Beyoncé kicked off her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter tour on April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and while the show had some unforgettable moments, like her daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi joining her on stage, it’s the empty seats that are getting just as much attention.
Despite the buzz around her genre-shifting album and historic Grammy wins, Queen Bey is struggling to fill stadiums like she did during her Renaissance era.
Let’s start with the heartwarming stuff. Blue Ivy, now 13, confidently joined her mom on “America Has a Problem,” proving she’s still the ultimate mini-performer. But the real surprise? Seven-year-old Rumi made her live debut during the track “Protector,” standing beside her mom and big sister in a rare family stage moment that had fans gushing online.
But while the Carter girls were lighting up the stage, fans were side-eyeing the wide swaths of empty seats. According to Ticketmaster, thousands of tickets were still up for grabs just hours before showtime. And no, it’s not because the music isn’t good. Cowboy Carter debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and scored Beyoncé her first-ever Grammy for Album of the Year in 2025, along with Best Country Album. But even with the accolades, ticket resale prices have been sky-high, and some fans have cooled off due to controversies surrounding Jay-Z’s old business ties.
The setlist itself? Packed. Beyoncé didn’t hold back. She opened with “American Requiem” and moved through tracks like “Blackbird,” “Spaghetti,” “Alligator Tears,” and of course, “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages.” There was a surprise medley that mashed up “Sweet Honey Buckiin’,” “Summer Renaissance,” and “Pure/Honey,” and she even threw in classics like “Formation,” “Crazy in Love,” and “Cuff It” to keep longtime fans happy.
Still, the slower-than-expected ticket sales are impossible to ignore. Her Renaissance World Tour made over $579 million, but Cowboy Carter hasn’t come close, yet. Some blame poor marketing, others point to overpriced resale tickets, and then there’s just the shift in public perception.
But if opening night proved anything, it’s that Beyoncé’s still delivering powerful performances, whether the stadium is full or not. And with her daughters stepping into the spotlight, it feels like a full-circle moment for the Carter family. Whether or not the rest of the tour picks up steam, there’s no denying Beyoncé continues to put on a show that blends spectacle, soul, and star power.
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