Beyoncé’s holiday halftime show is the first of its kind for the NFL and Netflix. It was a medley of songs from Cowboy Carter, her Grammy-nominated album and the superstar’s first performance with the album. The entire performance was a love letter honoring her hometown, the Black Houstonian community and the legacy of the Black Cowboy.

A visual tribute to Houston’s black heritage

The performance began with Bey in an all-white fluffy coat that is a representation of the traditional “wooliies” worn by black cowboys. She rode a white horse led by a black cowboy, also dressed in white, who sang “16 Carriages.” Bey was then joined by Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts and Brittany Spencer to sing her ballad “Blackbiird” before taking to the main stage.

Her iridescent white rodeo outfit was a tribute to the eclectic style and interpretations of black rodeo-goers in Houston. Bey’s dancers seamlessly bridged the gap between two genres by mixing hip-hop choreography and line dance-inspired moves. During the performance there were Swangas, SLABs, Donks and all of Houston’s car culture, as well as elements of the Prairie View Trail Riders.

Special guests and employees

Beyoncé shared the stage with other notable country artists, including Shaboozey, known for his hit “A Bar Song” in her song “Spaghettii.” She also performed her track “Levii’s Jeans” with Post Malone. Even Blue Ivey performed line dancing with her mother and backup dancers. In addition to making room for the country genre to be accessible to artists of all backgrounds and faiths, Beyoncé is also cementing her family’s legacy in Houston’s larger country culture.

Black rodeo culture in the spotlight

The Christmas halftime show wasn’t just a cultural celebration, it was also a history lesson. Images scattered throughout the show focused attention on the role Black Cowboys have played in shaping American history. Historically, white cattle workers were called “cowhands” and use of the word “cowboy” was reserved only for black cattle workers. The word “boy” was used as a racial diminutive that was and is common throughout the American South.

The term “cowboy” became increasingly popular in the industry and was subsequently glossed over to exclude black cowherds from the history books. However, Houston has never forgotten its black cowboy roots and its cultural significance is ingrained in the city’s culture. The Houston Rodeo and Houston Rodeo Week are an integral part of the black community, and Beyoncé herself grew up attending these events with her mother, Tina Knowles, and her sister, Solange. In August of this year, Beyoncé donated $500,000 to support black cowboys through the newly formed Black Equestrians Program with the Bill Picket Rodeo circuit.

The love for her hometown of Houston and the rich black equestrian and cowboy culture within it is something that not only Beyoncé, but her sister as well, continues to draw inspiration from. There are many parallels between this halftime performance by Cowboy Carter and the images in Solange’s short film “When I Get Home.” The Knowles family has always done it was unapologetically Houston and continued to show the world the rich culture that shaped these legendary artists. With the success of “Cowboy Carter,” the world is finally taking notice.

A Christmas present to culture

Beyoncé used her platform and fame to show one of the many facets of what it looks like to be black in America. This historic performance elevated the Black Cowboys narrative and honored the Black Houstonian community’s contributions to Texas and American culture. Her powerful performance is the perfect blend of artistry and activism and is celebrated as one of her most culturally significant moments. By shining a light on black rodeo and cowboy culture, she ensured that the stories of this vibrant community were front and center, where they always belong.