boys Are Having a Renaissance. What Have They Done To Deserve This?

• always on our mind
• By Rob Sheffield

A New #MeToo Initiative Challenges The Music Industry to Heighten Safety Practices

• By Ethan Millman

Kendrick Lamar and Drake Trade Diss Tracks as Rap War Rages On

• Friday Night Fights

Detroit's Flip Side With Payroll Giovanni

• By Rolling Stone

Most Popular

Ethan hawke lost the oscar for 'training day' and denzel washington whispered in his ear that losing was better: 'you don't want an award to improve your status', abc news meteorologist rob marciano out at the network, king charles’ latest appearance has body language experts predicting a 'problem' in future events, ed orgeron divorce court finds loophole in ‘binding’ term sheet, you might also like, drake and kendrick lamar get personal on simultaneously released diss tracks ‘family matters’ and ‘meet the grahams’, img shifts focus from central hub for nyfw: the shows to designer partnerships, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, ‘slow’ review: asexual romantic drama struggles to make a convincing pair, canelo alvarez-de la hoya spat heats up ahead of munguia bout.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Here’s what Beyoncé performed during her ‘Renaissance’ tour kickoff

She performed a sprawling 36-song setlist

Beyoncé has finally kicked off her highly anticipated ‘Renaissance’ world tour in Stockholm, Sweden on May 10.

• READ MORE:  Beyoncé – ‘Renaissance’ review: a celebration of love and Black joy

During the opening night of Beyoncé’s expansive world tour, the R&B icon thrilled fans with a stunning 36-song set list that covered her illustrious career while focusing heavily on her latest output, ‘Renaissance’.

The setlist – which you can find in full below – includes career-defining and fan favourites such as ‘Love on Top’, ‘Crazy In Love’, ‘Formation’ and ‘Drunk In Love’, but also saw several live debuts like ‘Cuff It’, ‘Break My Soul’ and ‘Summer Renaissance’.

Following the opening concert, Beyoncé took to Instagram to share a recap of the night via a stunning video , though the video does not include any audio of her performances.

Beyoncé’s stage setup for the ‘Renaissance’ tour includes a large screen with a dome-like cutout for her band and a circular extended ramp. Other props that were used throughout the night include a disco ball, a floating disco-horse and robotic arms with UV lights that transformed Beyoncé’s dress from a plain to coloured outfit instantly.

Beyoncé transforms her dress with UV light during the Renaissance World Tour. pic.twitter.com/7ljjC964nu — Pop Base (@PopBase) May 10, 2023

oh Beyonce is coming , the stage is gorgeous pic.twitter.com/66XqJX5ds2 — Erén 🐝🧣 | BEYAWONCE | 🪩 (@erenfromtarget) May 10, 2023

Recommended

While performing ‘Flaws And All’, Beyoncé was visibly emotional, getting choked up and having to take a breath as the audience applauded and cheered her on.

🪩 | Beyoncé getting emotional singing Flaws And All! pic.twitter.com/XkCLQQtiQB — Beyoncé Press. 🪩 | Fan Account (@beyoncepress) May 10, 2023

Watch fan-shot footage of several songs including ‘Break My Soul’, ‘Cuff It’ and ‘Crazy In Love’ below.

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ World Tour 2023 setlist in Sweden, May 10 2023 was:

Opening Act: ‘The Signboard’ (Video introduction) ‘Dangerously in Love 2’ (Live debut) ‘Flaws and All’ ‘1+1’ ‘I’m Goin’ Down’ (Mary J. Blige cover) I Care’

RENAISSANCE: ‘RENAISSANCE’ (Video introduction) ‘I’M THAT GIRL’ (Live debut) ‘COZY’ (Live debut) ALIEN SUPERSTAR’ (Live debut) ‘Lift Off’ (Jay Z & Kanye West cover) (Live debut) ‘7/11’ (Dancers interlude)

MOTHERBOARD: ‘MOTHERBOARD’ (Video interlude) ‘CUFF IT’ (Live debut) ‘ENERGY’ (Live debut) ‘BREAK MY SOUL’ (Live debut)

OPULENCE: ‘OPULENCE’ (Video interlude) ‘Formation’ ‘Diva’ ‘Run the World (Girls)’ ‘MY POWER’ (Live debut) ‘BLACK PARADE’ (Live debut) ‘Savage (Remix)’ (Megan Thee Stallion cover) (Live debut) ‘Partition’

ANOINTED: ‘ANOINTED’ (Video interlude) ‘CHURCH GIRL’ (Live debut) ‘Get Me Bodied’ ‘Before I Let Go’ (Maze featuring Frankie Beverly cover) ‘Rather Die Young’ ‘Love on Top’ ‘Crazy in Love’ ‘Freedom’ (Band jam)

ANOINTED PT. 2: ‘Love Hangover’ (Diana Ross song) ‘PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA’ (Live debut) ‘VIRGO’S GROOVE’ (Live debut) ‘Naughty Girl’ ‘MOVE’ (Live debut) ‘HEATED’ (Live debut) ‘MEGAMIX’ ‘THIQUE’ (Live debut) ‘ALL UP IN YOUR MIND’ (Live debut) ‘Drunk in Love’

MIND CONTROL: ‘MIND CONTROL’ (Video interlude) ‘AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM’ (Live debut) ‘PURE/HONEY’ (Live debut) ‘SUMMER RENAISSANCE’ (Live debut)

Following the show, fans took to Twitter to share their reactions. One fan wrote: “Im sorry but beyonce is definitely the best performer alive”, with many other echoing that sentiment through comments, likes and retweets.

Im sorry but beyonce is definitely the best performer alive !! 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iQJtT7AylJ — olivier 👺 (@olwestside) May 10, 2023

Beyoncé is simply the greatest of all time & i’ll stand by that😭 pic.twitter.com/jWTd2HwYo3 — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) May 11, 2023

The best intro i have ever seen Beyoncé do 😭 the visuals??!!! LIKE WOW pic.twitter.com/1MAb2x4y4t — THUGGA (@THUGGABEY) May 10, 2023

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ tour will see her tour the UK, Europe and North America between May and September. Check out her complete list of tour dates below –  tickets are available here .

Beyoncé’s remaining UK, Europe and North America 2023 ‘Renaissance’ tour dates are:

MAY 14 – Brussels, Belgium, Baudoin Stadium 17 – Cardiff, UK, Principality Stadium 20 – Edinburgh, UK, Murrayfield 23 – Sunderland, UK, Stadium Of Light 26 – Paris, France, Stade De France 29 – London, UK, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 30 – London, UK, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

JUNE 01 – London, UK, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 03 – London, UK, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 04 – London, UK, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 08 – Barcelona, Spain, Olympic Stadium 11 – Marseille, France, Orange Vélodrome 15 – Cologne, Germany, De Rheinenergiestadion 17 – Amsterdam, Netherlands, JC Arena 21 – Hamburg, Germany, De Volksparkstadion 24 – Frankfurt, Germany, De Deutsche Bank Park 27 – Warsaw, Poland, PGE Nardowy

JULY 08 – Toronto, Canda, Rogers Centre 12 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Field 15 – Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium 17 – Louisville, Kentucky, Cardinal Stadium 20 – Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hungtington Bank Stadium 22 – Chicago, Illinois, Soldier Field 26 – Detroit, Michigan, Ford Field 29 – East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium

AUGUST 01 – Boston, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium 03 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Heinz Field 05 – Washington, DC, Fedex Field 09 – Charlotte, North Carolina, Bank Of America Stadium 11 – Atlanta, Georgia, Mercedes Benz Stadium 16 – Tampa, Florida, Raymond James Stadium 18 – Miami, Florida, Hard Rock Stadium 21 – St. Louis, Missouri, Dome At Americas Cente 24 – Phoenix, Arizona, State Farm Stadium 26 – Las Vegas, Nevada, Allegiant Stadium 30 – San Francisco, California, Levi’s Stadium

SEPTEMBER 02 – Inglewood, California, Sofi Stadium 11 – Vancouver, Canada, BC Place 13 – Seattle, Washington, Lumen Field 18 – Kansas City, Kansas, Arrowhead Stadium 21 – Dallas, Texas, AT&T Stadium 23 – Houston, Texas, NRG Stadium 27 – New Orleans, Louisiana, Caesars Superdome

Earlier this week (May 8), it was reported by Forbes that Beyoncé could clear over $2billion (£1.6billion) from her ‘Renaissance’ tour — over half a billion more than  Taylor Swift  is set to make on her  ‘Eras’ tour. The impressive statistics suggest that the ‘Break My Soul’ singer may have one of the highest-grossing tours of all time by the time she completes the run of live dates.

• Related Topics

You May Also Like

Dua lipa – ‘radical optimism’ review: summery but slight psych-pop, behind the cover with d4vd: “it’s an absolute blessing to be a part of nme”, ‘the fall guy’ review: ryan gosling’s ken-ergetic ode to stunt workers, how a surprise fred again.. collab helped i am roze find their voice, j noa: “rap is history, and history needs to be told”, more stories, dua lipa opens up about the aftermath of her brits ‘new rules’ meme: “it was humiliating”, ed sheeran is working on new music – but it won’t come out this year, how taylor swift’s ‘all too well’ ended up being in ‘the fall guy’, olly alexander breaks down in tears over eurovision israel controversy, the 1975’s matty healy reportedly “uncomfortable” with attention from new taylor swift album, but “relieved” it wasn’t worse, dua lipa says she feels “very close to” people suffering from war, injustices and inequality.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Beyoncé announces ‘renaissance’ tour.

The news comes after the superstar musician performed at her first concert in four years in Dubai and before the Grammys, where she could become the most awarded artist in history.

By Hilary Lewis

Hilary Lewis

Deputy Editor, East Coast, THR.com

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

Beyoncé has announced a world tour in support of her Renaissance album, which dropped in July.

The superstar musician broke the news in a bare-bones post on Instagram on Wednesday, featuring merely a photo of her in her Renaissance album look and the words “Renaissance World Tour,” which she repeated in the caption, adding “2023.”

Related Stories

How to watch cnn's 'call me country: beyoncé and nashville's renaissance' documentary online, courtney love says taylor swift is "not important," disses beyoncé's 'cowboy carter'.

Tickets for the tour, produced by Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation, will be available starting Monday, with an exclusive presale for BeyHive members. More info about the tour and a complete list of dates is available on Beyonce’s website .

The news comes after Beyoncé performed for the first time in more than four years in Dubai last month and ahead of the 2023 Grammys this coming Sunday, where she’s nominated for a leading nine awards and, if she wins four, could become the most awarded artist in Grammys history .

The Dubai concert on Jan. 21 featured the superstar singing songs she rarely performs onstage and duetting with daughter Blue Ivy Carter. The nearly 75-minute, invite-only performance was to help launch the city’s new luxurious and opulent hotel, The Atlantis Royal. Jay-Z and other members of Beyoncé’s family were also in attendance at the Dubai show.

Prior to that, Beyoncé’s last live performance, apart from her opening the 2022 Oscars , was at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg in December of 2018. That year, she and Jay-Z also went on their On the Run II tour. And she performed a headline-making set at the 2018 Coachella Festival, with her performance captured for the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary Homecoming .

Her last solo tour was the Formation jaunt in 2016.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ucla leadership under scrutiny over slow response to attack on pro-palestine encampment, respectability expands entertainment lab from six weeks to five months, president biden to award michelle yeoh, phil donahue and mike bloomberg the medal of freedom, nicholas galitzine on “setting boundaries” and not engaging with the “toxic parts of hollywood”, tiffany haddish started fake social media account to find and call trolls: “people think they can just say whatever”, new hollywood-backed israeli restaurant opening at fraught moment hopes to “transcend politics”.

Advertisement

Supported by

Beyoncé Announces Renaissance World Tour

The star’s first solo tour since 2016 will start May 10 in Stockholm.

• Share full article

By Joe Coscarelli

For the first time since 2016 — a world before Beychella , Covid-19 and “Renaissance” — Beyoncé will headline a solo tour, the singer announced in a social media post on Wednesday.

Beginning on May 10 in Stockholm, and continuing in Europe through June before coming to North America, the Renaissance World Tour, in support of her seventh solo album, will run for at least 40 dates, largely in stadiums, according to dates posted to Beyoncé’s website . The tour includes one night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (July 29) and one at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (Sept. 2) amid stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami.

Limited tickets for certain tour dates will go on sale beginning Monday for members of Beyoncé’s BeyHive fan club, followed by the staggered release of additional tickets by market, using a complex registration system for various tiers of buyer.

The tour, produced by Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation, will use Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system , which aims to limit bots and professional scalpers, marking one of the first major tests for Ticketmaster since extraordinary demand for early tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour last year led to fan backlash and regulatory scrutiny . At a Senate Judiciary hearing last month spurred by the botched presale, artists, fans and politicians cast Live Nation Entertainment, the concert industry giant that owns Ticketmaster, as a monopoly that hinders competition and harms consumers.

Beyoncé’s shows will be the singer’s first live events available to the public since the On the Run II tour with her husband, Jay-Z, in 2018, tied to the surprise release of a joint album, “Everything Is Love,” by the duo billed as the Carters. Beyoncé last toured alone behind her previous solo album, “Lemonade,” in 2016. Two years later, she headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

That show — which went on to be released as “Homecoming” (2019), a live album and concert film — was called “rich with history, potently political and visually grand” in a review by the New York Times critic Jon Caramanica. “By turns uproarious, rowdy, and lush. A gobsmacking marvel of choreography and musical direction.”

In the years since, Beyoncé has surfaced intermittently, including with songs like “Black Parade,” which won a Grammy Award for best R&B performance, and “Be Alive,” which appeared in the movie “King Richard” and was nominated for an Oscar. Last year, in a taped performance, Beyoncé performed the song at the 94th annual Academy Awards.

But the singer made a return to the pop mainstream in earnest with the July 2022 release of “Renaissance,” a dance-floor-oriented album that she said was inspired by the L.G.B.T.Q. community and has spawned hits like “Break My Soul” and “Cuff It.” At the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Beyoncé is nominated nine times , with a chance to become the most-awarded artist in history.

Upon its release, the singer called “Renaissance” part of a “three act project” that she recorded during the pandemic. “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment,” she wrote of the album, which was billed as Act I. “A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.”

Major music touring has largely recovered, especially at its highest levels, since the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the industry trade publication Pollstar , touring grossed a record-setting $6.28 billion last year, up more than 13 percent from 2019, due in part to pent-up fan demand, inflation and major acts like Bad Bunny, Elton John and Harry Styles.

In addition to Beyoncé’s shows, this year will see blockbuster tours from artists including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Metallica, Morgan Wallen and Madonna.

Last month, Beyoncé proved more polarizing than usual when she headlined the grand opening of a luxury hotel in Dubai, performing for an invite-only collection of guests, including influencers and journalists.

While some fans decried the optics of taking a major payday in a place that criminalizes homosexuality — “Beyoncé’s Dubai performance isn’t just an affront to LGBTQ+ fans, but workers’ rights in the UAE,” The Guardian declared — others noted that the singer’s set list did not yet include songs from “Renaissance.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the year Beyoncé headlined Coachella. It was 2018, not 2016.

How we handle corrections

Joe Coscarelli is a culture reporter with a focus on pop music. His work seeks to pull back the curtain on how hit songs and emerging artists are discovered, made and marketed. He previously worked at New York magazine and The Village Voice. More about Joe Coscarelli

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance Tour’ Dancers: Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Beyoncé’s massive Renaissance Tour is currently making its way across Europe, and fans are loving it. Between her dressing up as an actual bee to riding around on a tank, she pulled out all the stops on this one once again. The shows also wouldn’t be anything without the backup dancers, who have been with her through the rehearsal process and beyond.

Yesterday, the full credits for the tour were revealed — giving even more insight into who’s on her crew.

Here is everything to know about Beyoncé’s dancers during this tour.

https://www.tiktok.com/@uproxx/video/7236087836489993518

Who Are Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Dancers?

Les Twins, also known as twin brothers Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois , returned to join another Beyoncé tour. The two appeared during the “7/11” interlude, starting at her opening night in Stockholm. They also returned to dance with her to “ Thique .”

Honey Balenciaga has been another popular favorite of the tour dancers. She notably appears during the Ballroom segment, as well as some additional musical numbers. On Beyoncé’s website, she is credited as part of The Dolls, alongside Carlos Irizarry, Darius Hickman, and Jonté Moaning.

Another notable credit is the Dance Captain, Hannah Douglass.

Beyoncé’s full rest of the list of dancers include Aahkilah Cornelius, Ai Shimatsu, Aliya Janel, Alannah Wilhite, Amari Marshall, Brianna Pavon, Kyndall Harris, Lisa Sainvil, Nerita McFarlane, Simone Alston, Trinity Joy, Jus’t Chase, Kevin “Konkrete” Davis Jr., Rob Bynes, and Zavion Brown.

What Have Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Dancers Said About The Tour?

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour dancers talking about the actual tour has been a little hard to find. However, Les Twins have spoken about her in past interviews, regarding how she chooses dancers for musical numbers. “Before, we was in every number,” they told Revolt TV . “After that, she was like, ‘I want you in just this one, this one, and this one.’ Two-hour show, I come only three times. She’s like, ‘You’re a star to me. When you come through, it’s a wrap. You cannot be in every number.’ And I started to understand.”

How Much Do Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Dancers Get Paid?

While it’s unclear how much Beyoncé’s dancers are also getting paid on this tour, it is likely higher than before. Back in 2020, Rolling Stone had reported that her and other high-profile artists weren’t giving dancers very much. Her choreographer, JaQuel Knight, has previously pushed back against reports of her also only paying $250-per-day at shoots.

“Please run me the production company, the choreographer, the shoot dates, the dancers that have rehearsed and are shooting for these rates,” he responded. And, considering it’s a full tour rather than a shoot, there’s likely a high salary set.

• Entertainment

Everything We Learned from Night One of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour

I t’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for: Beyoncé finally kicked off her Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden , Wednesday night. This comes close to a year after the release of her seventh album, RENAISSANCE , a period during which she has rarely acknowledged the album with interviews or public performances of the new music, nor put out any music videos to accompany the songs. Nonetheless, the BeyHive was still buzzing with excitement on social media as they shared clips of the stage, the merchandise, the view from different VIP sections, and, most importantly, the artist performing the songs live for the first time.

Beyoncé is gearing up for a second night at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. As she gets ready to hit the stage, let’s take a look at what was revealed in the first show that might offer an indication of what could happen on the rest of the highly anticipated tour. A lot has already happened—from Bey herself addressing the lack of visuals to her celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, in keeping with the themes of the album.

Here’s everything we learned from night one of the Renaissance World Tour.

Beyoncé said not to rush a queen for music videos

omg not beyoncé addressing the visuals i’m crying 😭 #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/xQ9AkBCp3p — rasmus (@rasmusbravado) May 10, 2023

If we haven’t learned by now, Beyoncé releases things when she is good and ready . This is her first solo album since 2016’s Lemonade , so we can’t act surprised that she told her fans to be patient and stop asking about the music videos. Her last solo albums, Lemonade , Beyoncé , and The Gift (a concept album for The Lion King ), all had visual components that included music videos for each song. This built up the expectation that RENAISSANCE would get the same treatment.

Beyoncé is online and knows her fans have been hounding her, and she has finally responded. During a break on the first night, a disembodied voice addressed the crowd as the words it spoke were displayed on stage: “Aww, you mad? Well, there’s no remedy for that, bitches… I know you’ve asked for the visuals. You’ve called for the Queen. But a Queen moves at her own pace, bitch. Decides when she wants to give you a f-cking taste. So get your fork and your spoon if you got one.”

She is cutting out some of her biggest hits to make room for the new album and deep cuts

Attendees at the concert in Stockholm filmed every moment for the world to see on social media, and many of Beyoncé’s fans were quite surprised by some of the songs she decided to perform. She opened the show with “Dangerously In Love” from her debut album of the same name and ran through a string of popular songs, both mainstream hits and fan favorites. At the opening night show, she also performed songs like “Rather Die Young,” “Flaws and All,” and “Black Parade,” which have not gotten much attention from Beyoncé in recent memory.

Beyonce - Rather Die Young 🎤 SINGGGGGG!!!! #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/MEZwAVYNWk — ram (@oyyram) May 10, 2023

Some of Beyoncé’s most popular songs, many of which she has made a point to perform on past tours, are notably missing from the set list. “Run The World” fans, do not worry: she still performs the song. But those who are fans of “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies,” and “Halo,” a notorious closer for Beyoncé—as evidenced by the Homecoming concert film and her Formation World Tour— may be disappointed.

Beyoncé did NOT perform her hit songs “Single Ladies”, ”If I Were a Boy” and “Halo” at the opening night of her #RENAISSANCEtour show in Sweden. pic.twitter.com/ejXi5b7fXf — Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) May 10, 2023

Beyoncé brought back the Les Twins, who have accompanied her on multiple tours and performances

The Les Twins, Laurent and Larry, were approached by Beyoncé years ago after a video of them dancing went viral and they appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . They were invited to perform with Beyoncé at the Billboard Music Awards in 2011, and she took them on the road with her for the Mrs. Carter World Tour, her joint On The Run Tour with Jay-Z, and her Coachella performance in 2018 . Her fans were excited to see the Les Twins back on stage with her for this new tour.

Beyoncé performing Thique and Les Twins are officially back 😭 #RenaissanceWorldTour pic.twitter.com/zPKiGAPCjG — J (@wenttojarrett) May 10, 2023

It was gay as hell: An unabashed celebration of the LGBTQ+ community

In the lead-up to the album, Beyoncé dedicated the project to her Uncle Johnny, who battled HIV when she was young. He is referenced in the song “HEATED,” and in the outro of the song, Beyoncé takes on the role of MC at a ball (a queer dance party) where she starts “reading.” All of these influences took center stage at the Renaissance World Tour and will make a strong statement when it comes stateside in July, given the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country.

BEYONCÉ IS HEATED😭😭😭 #RENAISSANCEtour pic.twitter.com/ddL9s1ByUA — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) May 10, 2023

One of the biggest displays of affection for her queer fans came even before the concert started. As concertgoers poured into the stadium, they were greeted with a fake TV error screen, but if you look closely, some of the colors are different. This error screen has the colors of the progress pride flag, which includes colors from the transgender pride flag, as well as brown and black to indicate the greater discrimination experienced by those members of the community. Twitter users joked, “Nashville is gonna be ready to arrest Beyoncé for this, lord Jesus,” referencing the state’s attempt to ban drag shows and broader attempts across the US to infringe on trans people’s rights.

Nashville is gonna be ready to arrest Beyoncé for this lord Jesus pic.twitter.com/jAz6ObNSEQ — 💫 (@heyjaeee) May 10, 2023

There is also a ball that happens in the show. Beyoncé makes space for her dancers to vogue and dance to her song, “PURE/HONEY.”

BEYONCÉ HOSTING A BALL IS SO WILD TO ME OMG pic.twitter.com/1JwnRMX8TR — Pocket (@islandthembo) May 10, 2023

Some people might recognize Honey Balenciaga from The House of Balenciaga, which appeared in season two of HBO Max’s Legendary . She was seen voguing on stage with the rest of Beyoncé’s dancers.

@legendaryvoguex HONEY BALENCIAGA @Honey. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE IT GIRL #RENAISSANCE ♬ original sound - Legendary Vogue X

As we’ve seen with other tours from major artists like Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and the 1975, their fervent fan base will keep everyone up to date on all the song changes, new outfits, and surprises that these artists pull out of their bag of tricks on the road. As we’ve seen with Swift’s notoriously sold-out Eras Tour, her fans made sure to give people who couldn’t get tickets a chance to see the tour play out online. Based on how night one played out, it seems like Beyoncé’s fans will be doing the same for those of us stuck at home.

Correction, May 11: The original version of this story misgendered Honey Balenciaga. She uses she/her pronouns.

More Must-Reads From TIME

• The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
• How Far Trump Would Go
• Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
• Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
• Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
• 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
• Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Moises Mendez II at [email protected]

Beyoncé Announces ‘Renaissance’ Stadium Tour Dates

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

• Music Industry Moves: Skylar Simone Signs With Def Jam, Drops D’Mile-Produced Single; Steve Redmond Exits BMG 1 day ago
• Live Nation Reports Biggest-Ever First Quarter With $3.8 Billion, on Track for ‘Record 2024’ 2 days ago
• Read Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge’s Letter to Staff on TikTok Settlement: ‘Human Artistry Must Be Respected’ 2 days ago

As expected, Beyoncé has announced a 2023 world tour on Instagram, supporting her multiple-Grammy-nominated 2022 album, “Renaissance.” She also released the dates and cities on her official website.

The timing of the announcement, which comes just days before the Grammy Awards on Sunday, sparks speculation that the singer may perform or at least appear on the show. Beyoncé is the most nominated artist for the awards with nine, all related to “ Renaissance .” Sources tell Variety that her husband Jay-Z will perform with DJ Khaled on the show, most likely their nominated song “God Did.”

Popular on Variety

Beyoncé has said that “Renaissance” is a three-part project, so it’s possible that the next parts could be another album, a long-form video project or even the tour itself.

Beyoncé’s last full tour was the nearly six-month, 49-date “Formation” tour in 2016, which unusually featured no guest appearances until the final show, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where she brought out Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.

She did, however, stage an epochal “Homecoming” headlining performance at the 2018 Coachella festival — which was postponed from 2017 due to the birth of her and Jay’s twins — for which she was accompanied by a full marching band in a nod to historically Black colleges and universities. That blockbuster performance was later released as the “Homecoming” album and — via a three-project deal with Netflix that sources tell Variety is worth $60 million — a feature-length documentary. It seems possible that a future “Renaissance” video project could be part of that deal as well.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

May 10, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends Arena

May 14, 2023 – Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium

May 17, 2023 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality Stadium

May 20, 2023 – Edinburgh, UK – BT Murrayfield Stadium

May 23, 2023 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light

May 26, 2023 – Paris, FR – Stade de France

May 29, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

May 30, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

June 08, 2023 – Barcelona, ES – Olympic Stadium

June 11, 2023 – Marseille, FR – Orange Velodrome

June 15, 2023 – Cologne, DE – Rhein Energie Stadion June 17, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff Arena

June 21, 2023 – Hamburg, DE – Volksparkstadion

June 24, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park

June 27, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy

NORTH AMERICA

July 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

July 12, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field

July 15, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium

July 17, 2023 – Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium

July 20, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Huntington Bank Stadium

July 22, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium

July 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field

July 29, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

Aug. 01, 2023 – Boston, MA – Gillette Stadium

Aug. 03, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium

Aug. 05, 2023 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field

Aug. 09, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium

Aug. 11, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Aug. 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium

Aug. 18, 2023 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium

Aug. 21, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Dome at America’s Center

Aug. 24, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium

Aug. 26, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium

Aug. 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – Levi’s Stadium

Sept. 02, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

Sept. 11, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place

Sept. 13, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

Sept. 18, 2023 – Kansas City, MO – GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium

Sept. 21, 2023 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium

Sept. 23, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium

Sept. 27, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars Superdome

More From Our Brands

‘star wars’ marks ‘may the fourth’ with new trailer for ‘the acolyte’, savannah vs. charleston: which southern city has the best luxury hotels, canelo alvarez-de la hoya spat heats up ahead of munguia bout, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, ‘jedi are being hunted’ in star wars: the acolyte trailer — watch, get disney+ release date, verify it's you, please log in.

• Canada Edition
• Fader Radio

Beyoncé’s epic tour crew include 14 chefs and an automation team

She shared the credits for the personnel behind her ongoing world tour..

Beyoncé ‘s Renaissance tour began on May 10 in Stockholm and has already attracted acclaim for its bold spectacle, staging, and, of course, the performance from pop’s greatest star. In an effort to showcase the massive amount of collective effort that goes into creating such a production, Beyoncé has shared the Renaissance tour credits on her official website.

Unsurprisingly, Beyoncé gets top billing as the director, executive producer, and creative director (if you’ve watched the Homecoming documentary from 2019, you know how detail-oriented Beyoncé is with her shows). The massive list covers everyone that makes the tour happen, from the people whose work fans can see on stage to the behind-the-scenes crew assigned to the logistical and business end. Naturally, all of these people need to eat, which is probably why there are 14 chefs on the tour.

Read Next: Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to top Billboard ’s Hot Country Songs chart

Tina Knowles Larson, Beyoncé’s mother, teams up with her daughter once again to assist with the Renaissance tour costume design — Knowles Larson designed costumes for Beyoncé’s group Destiny’s Child and has gone on to work on major motion pictures.

Renaissance won several awards at the 2023 Grammys: Best Dance/Electronic Recording, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album. The trophies made Beyoncé the winningest artist in Grammys history .

Recommended

Jay-Z used his Grammys speech to ask why Beyoncé has never won Album of the Year

Beyoncé tops the box office with Renaissance

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour review – a dizzying three-hour spectacular

Friends Arena, Stockholm Queen Bey’s first solo headline tour in seven years is a lavish leap forward for live entertainment, dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex and Black pride

E ven without Taylor Swift’s Ticketmaster-melting Eras Tour nipping at her heels, it wouldn’t do for a star as compulsively ambitious as Beyoncé to merely protect her status as the greatest pop show on Earth. Not when her first solo headline tour since 2016 could instead push 21st-century live entertainment another lavish leap forward.

Titled after the Texan’s disco glitter bomb post-pandemic party album of the same name , Renaissance is a monster blockbuster concert experience on a different plane. Fifty-seven stadium dates globally, starting in Stockholm, are projected to gross as much as £1.9bn ($2.4bn) by the time the tour ends in New Orleans late September. Dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex, body positivity and feminine Black pride, the near three-hour spectacular plays out in front, behind and, at times, inside a football-pitch-wide high-definition video screen designed to assault the senses at dizzying scale.

The BeyHive, as Beyoncé’s fans collectively style themselves, are buzzing pre-show as they flood into the venue from around the world for their first chance proper to see their queen live since 2018’s On the Run II co-headliner with Mr B, Jay-Z. Dressed head to toe in official tour merch, including a cap and hoodie both emblazoned with the word “THIQUE”, Mykwain Gainey has been to 20 Beyoncé shows over the past two decades and has spent nearly £2,000 to fly here from New York. “To see her transcend, and become what she has become, especially as a Black woman, is exciting,” he enthuses.

Brazilian Yhes Bezerra wears a spangly cowboy hat like the one sported by Beyoncé in the tour poster, except theirs is homemade; sticking on the thousands of tiny mirror panels took nine hours. They were determined to come to the opening night to avoid social media spoilers about what to expect. “I want everything to be a surprise,” Bezerra smiles.

Beyoncé appears first in a video cut scene, laid out luxuriously across the giant screen semi-naked in dimensions big enough to be visible from space. And yet, once she emerges in the flesh – all sequins, shoulder pads and that megawatt smile, drinking in the crowd’s screams – she begins disarmingly with a slew of her rawest soul songs. By the second, Flaws and All, she already appears to be fighting back tears, whether of release or gratitude or both. It’s an opening that seems designed to strip away artifice, if only to provide some sharp contrast for the heavily technologically augmented spectacle about to follow.

Harking back to early house and techno and the ecstatic utopia of the dancefloor, a segment dedicated to the Renaissance album ensues with Beyoncé done up something akin to the Maschinenmensch in Metropolis. She grinds with a dozen backing dancers to the jittery reggaeton of her boss bitch mission statement I’m That Girl, then dances with some actual robots (a pair of mechanical arms) during Cosy. Were all that not semi-hallucinogenic enough, Alien Superstar interpolates narcissistic anthem I’m Too Sexy by 90s dance-pop twosome Right Said Fred.

With many of the setlist’s whopping 36 songs abridged, the tempo is relentless. Blink and you’ll miss dancers popping out of the stage like champagne corks, or Beyoncé’s powerhouse band getting wheeled into occasional view on a tall stepped riser (shades of Beychella), such as during Chic-style feelgood funk workout Cuff It. “Y’all having a good time, Stockholm?” our host inquires, wiping an imperceptible bead of sweat from her brow. “Me too.”

Black Parade finds Beyoncé cruising the stage atop what looks like a kind of lunar rover. Somewhat comically, it exits up the gusset of a pair of massive splayed legs. Later she sings Plastic Off the Sofa stretched out in a clamshell. Come Crazy in Love, the show finally gets the enormous disco ball it seems to have long craved, dangled from the rafters for only a bit longer than the time it takes for the crew to get it up there and back down.

Bass-quaking, envelope-pushing Black power anthem Formation is a powerful political statement in any setting. Performed in a kind of virtual cathedral, horny southern rap and gospel cocktail Church Girl (sample lyric: “drop it like a thottie, drop it like a thottie”) might just be intended to provoke. But by Beyoncé’s own standards, it’s hard not to read Renaissance as a show much lighter on overt socio-political messaging than it is sheer, unfettered, mildly chaotic indulgence. And who could blame her?

In a final, unsubtle, retro-futuristic fanfare, Bey summons Bianca Jagger’s iconic Studio 54 moment by gliding through the air on a glitter-encrusted white horse while Summer Renaissance – which samples Donna Summer’s I Feel Love – blares. The disco history references may or may not be landing with the mostly young BeyHive, but that’s not really the point. By rewiring dance music past in a sensory overload of truly stunning ambition and stamina, Beyoncé is writing some history of her own.

The Renaissance World Tour continues until 27 September, see https://tour.beyonce.com/ for dates

• live music reviews

Most viewed

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Regarding Beyoncé, Mother of the House of Renaissance

By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd

When Renaissance dropped last summer, it was perfect timing. The masses were ready to shake off that last bit of ennui wrought by pandemic isolation, and Beyoncé exhorted us to celebrate that we were alive en masse, and to do so in the face of all that was scary: crowds, evil bosses, legislators, haters, the Supreme Court. “ Break My Soul ,” the single indebted to ’90s vocal house, was a jubilant, defiant protest. Its arrival on June 20, 2022, just four days before SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade , meant that it soundtracked furious pro-choice rallies across the country. It also lent itself to a larger landscape: a perfect lip-sync song in the era of state-level drag bans, a song of strength devoted to Black women and LGBTQ people in the ongoing fight for justice.

Millions of people have been enthralled by Beyoncé’s live imagination of Renaissance since it hit the road this May in Stockholm. When I saw her perform for a crowd of 82,000 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium this summer, it was impossible not to think of this timing. Her vehement demand for joy as an intervention was on full display, on giant glittering screens projecting her every expression and accessory. The pan-African flag gleamed across the masses as she sang “Black Parade” from atop a silver tank, her eleven-year-old daughter Blue Ivy raising a Black Power fist at her flank. The sound of ballroom artist Kevin JZ Prodigy commentated “cunt to the feminine what, ow” in staccato cracks as she hand-twirled into the quiet ferocity of “Cozy.” The rejuvenating tribute to her idol, the icon and queen of rock Tina Turner, with a transcendent rendition of “River Deep, Mountain High.” The retrofitting of the famous Italian painting The Birth of Venus , in which she emerged like a pearl on the half shell via Flora Purim singing “Plastic Off the Sofa.” The visibility she gave her inclusive, euphoric array of dancers and performers, including those who were nonbinary, transgender, plus-size, and, in the case of one trumpeter in her famous all-woman band, pregnant. The space she gave voguers from the ballroom scene, including Darius Hickman , Carlos Basquiat , and Honey Balenciaga , to express the beauty of their art.

That concert was one day after one of her fans, a 28-year-old Black dancer named O’Shae Sibley , was murdered in a racist and homophobic hate crime at a gas station in Brooklyn, simply for voguing to Renaissance . (The chant that followed at a memorial in Los Angeles, one of several across the country, went: “O-O-O-Shae. He was voguing to Beyoncé.”) Balenciaga took time off to join mourners in Brooklyn, and Beyoncé paid her respects . O’Shae Sibley’s death underscored the importance of her speaking directly to her queer fans, using her massive power as a place for others to reflect themselves back and, one hopes, teach everyone else respect and tolerance. The devil is working hard , but Beyoncé works harder.

And in a disquieting climate in which a young Black man can be targeted simply for expressing his joy, it’s a massive relief to experience something that feels like an unencumbered blast of good, even amidst the very real fact that inclusion and catharsis is not protection . In that way, Renaissance has been the year’s defining, galvanizing cultural event, a release in which the catharsis of the club has been replicated on a massive scale. Fashion alone has been altered irrevocably: Beyoncé’s custom looks for each concert are chronicled in all their intricate splendor on her Instagram , and her label Parkwood has been posting the fans in kind, showcasing their gorgeous outfit photos from each tour stop. (In late August, Beyoncé requested attendees “wear your most fabulous silver fashions” in honor of her birthday and Virgo season.)

The way attendees have been showing out reflects their widespread intent to be active participants in one of the most inclusive pop tours ever staged. They’ve spent massive amounts of money to travel overseas for early stops of the tour, to buy outfits that represent both the flashiest church and sophisticated club afters, and to be a member of the Renaissance. I saw these things span across age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, even class differences, as evidenced by the high-low range of the style and ingenious amount of DIY fashion. While the active, enthusiastic participation has been delicious for fans to watch online, it felt even better to be cocooned in it in person—throngs of showgoers clad in glimmering sequins, silvery cowboy boots, iridescent hats, and LED accessories, taking a cue from the Renaissance cover art and Beyoncé's equine partner, the mirrorball-clad Reneigh. (Everyone, it seems, is a horse girl now.) Fans have been instrumental in the actualization of the tour and the crucial key to its ambience and sense of communal activity. When I was there, even the security was hype. In my row in the stands, an exceedingly jovial guard—over-50 and white, with a Jersey accent—took outfit photos for showgoers with their phones. When he saw my friend and I laughing happily at his enthusiasm, he admitted with a grin, “I turn into a bad bitch for Mrs. Carter!”

That fandom and connection goes beyond the camaraderie and aesthetics of such a show. In the realm of performance, there is simply no one better than Beyoncé, who is living proof that women don’t wither and die in middle age, they flourish. For the duration of her career, she has delivered pristine vocals alongside punishing athleticism, all while holding her facial expressions at exactly the correct angle and leading a gargantuan stage with tens of dancers and musicians. It’s the level of greatness that solicits respect from the greats themselves. On the Renaissance tour stop that fell on her birthday in September, Diana Ross—79 and still going strong—came onstage to support Beyoncé, leading a muva-to-muva singalong of “Happy Birthday” that ended with a heartfelt hug. “I’m thankful for every flaw, every stretch mark, every FUPA… I’m thankful that I’m here, at fuckin’ 42,” Beyoncé said before the going into the song “Flaws and All.” She held court in a black lace gown custom-made by Dolce & Gabbana, looking every bit the regal diva, making a promise that she’s nowhere near half-done. There is strength in seeing adult women command such massive audiences, and a reminder that our own wrinkles, or stretch marks, or crow’s feet don’t define us, but rather showcase our experiences and wisdom.

Beyoncé opens the Renaissance shows with a run of four ballads, including a majestically felt rendition of “Dangerously in Love” and Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down”—itself a cover of ’70s soul group Rose Royce—that grounds her as a brolic purveyor of blues. Through the rhythmic three hours that follow, she interpolates—live remixes, really—her own discography into itself as well as intergenerational cuts from other artists (“Love on Top” with the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” to cite one ). Three-quarters of the way through the concert, she performs her transcendent cover of Frankie Beverly and Maze’s “Before I Let Go,” a nod to her Homecoming album and another link from her own music to Black pop hits past. She improvised deep cuts, too: upon seeing Tia Mowry in the Los Angeles crowd, she interpolated a bit of “ Yeah, Yeah, Yeah ,” a song Mowry released with her girl group Voices in 1992, when Bey was a tween. Throughout, she deploys the sorts of extravagance and camp that ballroom values, Mothering outlandishly through her “Heated” commentating , inspiring Beyoncslay memes across social media, and making an interactive game out of which city shushes most thoroughly when she sings “look around, everybody on mute” in “Energy.” (Houston seems to have won.)

No one else at this level possesses the same combination of historical gravitas and trenchant work ethic, or uses their platform to link their work to the roots of American Black music and beyond. Take, for instance, the segment in the Renaissance tour when she uses a costume change break to edify the audience about the history of house, with videos about its importance set to soundtracks like “ Percolator ” and “ Hot Music ,” the unofficial theme songs of New York City block parties for three decades. She not only grounds Renaissance in a long lineage, she reminds audiences that house music is Black music, and important to understanding its presence. To that end, she has enlisted a slate of young, queer, Black, and regional DJs to provide opening music—and vibes—for Club Renaissance, including Arca, Ariel Zetina, Mike Q, and Uniiqu3, both cosigning them and giving them the rare opportunity of playing music for stadiums. She’s also blessed regional stars at certain chosen stops—Kendrick in L.A., Megan Thee Stallion performing the “Savage Remix” for the first time ever in Houston, and a solid rumor that Big Freedia will join her on “Break My Soul” for her stop in New Orleans this week.

It’s hard to think of a massive pop tour that speaks so clearly and perfectly to its sociopolitical moment as the Renaissance tour. Beychella , to be sure, Beyoncé's 2018 culture-shifter devoted to Black feminism, HBCUs, and the nuances of various Black artforms. Before that, perhaps Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition tour, when she performed “Vogue” in an earlier era of heightened homophobia and transphobia, flaunting her sexuality and power in a time when silence equaled death . As it happened, Madonna was in the audience in New Jersey , witnessing Beyoncé perform her Black woman-elevating remix of “Vogue,” as a sort of passing of the torch between Queens of Pop.

Maybe some of that freedom was simply Beyoncé living her house diva dreams, a significant statement in itself. So many pop house divas of the past were erased from the popular record of the time, a record that is only beginning to be corrected . The iconic Martha Wash, of the Weather Girls, spent the fatphobic ’80s and ’90s suing for her own credits , after being replaced with younger and thinner women lip-syncing her vocals in the videos for Black Box’s “Everybody Everybody” and C+C Music Factory's “Gonna Make You Sweat.” Those lawsuits were perhaps the best known, but similar stories of erasure have played out with Loleatta Holloway , Jocelyn Brown , Kelli-Leigh , and more, where Black women vocalists transformed scores of songs into indelible classics, but are viewed by their male producers and record labels as throwaway, mere clips to sample, or tertiary to the real genius.

Beyoncé placing herself in front of this history won’t right those wrongs, and it is easy to ascribe dreams and aspirations onto her. As with many pop stars, her moves don’t always square with the values she performs . But she does have the cultural power to reorient the narrative even just a little, whether centering house divas or paying homage to LGBTQ Black and Latine ballroom originators. (Plus vocalists are infinitely more interesting to watch than DJs, particularly in a climate when staring has supplanted dancing.) It is not uncommon to get hyperbolic about Beyoncé. She has, like many pop stars, been deified to the point of Veladoras hawked by candle companies, her beatific visage and unfailingly sick fits replacing the benevolent gaze and gently draped robe of La Virgen. During her tour she assumed the role of the conduit and protector; she is the “Mother of the House of Renaissance ,” as a voice-over goes in the tour as she fans herself in the style of the ball. A house mother is the keeper of her children, and her children are genuflected. But the Renaissance tour’s most important act was bringing Beyoncé’s fans together in massive numbers, creating a space in which joy can build and attendees can experience sweet release. That’s what dance music, at its beating heart, is about.

By Pitchfork

By Matthew Strauss

By Madison Bloom

By Nina Corcoran

By Jazz Monroe

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Music Reviews

Beyoncé's 'renaissance' tour remixes her archive for an intergalactic future.

Bilal Qureshi

In a concert that spans almost three hours, featuring robots, tanks, flying horses and maximalist filmmaking, Beyoncé remixed and embedded the entire 16-track Renaissance album into her full musical archive. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood hide caption

In a concert that spans almost three hours, featuring robots, tanks, flying horses and maximalist filmmaking, Beyoncé remixed and embedded the entire 16-track Renaissance album into her full musical archive.

After almost a year of releasing no accompanying videos or performing any of its songs live, last night in Stockholm, Beyoncé finally unveiled what she meant by Renaissance . Not simply a masterpiece of production, vocal and dance futurism, the album was finally unveiled as a multi-dimensional planet in which fans are to be immersed and fully transformed as she has been. In a concert that spans almost three hours — featuring robots, tanks, flying horses and maximalist filmmaking — Beyoncé remixed and embedded the entire 16-track Renaissance album into her full musical archive, crafting a 37-song setlist that brilliantly merges the earthly R&B from where she came and the intergalactic future in which she and her music have already been living.

Stockholm wasn't quite prepared for the pop culture spectacle that descended on the city last night, with fans, industry insiders and critics flying in from all over the world to witness the opening night performance. Public transportation to the city's 60,000 capacity soccer stadium was snarled and the lines to enter the arena equally exhausting. But the anticipation was palpable as the lights finally dimmed to restart an ambient recording of thundering clouds after what may have been a technical glitch.

On the massive film screen that spans the entire stage, clouds began to float across blue skies as Beyoncé, dressed in an Alexander McQueen suit, rose from below at the show's start. Anyone expecting a night at the club got their first surprise here. Instead of the slithering sounds and hard edges of Renaissance 's house-infused opening, it was vintage, R&B Beyoncé: the title song from her debut 2003 album Dangerously in Love . Opening with the warmly intoned lyrics, "I love you," she welcomed the audience with a huge smile and a series of exquisite ballads, including her cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" and the lush longing of "1+1" from her 2011 album 4 .

Then she departed the stage, and the technical wizardry and cinematic imagery made it immediately evident that the preceding setlist of analog, undiluted performances was proof that a nostalgic past is prelude. Right before the lush electronic soundscapes of the new album's opening and the words "these motherf****** ain't stopping me," the title Renaissance appeared in glittering silver across the entire span of the screen followed by an IMAX-scale montage of intergalactic travel, hyperspeed portals and a filmed Beyoncé in robotic shields marching toward the audience. "Come with me through my portal to the House of Chrome," she said, "where I'm reborn." The visual landscapes of space and chrome referenced a combination of Fritz Lang's Metropolis , Tron , The Matrix , Ex Machina and even Michael and Janet Jackson's video for "Scream."

Editors' Picks

Revolutionary fun: why we can't stop talking about beyoncé's 'renaissance'.

There was, of course, also: fierce dancing, ballroom showdowns and the vocal brilliance featured in the album's sexually uninhibited ode to Black queer culture grounded in '70s and '80s dance genres like house and disco. But the Beyoncé on stage and screen here presented herself as an artist flying across time and space. When it seemed Renaissance would be played in full without skips — the album is so impeccably sequenced — the setlist swerves and surprises, with samples of Britney Spears' "Toxic," Madonna's "Vogue" and of course Beyoncé's own extraordinary catalog remixed to euphoric reactions. The bass drops of "Yoncé," from the self-titled fifth album, transition into the orchestral drum lines of "Family Feud" with Jay-Z before elevating the audience into "Church Girl" from Renaissance . Just as her on-stage character here has moved through a portal to be rebooted as a chrome Athena riding rockets across time, Beyoncé the musician was uploading, updating and renewing her artistic past in real-time before the audience. Each of her albums becomes part of the Renaissance , and songs from each are threaded, integrated and brought into the future with her.

There are also odes to previous visual signatures. Where the album interpolates, samples and credits countless pioneers of dance and queer culture, the reference library for the Renaissance tour is herself. The wide-brimmed Southern hats of "Formation" become chrome discs from outer space in this era, and the sultry choreography from "Partition" is performed on what is quite literally a silver tank that drives onto the stage ramp extending into the stadium's "Club Renaissance" section of the audience. The spirit of the show is regeneration and revival, a display of extraordinary confidence. Functioning robotic arms also constantly dressing, re-assembling and rebooting Beyoncé between the show's chapter breaks to underscore the constant sense of movement and hyperspeed updates.

Beyoncé in a gold bodysuit by the luxury brand Loewe. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood hide caption

Beyoncé in a gold bodysuit by the luxury brand Loewe.

The fashion industry's inevitable metabolism, dissection and celebration of what she and her team have achieved here is bound to be one of the tour's greatest triumphs. Fashion is intricately woven into the show's narrative, as is Beyoncé's physicality and undeniable sensuality. As the show shifts from deep house into the album's lush, R&B center — "Plastic Off the Sofa," "Virgo's Groove" — Beyoncé emerges in a literal shell on a bed of silver cushions, wearing a gold bodysuit by the luxury brand Loewe, covered in images of black arms and hands. She, too, is wearing long black gloves with red nails that extend the images across her body, and different versions of that same gold suit are worn by her dancers. As the mood shifts from the intergalactic to the bedroom, the language of assembly, embrace and touch continues in more human, Earthly forms.

When I first heard the album, I wondered how such a layered album of soundscapes would sound as a live experience. As is to be expected, seamless and possible delivered by Beyoncé in live, human form. In the vocal pyrotechnics of the most challenging sections of songs like "Heated" and "Virgo's Groove," Beyoncé embodies the superpowered musical machine the tour imagery presents, capable of tangible feats of excellence. With the show's breathless momentum and expansive ambitions, at one point even Beyoncé joked to say, "so many songs, but I'm giving you them all." And it certainly felt like she did.

At the first stop of her "Renaissance" tour in Stockholm, the pop star's visual landscape referenced a combination of Fritz Lang's Metropolis , Tron , The Matrix and more. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood hide caption

At the first stop of her "Renaissance" tour in Stockholm, the pop star's visual landscape referenced a combination of Fritz Lang's Metropolis , Tron , The Matrix and more.

It wasn't long after the performance that all the images, videos and commentariat from the show flooded social media. After the drought, a feast has arrived. Even the internet demands since last July to "release the visuals" are hilariously referenced in the ballroom narration of the show. But if I could make one recommendation to anyone fortunate enough to be attending one of the upcoming dates in Europe and North America, there is value in retaining a visual blackout. Nothing on phone screens can compare to the immersive three-dimensions of design, music, fashion and storytelling Beyoncé has crafted. The Renaissance only occurs in her now globally traveling court — a cyborg palace of metallics and lavish textiles of sound that must be experienced in person. The show is a triumph of live performance and designed for ticketed admission.

Throughout the show, I was curious about one aspect of the album in particular — "Reneigh," as fans have named Beyoncé's glittering, disco ball-mirrored steed from the album's cover. How and when would the horse finally make its appearance? As the show reached its conclusion, Beyoncé came back center stage astride Reneigh. As her guards and technicians braced them each to a harness waiting above, the platform gradually rose into the crowd and Beyoncé rode Reneigh above the crowd as she sang "Summer Renaissance." It took me walking around Stockholm earlier in the day — amid all its medieval equine statuary of dead European kings — to finally unlock the meaning of Reneigh and the album's title. The future belongs to an American monarch and the gates to her undeniable renaissance have finally opened.

Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour: See all the epic photos and fashions

See all the dazzling photos from the "Cuff It" singer's tour.

Beyoncé is currently making her way through the North American leg of her Renaissance World Tour and captivating concertgoers with her dazzling performances and fashion moments.

The Grammy-winning singer most recently performed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Tuesday night and will perform next at FedExField in Summerfield, Maryland, Aug. 5-6.

MORE: Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy appears onstage during Paris show

Here are some of Beyoncé's most stunning looks from her shows so far:

Beyoncé first kicked off her world tour in Europe in May, wowing audiences with her vocals, theatrics and style choices in major cities including, Paris, London and Barcelona.

One standout look came during her first show in London, when she stepped out onstage in a red bespoke Off-White bodysuit, which was covered in 40,000 red hotfix crystals , according to the label.

She also wore a custom bee-inspired look from Mugler.

The singer's 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter has also appeared on the Renaissance World Tour stage. Blue Ivy made her tour debut during her mom's show in Paris . She also took the stage during Beyoncé's concert tour stop in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium.

See more of Beyoncé's showstopping looks below:

MORE: Beyonce announces 'Renaissance' world tour for 2023

Read on for everything you need to know about Beyoncé's world tour.

When did Beyoncé announce the world tour?

Seven months after the release of her seventh studio album, "Renaissance," the "Cuff It" singer took to Instagram to announce her Renaissance World Tour .

The tour is her first solo tour in more than six years.

When did the Renaissance tour start?

The Renaissance World Tour kicked off Wednesday, May 10, at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Editor’s Picks

Beyonce officially drops 'Renaissance' album, thanks fans for 'unwavering support'

Beyonce announces 'Renaissance' world tour for 2023

Grammys 2023: Beyonce and Jay-Z make Grammys history with tie for most Grammy nominations

According to the Friends Arena website , the show was slated to run for three hours.

MORE: Beyonce teases new release 'Break My Soul,' dropping at midnight

When does the tour run until.

In addition to Stockholm, Paris, London and Barcelona, the European leg of her tour made stops in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. Beyoncé's final European show was in Warsaw, Poland, on June 28.

The North American leg of the world kicked off in Toronto at Rogers Centre on July 8. Following her show at FedExField -- which is located just outside Washington, D.C. -- the singer will head to Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; and Tampa, Florida.

Beyoncé's final scheduled performance of the tour will be held Oct. 1 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

When was the last time Beyoncé toured?

Beyoncé's last solo tour was the Formation World Tour in 2016, which followed the release of her sixth studio album, "Lemonade."

In 2018, she toured with her husband Jay-Z, for the On The Run Tour.

What is the Renaissance World Tour setlist?

During her tour, Beyoncé has performed songs off her latest album, including "Cuff It," "Heated" and "Virgo's Groove."

At her first tour stop in Stockholm on May 10, she sang a number of fan favorites, including "1+1," "Run the World (Girls)," "Get Me Bodied," and "America Has a Problem," among others.

Beyoncé's "Renaissance" album was released on July 29, 2022, after it was leaked two days prior. The album is the first part of a three-act project and features a total of 16 tracks with collaborations from artists such as Drake, Tems and Pharrell Williams.

MORE: Beyonce officially drops 'Renaissance' album, thanks fans for 'unwavering support'

In an Instagram post, the singer said that "Renaissance" was recorded over three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world," she said. "It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. ... It was a beautiful journey of exploration."

How to get Beyonce 2023 tour tickets

While tickets to see the singer on tour sold out quickly in many cities around the world when sales began in February, fans can still purchase tickets on Ticketmaster.

This article was originally published on May 10, 2023.

Related Topics

Who is Beyoncé’s pregnant trumpet player?

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour has it all — from all-chrome outfits to her daughter Blue Ivy making special appearances, and even baby bumps. If you pay close enough attention to who’s onstage, you’ll find that one of the band members appears to be playing the trumpet while pregnant.

For the last several months, Crystal Torres , a Philadelphia native, has been traveling the world with the musical icon on her tour since it started in June. In an Instagram post on May 10, Torres announced she would be joining Beyoncé on her tour. As one of the lead musicians in the touring band, Torres has done it all while pregnant.

One of the shows took place on the icon’s birthday, at which Torres was dressed in silver from head to toe per Beyoncé’s birthday request.

How Shakira went from ‘Pies Descalzos’ to MTV Lifetime Achievement Award

Shakira is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. The award, also known as MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, is presented to an artist for their ‘outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture.’

Aug. 29, 2023

In photos, Torres’ baby bump can be seen becoming more prominent with every show. She has posted about her journey and has thanked the crew and other musicians for helping keep her and her baby safe.

“For those of you who’ve been asking, I’m strong, healthy & not due ANY time soon 🤗. That being said, Tourlife at 31 weeks pregnant consists solely of: Snacks, Bathroom, Nap, Stage, Bus … Repeat,” Torres said in a post.

Fans have also supported Torres by posting their own videos of her performing and leaving messages of encouragement for her pregnancy.

“😍😍🔥🔥 You are a trailblazer. You’re killing it with your trumpet, dancing, and beautiful voice. All while growing a human being that I look forward to meeting!❤️❤️,” one account said.

“You are a soldier for real and a joy to watch!!! 💪🏾Take care of yourself! That baby will come out vibing to allllll of the beats and rhythms!!! Be blessed,” another said. 🐝❤️🪩🐝❤️🪩

The Tóxicos of ‘Love Island USA’ are too familiar for Latino fans

The Latinos on ‘Love Island USA’ are the embodiment of many cultural tropes that some fans of the show have experienced firsthand.

Aug. 31, 2023

This isn’t the first time Torres has shared the stage with Beyoncé. The Puerto Rican and Italian trumpet player performed with the Grammy-winning artist during her Beyoncé Experience Tour, Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s On the Run II Tour and her 2022 Oscar ceremony performance. She has also performed with other artists, including Alejandro Sanz, Lupe Fiasco and Steve Lacy.

Beyoncé announced her tour earlier this year, andfans eagerly snapped up tickets . The tour has included 57 shows across 12 countries in six months, including three sold-out performances at SoFi Stadium . Billboard reported that the European leg of the tour generated $154 million, with more than a million tickets sold.

The tour has been filled with star-studded attendees like Kelly Rowland, the former Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Adele, Issa Rae and Pedro Pascal. Diana Ross also hit the stage for Beyoncé’s special birthday performance in L.A. to sing “Happy Birthday.”

This is Beyoncé’s first tour since 2018, when she toured with her husband, and her first solo tour since 2016.

Commentary: Latinas are breaking generational curses. So why are we seen as malcriadas?

With the help of Latina therapists, first-generation women are laying down boundaries and addressing unhealthy family dynamics, but it can sometimes feel like thankless work.

Aug. 28, 2023

The Renaissance tour will wrap up on Oct. 1 with a show in Kansas City, Mo.

More to Read

Blue Ivy joins mom Beyoncé in ‘Lion King’ prequel ‘Mufasa.’ Can you feel the love?

April 29, 2024

Get ready with Bey: Beyoncé teases out Cécred critics by highlighting her wash-day ritual

April 23, 2024

Girl Ultra, Eddie Zuko and more Latin artists tell us how they are prepping for Coachella

April 11, 2024

Chelsea Hylton is a former reporter on the De Los team, which covers everything Latinidad at the Los Angeles Times. The Inglewood native is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Jamaica. Hylton has bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s in journalism from the University of Southern California. She previously reported local breaking news at NBCLA and Telemundo52.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Wealth gap between white families and Latino families surpasses $1 million

April 30, 2024

For the first time ever, ‘Blood In Blood Out’ will be available for streaming

Young Latines are leaving organized religion. This divided family is learning to cope

How Tijuana leather designer Kiko Baez ended up working with Latin music’s biggest stars

April 26, 2024

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Beyoncé’s blue-haired Renaissance tour drummer is from Johnson County. 10 things to know

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Diamond Johnson was asked once in an interview to name his favorite city in the United States, other than Los Angeles because he lives there.

The professional drummer didn’t miss a beat.

Kansas City.

Robert “Diamond” Johnson — just Diamond now — graduated from Gardner Edgerton High School in Johnson County. This weekend he’s coming home to finish what has been unquestionably the most important gig of his musical career.

Johnson, 27, has been playing drums in Beyoncé ’s band on her Renaissance World Tour, a 56-show excursion that began in May in Stockholm and wraps up Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium .

That’s his name there, in black and white, listed in the tour credits .

Drums. Diamond Johnson.

The band is small and tight. Only eight people. They’re called Silver Horse, an apparent reference to the giant glittery horse Beyonce sings atop at each show.

Meet Silver Horse, Beyoncé’s band on the RENAISSANCE World Tour Thread #RENAISSANCEWorldTour pic.twitter.com/TzryfqOaou — RENAISSANCE Updates (@B7Album) August 13, 2023

“When I was in Kansas City my only goal was to come out to L.A. and be a big drummer ,” Johnson said in a 2022 interview.

The most recent photos on his Instagram are from the tour, from Stockholm and Poland to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Music reviewers have hailed the band, noting Johnson’s “cavernous drum sound” in SoFi (per Variety) and how he “effortlessly recreated the incessant pulse” of “Run the World (Girls)“ in New Orleans, according to Nola.com.

“Diamond Johnson has accomplished so much in his young 25 years,” actress/comedian Antoinette Peragine said of him two years ago while interviewing him. “He’s worked with the best and his star is on the rise. ”

Peragine described how she was “blinded by his light” when she met Johnson in 2021 at the Hollywood Palladium where he was working as musical director of a Kid Laroi concert.

“I feel like this is the action period of my life. I gotta do a lot of work,” Johnson told her. “I see myself maximizing the gift of drums and eventually phasing out to doing business full-time.”

But, he added, “I’m always going to play drums.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Diamond Johnson (@_diamond_johnson_)

In early September Johnson opened Make Spaces , photo and music studios for rent in downtown Los Angeles

“Never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never stop doing the work ,” he exhorted fellow artists in an Instagram post announcing the business. “I just played SoFi Stadium last night, 70,000-seater venue, after living in L.A. for four years.

“And then the next morning I’m up here at Make Spaces, my new building in downtown L.A. Anything is possible. Anything. Keep going. Plan. Make it happen.”

Here are 10 things to know about Beyonce’s drummer, including the importance of skin care.

▪ “He started banging on things at 2,” his mother/cheerleader, Deidre Johnson-Dixon, told The Star in January 2013. “Everything was fair game — his leg, my leg, the leg of the dresser in his bedroom. He air-drummed, too. Crazy-good.”

▪ He grew up in a “very Christian home” and thought his natural path was to be a pastor. “I always felt on the inside that I would be doing great things, but I never knew it would be like this or going in this direction,” he told Peragine.

▪ He grew up around music at church and at home; both parents sang. But he never had a formal drum lesson. “My first drum set was a red Yamaha at age 5,” he told The Star when he was a high school junior and a finalist in a national drumming competition.

“And then my uncles stepped in. They all play different instruments and genres of music. Uncle Cortez started working with me when I was 10 on all facets of the drums.

“Playing drums is a true art. When you feel the drums, the people listening to you hopefully feel them, too.”

▪ In high school he toured the country twice with the Kansas City alternative rock band Beautiful Bodies.

▪ He moved to L.A. when he was 22 after getting what he considered a sign from God one night while parked in a field in the Northland near Kansas City International Airport where his parents were living.

Looking up at the sky he asked God for a sign. Should he move to California?

“I kid you not, there is this huge green flash coming from the sky and I’m like ‘that’s way too obvious. That’s a movie.’ I’m looking around for planes, my eyes are watering,” he said. “Every week since I moved has been a validation of that night.”

▪ His drumming idol is Brian Frasier Moore, who has performed with Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Madonna and a litany of other stars.

▪ One of his first gigs in California was in a music video . “You got the look,” the guy who got him the job told him. Johnson joked with Peragine that for music video casting calls, his Rihanna “Fenty skin care routine, it’s coming in handy.”

▪ He believes connections are imperative. His third day in L.A. he ran into Dammo Farmer, a music director whose resume included working with Jay-Z, Usher — and Beyoncé. “I’m putting you on everything because I want to work with more good people,” Farmer told him.

Farmer is one of two music directors on the Renaissance tour .

▪ His hair is Tiffany & Co. blue. He had dropped the dye but fans begged him to bring back the blue.

▪ Taylor Swift is ... “talented,” Johnson told Peragine, filling in the blank space.

Recommended Stories

Caitlin clark catches fire from 3 in wnba preseason; arike ogunbowale's late heroics send wings past fever.

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA preseason debut went much like her senior year at Iowa. She hit a bunch of 3s and did so in front of a sold-out crowd.

NFL Power Rankings, draft edition: Did Patriots fix their offensive issues?

Which teams did the best in the NFL Draft?

2024 NFL Draft grades: Denver Broncos earn one of our lowest grades mostly due to one pick

Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald breaks down the Broncos' 2024 draft.

NBA playoffs: Predictions for each second-round series and Game 7 of Cavaliers-Magic

Our NBA staff makes its picks for Knicks-Pacers and every second-round series, plus the only Game 7 of the first round.

Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix sends cease and desist letter to prevent Donald Trump fundraiser during race

Race organizers say they'll revoke a Trump fundraiser's suite license if he holds an event for the former president on Sunday at the race.

Warren Buffett pays tribute to Charlie Munger on a 'tough day' for shareholders

This year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting marked a new era for the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. It’s the investing legend’s first without his right-hand man, Charlie Munger.

New details emerge in alleged gambling ring behind Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara scandal

It turns out the money was going from Ohtani's bank account to an illegal bookie to ... casinos.

The best RBs for 2024 fantasy football according to our analysts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first running back rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams | Zero Blitz

Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.

How to watch the 2024 WNBA preseason tonight: Caitlin Clark’s next Indiana Fever game time, channel and more

The WNBA preseason tips off this Friday. Here's how you can catch Caitlin Clark's first game.

Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham after just 2 seasons, latest playoff series loss to Nuggets

Despite a trip to the Western Conference finals in his first season with the team, the Lakers are now ready to look for a replacement for Darvin Ham.

CVS stock plunges after earnings numbers one analyst 'did not even believe'

CVS warns it could cede Medicare Advantage market share as reimbursement rates pressure the company.

Does castor oil really help with hair growth? We asked the experts, and their answer may surprise you

It's inexpensive, but is it effective? Dermatologists' verdict is in — and it's unanimous.

Acura’s new all-electric SUV proves the most expensive model isn’t always the best

The first electric vehicle I ever drove was a Tesla Roadster in 2011. It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the wheel of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure, it's a midsize SUV, but it wears the Type S moniker, a name reserved only for the most fun-to-drive in the Acura stable. On launch, the ZDX will be available in A-Spec and Type S trims -- both of which come equipped with a 102 kWh battery.

Diana Taurasi’s trash-talking, in-your-face ways may be a bit of a shock to new WNBA fans

Caitlin Clark fans beware: You never know what the 20-year veteran might say … or do.

Tight end rankings for 2024 fantasy football 2024

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first tight end rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

Wide receiver rankings for fantasy football 2024

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first wide receiver rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

NBA playoffs: Bucks G Patrick Beverley chucks ball at multiple Pacers fans amid elimination

PatBev made the Bucks' playoff exit even uglier.

NBA playoffs: Kyrie Irving takes over to lead Mavericks past Clippers into 2nd-round matchup vs. Thunder

A tepid Clippers offense had no answer for Irving and Luka Dončić in an elimination game.

2nd Boeing whistleblower found dead. Here's a timeline of the company's mounting problems.

This is the second Boeing whistleblower to die in the last two months.

All the Celebrities, From Selena Gomez To Kylie Jenner, Spotted at Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour So Far

On Friday, it seems like the stars decided to align in Paris for Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour stop. The stands were filled with celebrities in the VIP section and Alien Superstar risers, which are a popular choice for an unobstructed view of all the action. It was a good choice, because it was the night that Beyoncé's 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy joined her on stage for a little singing and some sweet choreo, documented here by the musical icon's mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson.

The tour continues across Europe before heading to North America in July. Here are all the celebrities who have attended her concert series so far.

Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner

Megan thee stallion.

The rap star was dancing in the audience in tight blue jeans and cute pink crop top, filmed by fans and looking like she was having an amazing time. Beyoncé's husband, Jay-Z, was standing next to her.

Selena Gomez

The Only Murders In the Building Star rolled up to the show in a black leather jacket with friend Edgar Ramirez.

Pharrell Williams

The “Happy” singer seemed to be attempting an incognito arrival in a black baseball cap and sunglasses.

Natalie Portman

The actress was accompanied by husband Benjamin Millepied.

Lenny Kravitz

The musician was filmed arriving by fans on Friday in Paris.

Tyler Perry

A stand out, the director was there for the tour's opening night in Stockholm instead of Paris.

“Just landed in Stockholm, Sweden!” he wrote on his Instagram Stories. “Here to stand with, applaud, and hold up Mrs. Carter for the first night of the ‘Renaissance [World] Tour!’ I’m proud of you, B. Let’s go!”

Chris Rock in the VIP section in Paris.

The rock star was also reportedly in Paris on Friday and shared a clip of herself singing along to “Cuff It” on Instagram Stories.

Olivier Rousteing

Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing attended in Paris.

Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox was seen in the VIP section next to Knowles-Lawson.

Priyanka Chopra and Daniel Kaluuya

A fan spotted Priyanka Chopra and Daniel Kaluuya dancing away to “Love On Top” in London.

Celebrity News 2024

Pete Davidson and Madelyn Cline’s Timeline

Inside Leighton Meester and Adam Brody’s Romance

All About Shay's Boyfriend Matte Babel

Rami Malek and Emma Corrin’s Relationship Timeline

Anne Hathaway Wears 2 Looks in 1 Day in NYC

Everything to Know About Gus Wenner

A Timeline of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Meet Adele's Rumored Husband, Rich Paul

Meet Lady Gaga’s Beau of 4 Years, Michael Polansky

A Timeline of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn’s Romance

All About Adam Shulman, Anne's Husband

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Tina Knowles stuns in Beyoncé ‘Renaissance Tour’ outfit

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Beyoncé and her mom, Tina Knowles , are so close that they share the same designer looks.

Tina Knowles recently attended a Las Vegas event where all eyes were on her because the entrepreneur arrived wearing an outfit that members of the BeyHive immediately recognized.

At the opening of “Love & Laughter” at The Cosmopolitan casino April 27 — a new show featuring Cedric The Entertainer and Toni Braxton — Tina Knowles wowed on the red carpet in a jumpsuit that resembled denim. The luxurious one-piece also included matching, attached boots.

She shared photos from the event on her Instagram and complimented the comedian and Braxton's collaboration in the caption.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles)

“The show was soo great!!!!!!” she wrote, in part, and added three red hearts.

Fans in the comments quickly pointed out that Tina Knowles appeared to wear the same look that Beyoncé donned on stage during her Louisville, Kentucky “Renaissance World Tour” show on July 17, 2023. The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer posted photos from her performance at the time on Instagram . She also sported matching gloves with her look.

Eagle-eyed Beyoncé fans were impressed that Tina Knowles appeared to borrow her daughter's outfit.

“Okay mama tina i see with beyoncé tour outfit on,” one commented.

“You in Beyoncés closet,” a fan asked.

Another joked, “Ate that bee lady up in her own outfit” and added a fire emoji.

According to W Magazine , the bodysuit the mother and daughter wore is a custom Diesel look featuring gray crystals and a print that mirrors denim.

Their mother-daughter relationship was highlighted in concert movie “Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé,” as was Mathew Knowles , Beyoncé’s father and Tina Knowles’ former husband.

In behind the scenes footage and documentary-style interviews, Tina Knowles sits in the background, subtly supporting her daughter. She became more vocal on social media after the movie premiered, celebrating Beyoncé's wins and defending her against criticism.

Read on to learn more about the parents of one of the most iconic performers of all time.

Beyoncé's parents were married from 1980 to 2011

Tina and Mathew Knowles tied the knot in 1980 and were married for nearly 30 years. Tina Knowles filed for divorce in 2009, and the couple issued a joint statement to the Associated Press.

“The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents and business partners,” they said at the time. “If anyone is expecting an ugly messy fight, they will be sadly disappointed. We ask for your respect of our privacy as we handle this matter.”

The former couple finalized their divorce in 2011.

Both remarried following their divorce

Tina Knowles tied the knot with the actor Richard Lawson in 2015. She filed for divorce in July 2023, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split.

Meanwhile, Mathew Knowles said “I do” to model Gena Avery Knowles in 2013.

They share two children and four grandchildren

Tina and Mathew Knowles welcomed their first daughter, Beyoncé, on Sept. 4, 1981 ( yes, she's a Virgo ). Their second daughter, Solange, was born June 24, 1986. Both went on to have successful careers in the music industry.

Tina and Mathew Knowles also have four grandchildren: Solange's son with ex-husband Daniel Smith, Daniel Julez, 19, and Beyoncé's children with husband Jay-Z: Blue Ivy, 11, and twins Sir and Rumi, 6.

Kelly Rowland was an honorary daughter

Beyoncé's father was the manager of Destiny's Child, the girl group that helped catapult her and bandmates to fame.

When Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland was 11 years old, she moved in with the Knowles family, Tina Knowles  said in a 2015 essay for TIME.

"You came to live with us when you were only 11 years old. You were the sweetest, most kind person I had ever met and you still are. You are also a true survivor. You never give up. Your discipline and drive always inspires me," Tina Knowles wrote.

Beyoncé got her name from Tina

When it came time to name her first born child, Tina Knowles took inspiration from her own maiden name, as reported by ET.

“A lot of people don’t know that Beyoncé is my last name. It’s my maiden name,” she said in 2020 while appearing on the  "In My Heart With Heather Thomson " podcast.

“My name was Celestine Beyoncé, which at that time was not a cool thing to have that weird name. I wanted my name to be Linda Smith because those were the cool names,” she said.

Mathew Knowles managed his daughter's career until 2011

Mathew Knowles played an active role in building Beyoncé’s successful career and served as her manager until 2011. In a 2011 statement, the singer announced that they were parting ways professionally.

“I am grateful for everything he has taught me,” she said at the time. “I grew up watching both he and my mother manage and own their own businesses. They were hardworking entrepreneurs and I will continue to follow in their footsteps.”

In his own statement, Mathew Knowles called the decision "mutual," as reported by Billboard.

"We did great things together, and I know that she will continue to conquer new territories in music and entertainment," he said.

“Business is business and family is family,” he continued. “I love my daughter and am very proud of who she is and all that she has achieved. I look forward to her continued great success.”

Mathew Knowles managed Destiny's Child and would love to see them reunite one day

Knowles told ET in 2023 that he'd love it if Beyoncé, Rowland and Michelle Williams reunited. “It’s a decision that the ladies would have to make,” he said. "And I would certainly, certainly support that decision as I still manage Destiny’s Child. I would love to see that as well."

Knowles' time as a manager was criticized. Former band members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett both brought multiple lawsuits against Beyoncé, Rowland and their manager and Knowles’ father, Mathew Knowles, as well as the group’s label, Sony Music, all of which were  settled out of court .

Tina Knowles helped create her daughter's ‘Austin Powers’ character

Beyoncé made her screen debut in 2002 playing Foxxy Cleopatra in "Goldmember."

Producer John Lyons told Vulture in 2022 that Knowles-Lawson was present for her audition.

“It was clear that (Beyoncé) was so nervous at that audition, and Tina came with her, both as moral support and, I’m sure, to size us up and see if we were going to be respectful of her daughter and if we deserved her,” producer John Lyons told the publication.

Once on set, Knowles-Lawson helped the character come to life.

“Her mom was very much into blaxploitation movies,” director Jay Roach told Vulture. “She could tell that was the DNA for Foxxy. Her mom was so cool and so helpful and instantly had ideas for us.”

Beyoncé gets her sense of style from her mom

Tina Knowles' fashion prowess, which was shouted out in "Renaissance," has been part of Beyoncé's entire career.

She was Destiny's Child's official stylist and handmade some of their costumes. She reflected on that time in her career in an interview with The Washington Post .

Their wardrobe was inspired by Motown groups — which, she said, became a "problem" for other people connected to the group, who pressured her to make the band members look more like Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears.

"(The costumes) were just a little too flashy, a little too Motown, but what they really meant was that they were a little too Black,” she recalled.

Mathew Knowles survived breast cancer

Mathew Knowles announced that he had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. In a statement to TODAY.com , he explained why he shared the private news publicly.

“We need men to speak out! Men want to keep it hidden, because we feel embarrassed — and there’s no reason for that. I want to continue the dialogue on awareness and early detection — male or female. The key to this is early detection,” he said.

Tina Knowles is not afraid to stand up for herself

In January 2024, Tina Knowles said she learned an important lesson after she was criticized for liking a post that took issue with Janet Jackson’s upcoming tour prices.

“I am saddened by this,” she wrote on Instagram Jan. 24, captioning her video addressing the backlash of the perceived Jackson diss .

“Janet Jackson is an icon and I would never question another artist. I took Destiny’s Child to see Janet when they were 15 years old,” she explained, noting the pop star’s influence on her daughter and the group.

“They always looked up to her and she opened doors for Beyoncé,” her captioned continued. “Why would I hate on her?”

In the video, Knowles said she received a phone call that she’s “trending for liking a post about ticket prices of an artist.”

“Being on the other side of it, I know better than anyone what a great production cost and that it’s expensive,” she said. “And I would never criticize another artist, let alone Janet Jackson who is the queen of production and her family. They’re the first family of music. Always have been and always will be and I love and respect them.”

Reflecting on her experience, Knowles said she learned a valuable lesson: “Stay way from negativity.”

“If you follow me, then you know that I am not involved in mess,” she said. “What I am guilty of is liking post, going through when I’m in a big hurry and I don’t have time to really and liking things because I trust that these are people that I follow. That was a big mistake. I will never do it again.”

Tina Knowles is her daughter's biggest fan

Don't mess with Mama Tina! Knowles regularly comes to Beyoncé's defense when necessary. Most recently, she slammed critics who suggested that Beyoncé bleached her skin for the premiere of her concert film, "Renaissance."

“How sad is it that some of her own people continue the stupid narrative with hate and jealousy. Duh, she wore silver hair to match her silver dress as a fashion statement...” she wrote on Instagram.

“Every time she does something that she works her a-- off for and is a statement of her work ethic, talent and resilience,” she continued. “Here you sad little haters come out the woodwork. Jealousy and racism, sexism, double standards, you perpetuate those things. Instead of celebrating a sister or just ignoring if you don’t like her.”

“I am sick of you losers,” she finished. “I know that she is going to be pissed at me for doing this, but I am fed up! This girl minds her own business. She helps people whenever she can. She lifts up & promotes black women and underdogs at all times.”

Knowles also defended her daughter when critics slammed Beyoncé for wanting to do country music for her new album.

In response to the naysayers, Knowles posted a photo montage on Instagram , which included many throwback photos of her daughter in cowboy attire.

“I just came across this video on my IG feed! We have always celebrated Cowboy Culture growing up in Texas,” Knowles wrote.

“When people ask why is Beyonce wearing cowboy hats? It’s really funny, I actually laugh because it’s been there since she was a kid ,we went to rodeos every year and my whole family dressed in western fashion,” she added. “Solange did a whole brilliant Album and Project based on Black Cowboy Culture. . It definitely was a part of our culture growing up."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

Recommended Stories

I'm an interior designer, and these are my top picks from wayfair's way day sale — prices start at just $35.

Now's your chance to get that stunning room-changing piece and save big!

Threads now lets you control who can quote your posts

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced the update this weekend, saying he hopes it will “help keep Threads a more positive place.” Users can choose to turn off quotes entirely or limit them only to people they follow.

Kentucky Derby 2024: Live updates, odds, post positions, horses, how to watch from the 150th Run for the Roses

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for just before 7 p.m. ET

What the Tesla Supercharger layoffs could mean for America's EV buildout

The latest layoffs at Tesla this week cut close to the bone of the EV pioneer’s big competitive advantage — its ubiquitous Supercharger network.

How to watch the Eta Aquarids, the annual meteor shower that peaks this weekend

What to know about the annual meteor event known as the Eta Aquarids.

Miami Grand Prix Sprint goes to Verstappen, Ricciardo continues to impress

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cruised to yet another victory this season at the Miami Grand Prix’s Sprint race.

Los Angeles Clippers 2024 NBA offseason preview: It's gonna be a tough summer

The Clippers will likely have some key free agents but are not expected to have any cap space.

These are the Wayfair Way Day rug deals I'm eyeing as an interior designer — save up to 80% off

Score deeply discounted floor coverings from some of my favorite brands — Kelly Clarkson, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines and Loloi.

Shoppers say these headphones rival Beats — and Amazon's got 'em on sale for $20

Take it from over 57,000 five-star reviewers — these rock.

Google prohibits ads promoting websites and apps that generate deepfake porn

Google has updated its Inappropriate Content Policy to include language that expressly prohibits advertisers from promoting websites and services that generate deepfake pornography.

How Beyoncé Built Her Empire And What She Spends Her Cash On

Posted: May 3, 2024 | Last updated: May 3, 2024

Queen Bey's Reign

With a sprawling empire encompassing chart-topping records, sell-out tours, and on-screen success, it's hardly surprising that Beyoncé ranked 36th on Forbes ' 2023 list of the world's most powerful women. She joined the illustrious company of fellow music moguls Taylor Swift and Rihanna, as well as political powerhouses like US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Additionally, Queen Bey is one of the richest self-made women in the world, with an impressive net worth of $800 million. Read on to discover how she built her mammoth fortune and how she likes to splash her cash, too.

All dollar amounts are in US dollars.

Destiny's Child days

Beyoncé first made her mark on the charts as a member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child. The group originated in Houston, Texas, in 1997 but skyrocketed to fame the following year with the release of their second album  The Writing's on the Wall . This record featured hit singles such as Bills, Bills, Bills  and Say My Name , propelling the girls to international stardom.

In total, the band released four studio albums between 1997 and 2004. Destiny's Child is one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, having sold 60 million records worldwide.

After Destiny's Child split, Beyoncé emerged as the breakout solo star. Her success was propelled by her 2003 chart-topping hit Crazy in Love , featuring her future husband Jay-Z.

The R&B anthem was the lead single from Beyoncé's debut solo album, Dangerously in Love . It won two Grammy awards, including Best R&B Song, marking Beyoncé's first Grammy win as a solo artist.

The highest-earning Black musician in history

Beyoncé has released eight studio albums to date and has amassed over 200 million records in global sales. In 2014, Billboard named her the highest-earning Black musician in history, surpassing icons like Michael Jackson and Prince.

Each of her albums has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and has garnered numerous Grammy Award wins and nominations. While rooted in the R&B/hip-hop genre, Beyoncé has explored diverse musical styles, infusing elements of pop, afrobeat, trap, and soul into her music.

Record-breaking music success

Beyoncé recently took her music in a whole new direction with her eighth studio album, the country-inspired Cowboy Carter .

The lead single, Texas Hold 'Em,  skyrocketed to the top of the charts, marking Beyoncé as the first Black woman to achieve a number one hit on Billboard’s Hot Country chart. What's more, her foray into country is drawing fresh listeners to the genre, notably boosting streams for other Black country artists and expanding the genre's appeal to younger audiences.

Cowboy Carter  is also smashing streaming records. Upon its release on 29 March, Spotify announced it was the most-streamed album in a single day in 2024 thus far (though it's since been surpassed by Taylor Swift's  The Tortured Poet's Department. ) Additionally, Cowboy Carter  holds the record for the most-played country album by a female artist on Amazon Music, marking Beyoncé's biggest debut on the platform.

Cowboy Carter's cultural impact

Country-inspired clothing is back on trend, partly thanks to the success of Cowboy Carter. Western-style boots experienced a more than 20% increase in sales the week of the album's release, according to consumer behavior firm Circana. Meanwhile, Boot Barn, a Western clothing brand, saw its shares rise by over 4% since the beginning of April.

And it's not just boots. Other country clothing staples, like denim, are also benefiting from Beyoncé's influence.

Levi Strauss CEO Michelle Gass emphasized the impact of the song Levii’s Jeans  from the Cowboy Carter  album, featuring Post Malone, noting that Beyoncé naming a song after them underscores Levi's significance in shaping culture. Gass highlighted that denim is currently "having a moment," with Western style trending in both fashion and music.

Call Me Country

Beyoncé was most recently the subject of a documentary titled Call Me Country: Beyoncé and Nashville's Renaissance , which premiered on the streaming platform Max. The documentary explores  Cowboy Carter's impact on the country genre. 

It also delves into ongoing conversations about the genre's relationship with Black musicians and prominently features Black artists like banjo player Rhiannon Giddens, who collaborated with Beyoncé on the hit track Texas Hold ‘Em.

Touring triumphs

In addition to releasing chart-topping records, Beyoncé significantly boosts her fortune through touring. In 2016, her Formation World Tour grossed an impressive $250 million.

In 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z joined forces for the On the Run II tour, with both icons performing their biggest solo hits as well as duets.  The tour included 48 live shows across North America and Europe, grossing a grand total of $250 million.

Beyoncé's recent Renaissance World Tour marked her most successful to date. It sold 2.8 million tickets across 56 shows in North America and Europe, generating a stunning $580 million in revenue. That makes it the highest-grossing tour in history for both an R&B artist and a Black female artist.

Beyoncé's economic impact

Beyoncé not only boosted her own bank balance with the Renaissance World Tour but also made a significant impact on the US economy. Data from Question Pro estimated the tour had a staggering economic impact of $4.5 billion.

Concertgoers spent an astonishing $1,870 on average to attend the show, surpassing what Taylor Swift fans spent to attend The Eras Tour by $300. Notably, the 'Beyhive'  – Beyoncés legion of fans  –  spared no expense when it came to dressing for the glam occasion, splurging an average of $400 on their outfits.

Despite the hefty costs involved, 91% of fans expressed satisfaction with the concert and said they would pay to attend again.

Historic Coachella performance

Alongside her monumental world tours, Beyoncé also earns a fortune from one-off performances. She headlined the Coachella music festival in 2018, making history as the first Black woman to do so. Her estimated paycheque for the performance was $3 million.

Her Coachella performance was also released on Netflix as part of a three-project deal estimated to be worth a total of $60 million.

Private concert payday

In January 2023, Beyoncé performed at the grand opening of the opulent Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, receiving an eye-watering $24 million payday for her hour-long private concert (pictured.)

However, Beyoncé has faced backlash for her Dubai performance, with some fans calling the star "hypocritical." Her album, Renaissance,  paid homage to LGBTQ+ culture, but same-sex relationships are illegal in the United Arab Emirates and punishable by imprisonment or even death. 

Record-breaking Grammy success

Beyoncé made history last year as the artist with the most Grammy wins in history, after scoring her 32nd Grammy Award at the 2023 ceremony. The pop diva took home four overall awards, including that the Grammy for best dance/electronic album for her album  Renaissance . 

The record-breaking victory means that she defeated Hungarian-British conductor George Solti, whose record of 31 Grammys had stood for more than 20 years. 

Music innovator

To cap it all off, Beyoncé was just honored with the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards (pictured).

Music icon Stevie Wonder presented Queen Bey with the award, stating, "Now Beyoncé is once again changing music and culture, climbing in the saddle as a bona fide country music sensation with her latest masterpiece, Cowboy Carter , which may end up being the most talked-about album this century."

Meanwhile, during her acceptance speech, Beyoncé said, "Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. My hope is that we're more open to the joy and liberation that come from enjoying art with no preconceived notions."

Screen star

Music aside, the multi-talented Beyoncé has also found success on the screen.

She reportedly earned $12.5 million for her role in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls , plus a further $1 million for her work on the soundtrack. Meanwhile, in 2019, Beyonce voiced Nala in Disney’s The Lion King  remake, raking in a cool $25 million for her efforts.

And remember her 2002 performance as Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember ? Groovy, baby.  

Box office darling

In one of her latest lucrative ventures, Beyoncé released the concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé  at the end of 2023. The documentary showcases behind-the-scenes footage from her sold-out world tour, including clips of her rehearsing with her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy.

The film earned $44 million globally and Beyoncé –  who wrote, directed, and produced it  –  earned 50% of the total box office gross.

A brand ambassador

Global brands practically line up to cash in on Beyoncé's selling power. For example, she signed a $50 million brand deal with Pepsi in 2012, and has further collaborated with other major names such as L’Oréal, American Express, and Nintendo.

One of her most high-profile partnerships, announced in 2021, was with luxury jewlery brand Tiffany. Alongside Jay-Z, Beyoncé starred in a campaign while wearing the iconic 128.54-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond (pictured.) Since its discovery in 1877, only four other women have worn this priceless gemstone: Audrey Hepburn, Lady Gaga, Gal Gadot, and 20th-century socialite Mrs. E. Sheldon Whitehouse, making Beyoncé the first Black woman ever to wear it.

However, the move sparked controversy, and Beyoncé faced accusations of sporting a "blood diamond;" the stone was discovered in the notorious Kimberley mine in South Africa, notorious for its mistreatment of Black workers.

Perfume empire

The business-savvy Beyoncé is also an entrepreneur.

One of her earliest business endeavors was the launch of her own perfume brand in 2010. Since then, she has utilized her unstoppable star power to sell approximately $400 million worth of her signature fragrance, Heat.

Fashion forward

Beyoncé is the first African American woman to fully own her own sportswear brand. Ivy Park was launched in partnership with Topshop in 2016 and then relaunched with Adidas in 2019.

However, Adidas recently ended its partnership with Beyoncé after sales of Ivy Park fell by more than 50% to just $40 million in 2022. This was far below the $250 million sales figure projected by Adidas.

The decision by Adidas was a financial blow to Beyoncé, who earned $20 million in annual compensation from the lucrative partnership.

Beyoncé's latest business venture

In her latest entrepreneurial move, Beyoncé launched her own haircare line this year. Called Cécred, the brand offers a variety of haircare products, including shampoos, conditioners, masks, and oils. Prices for haircare bundles range from a modest $42 to a steeper $265, according to Forbes.

Commenting on the motivation behind launching the brand, Beyoncé said, “I grew up sweeping hair in my mother’s salon; so much of who I am comes from there. I saw how she transformed hair by mixing mainstream products with textured haircare.”

To celebrate the launch of her brand, Beyoncé is giving away $500,000 in cosmetology scholarships and salon grants through her BeyGood charitable foundation. The grants will support cosmetology students and salon owners in five markets, providing both scholarships and business grants.

Smart investments

The savvy star has further boosted her bank balance via investments. In 2022, she invested money in the flavoured water brand Lemon Perfect. The health-conscious company uses zero sugar and no artificial flavours or colouring in its products, which are packed full of Vitamin C.

"I don’t typically enjoy drinks without added sugar, but Lemon Perfect is delicious," Beyoncé said in a statement on the Lemon Perfect website. "It was an easy decision to invest in something that not only tastes great and is healthy but also, and most importantly, allows choosing a healthier lifestyle to be affordable and accessible to everyone."

According to the Lemon Perfect website, a case of 12 450ml bottles costs $29.88. 

Now let's delve into how Queen Bey spends her fortune...

Luxe property portfolio

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own a seriously impressive real estate portfolio, which includes lavish residences in New York, New Orleans, the Hamptons, Miami Beach, and Los Angeles.

However, the crown jewel of their collection is a sprawling $200 million mega-mansion overlooking the ocean in Malibu (pictured). The power couple's recent acquisition set a record for the highest price ever paid for a home in California, surpassing their new neighbor, billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who purchased the adjacent property for $177 million in 2021.

Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, the mansion features a minimalist design characterized by its extensive use of concrete and glass. Not everyone has been complimentary about its bold design, though, with some people comparing the concrete mansion to a supervillain's lair.

VIP vacations

Beyoncé and Jay-Z indulge in luxe getaways. The couple frequently vacations in Paris, staying in a penthouse suite at Hotel Le Meurice that costs a hefty $20,000 per night.

Additionally, they enjoy voyages aboard the Galactica Star superyacht (pictured), valued at $73 million. Access to the yacht is highly exclusive  – you need to know the owner to be in with a chance of chartering the boat.

Naturally, the couple travels the world in ultimate style. Their Bombardier Challenger 850 private jet is capable of accommodating 16 passengers and features amenities such as a living room, kitchen, multiple bathrooms, and a master bedroom.

Cool car collection

In common with many billionaires, Beyoncé and Jay-Z own a fleet of expensive cars including a Maybach Exelero, a Bugatti Veyron, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a custom-designed Mercedes.

In 2021, the couple reportedly splashed out on a seriously expensive car. Rolls-Royce unveiled its one-of-a-kind Boat Tail, which boasts a $28 million price tag. Although the owner hasn't been confirmed, the fact the luxury vehicle has a "Blue Ivy" leather interior and a fridge holding Armand de Brignac luxury vintage champagne  – a brand partially owned by Jay-Z –  fuelled speculation that it was built for the couple.

Family first

Beyoncé famously spoils her children, once giving her eldest daughter an $80,000 diamond-encrusted Barbie doll for her birthday. Meanwhile, ahead of the arrival of their twins in 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z splurged on matching gold cribs costing $75,000.

All three children are often spotted wearing costly designer clothes, with Blue Ivy once pictured wearing a $5,000 dress by popular fashion designer Mischka Aoki.

Beyoncé's bling

Beyoncé loves to splash her cash on flashy bling. In fact, during her aforementioned private concert at Dubai's Atlantis The Royal hotel, she wore several items of extravagant jewelry by luxury designer Lorraine Schwartz, with the pieces valued at a jaw-dropping $7.5 million. 

The star’s controversial performance included three wardrobe changes, and throughout the night she donned a pair of 100-carat emerald earrings surrounded by 60 carats of dazzling white diamonds, a 30-carat diamond ring, 50-carat pear-shaped diamond earrings, and finally, a pair of diamond pyramid earrings (pictured) that totaled more than 60 carats.

Charity work

Bling aside, Beyoncé also donates a lot of money to charity, notably giving $100,000 to historically Black colleges last year. 

Meanwhile, her BeyGOOD charity, which tackles gender inequality and provides natural disaster relief, pledged $6 million in support of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now discover where Beyoncé and Jay-Z rank among the richest celebrity power couples in the world

More for You

I was fired from a new job in less than a week after I started. It taught me not every opportunity is a good opportunity.

Fever rookie Caitlin Clark stuns in WNBA debut before sellout crowd: 'You couldn’t ask for a better game'

This is the salary it takes to be considered rich in every state

How Much Beer You'd Have To Drink To Equal A Single Shot Of Liquor

10 million Netflix viewers fall in love with new release in its first week

Chiefs Cut Ties with Ex-Steelers Wide Receiver

The 11 Smells That Squirrels and Chipmunks Hate

A woman said her tattoos got her rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

'Sopranos' star doubles down against pro-Biden celebs: 'The far left own Hollywood'

I became a millionaire at age 27—here are 4 'unpopular' rules rich people follow that most don't

Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

Map reveals best places to live in the US if nuclear war breaks out

17 Phrases Confident People Use When They Want to Be Assertive But Not Rude

Employers Are Avoiding Hiring Gen Z Workers- Here's Why

Here are all the top contenders to be Trump's vice-presidential nominee in 2024

The public colleges that are most worth the money, based on data

What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Peanut Butter Regularly

Patrick Mahomes explains when he knew the Chiefs were the NFL’s new villain

17 Phrases Older People Use That No One Else Gets

Happiness Science Says When You Can Say Yes to Any of These 5 Questions, You'll Feel More Fulfilled, Satisfied, and Considerably Less Stressed