Beyoncé announced she would perform her country album live for the first time at the NFL halftime show on Christmas Day, and it is likely to attract some big names to help her.
The singer released Cowboy Carter in March, which was recently nominated for 11 Grammys, including Album of the Year.
She will perform songs from the album in her hometown of Houston at the second of two NFL games on Christmas Day between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens.
Beyoncé is no stranger to playing big shows at NFL games. She has previously performed at two Super Bowls, including headlining in 2013, when she was joined onstage by her Destiny’s Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. That performance became the second most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history, according to Netflix, which is airing a live stream of the games and Beyoncé’s halftime show.
Then, in 2016, Beyoncé joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars when 115.5 million tuned in to watch her debut her new song, “Formation.”
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Who Will Beyoncé Have at Her Halftime Show?
Netflix has said that while much of the details of Beyoncé’s performance will be kept a secret until the big day, she is expected to invite some special guests on stage.
Newsweek reached out to Beyoncé’s representatives via email on Monday for comment.
Dolly Parton
The country legend appeared many times on Cowboy Carter, including on Beyoncé’s cover of one of her biggest hits, “Jolene.”
Parton herself is used to performing on big stages, including the halftime show between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders in November 2023.
Miley Cyrus
The singer, who is also Parton’s goddaughter, sang a duet on Cowboy Carter called “II Most Wanted.”
Following the album’s release, Cyrus praised Beyoncé on Instagram.
“I’ve loved Beyoncé since long before I had the opportunity to meet & work with her. My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created along side of her. Thank you Beyoncé. You’re everything & more. Love you. To everyone who spent time making this song so special thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Cyrus wrote.
Post Malone
The rapper, who has also released a country-inspired album, collaborated with two of the biggest names in music this year.
He was nominated for a Grammy alongside Taylor Swift for their song “Fortnight,” but also recorded “LEVII’S JEANS” with Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter.
Linda Martell
She was the first Black woman to perform at Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry, and Beyoncé helped Martell, 83, get back into the spotlight thanks to her appearance on Cowboy Carter.
Thanks to her vocals on the album, Martell’s music reentered streaming music charts and was nominated for a Grammy.
Willie Nelson
Another country legend likely to hit the stage with Beyoncé on Christmas Day is Nelson. While he does not sing or play guitar on Cowboy Carter, Nelson appeared on the album to voice two interludes as a DJ on the fictional KNTRY radio station.
Nelson and Beyoncé also appeared at a campaign rally in Houston for Vice President Kamala Harris last month.
Other artists likely to appear include the Black country musicians that Beyoncé showcased on her album, including Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts.
The Non-Cowboy Carter Stars Who Might Appear
These other names might be a long shot for appearing at the halftime show, mainly because they do not feature on Cowboy Carter. But here are some reasons we think Beyoncé might surprise us.
Lady Gaga
Gaga is not on Cowboy Carter but has collaborated many times with Beyoncé. Most notably, they collaborated on their hit song “Telephone,” for which fans have long waited for a sequel they had been promised since the song’s release in 2009.
In the video for “Telephone,” the pair played outlaws driving off into the horizon, and the words “to be continued” appeared on the screen at the end.
Fans believed the pair would bring the next “Telephone” chapter to Cowboy Carter after becoming convinced they spotted Easter eggs in the teaser visuals Beyoncé released for her groundbreaking country album.
Other musicians who were not on Cowboy Carter but could hit the stage in Texas include Beyoncé’s husband and rapper Jay-Z and her sister, singer Solange. They have often made cameos in her concerts, including her headlining Coachella set in 2018.