Beyoncé lights up Washington with dazzling Fourth of July ‘Cowboy Carter’ show

Forget fireworks. Beyoncé Knowles-Carterlit up the nation's capital this Fourth of July with her first "Cowboy Carter" concert in the Washington, D.C.-area.

The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her July Fourth show atNorthwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland — five miles east of Washington, D.C — around 8:43 p.m local time. The concert marked her first of two shows at the stadium on herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to perform at the stadium again on July 7.

"Happy Fourth of July, everybody. Today is all about freedom," she said, opening the show in an American flag floor-length coat over a matching bodysuit with sparkly fringe boots and a white cowboy hat.

As fans know,Beyoncéfirstdebuted her "Cowboy Carter" tourat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with39 songs on the set list. Her shows have been filled with family,fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary.

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The July Fourth show was no different. However, the added backdrop of the holiday made for an especially significant night — especially given the the messages and motifs pertaining to country music, America's complex past and its ongoing cultural reckoning.

"The concept of Beyoncé having a show on the 4th of July in Washington D.C. performing, her album about celebrating Black Americanism… ICONIC," one fan wrote on X.

And the electric energy and holiday spirit was kept alive throughout the entire night. Even a SirDavis whiskey bottle was seen dressed to match the theme.

The tour has been a huge showcase of fashion and creativity. Each night, Beyoncé continues toblend high fashionand cowboy couture, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they anticipate a new look. There's been many looks incorporating Western-glam: sparkly chaps, cowboy hats, boots and piles of fringe.

And she continued to serve during the D.C.-area opener.

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Of course, Beyoncé first released her eighth studio album, "Cowboy Carter," in March 2024. It has sincemade historyandbroken multiple records.As Beyoncé's first country album, she deliberately featured country legends and emerging Black country artists alike. She became the first Black woman to winbest country albumat the 2025 Grammys and alsotook home album of the year.

The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finaletaking place in Las Vegason July 26.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's BeyoncéKnowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Beyoncé shines Night 1 of 'Cowboy Carter' tour in Washington