Beyoncé Trades Car for a Gold Horse on Cowboy Carter Tour

Image via Parkwood Entertainment

Beyoncé has introduced a dramatic change to her Cowboy Carter Tour set, replacing the suspended red convertible used in previous performances with a new gold mechanical horse, a move that both solved a technical issue and deepened the visual symbolism of the show.

During her July 10 performance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the 35-time Grammy winner was seen performing her ballad “16 CARRIAGES” while riding a gleaming gold horse that hovered above the crowd. The moment quickly went viral, with fans on social media praising the new spectacle. Some noted the horse’s design included “swangas,” an homage to Beyoncé’s Houston roots.

The change comes after a concerning incident in Houston on June 28, where Beyoncé’s suspended vintage-style red car tilted mid-air during the same part of the set. Though she appeared secured with a harness, she calmly told the crew to stop the music before smiling and reassuring fans from midair.

@fouad.pov

Beyoncé car malfunction in Houston (scared us for real) #houston #beyonce #cowboycartertour #cowboycarter #16carriage #fyp

“16 CARRIAGES,” a reflective single from Beyoncé’s 2024 Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter, chronicles her adolescence in the public eye and the generational sacrifices that shaped her career. The addition of the gold horse not only enhances the visual storytelling but mirrors other equestrian imagery tied to the album, including its cover.

Beyoncé previously performed atop a silver horse during the Renaissance Tour, creating a now-recognizable motif throughout her recent live shows.

She is set to perform two more nights in Atlanta on July 13 and 14 before wrapping the tour on July 26 in Las Vegas.