With the release of Cowboy Carter last year, a lot of noise was made about whether Beyoncé was “country enough” to put out a country album. More than one year (and her first album of the year Grammy) later, the answer is: of course she was. And she’s further proving her genre prowess on the just-launched Cowboy Carter Tour.
Katie & Keith were both inside for night 1 of the 32-date tour, which kicked off Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and on the latest episode of the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast we’re discussing Bey’s message with the new tour. The superstar refuses to be put in a box throughout the nearly three-hour show, proving she can perform country side-by-side with dance music, be an ever-present mom and remain a top-of-her-game pop star, and be a proud American while still questioning our country’s past, present and future.
Listen to our full discussion about the kick-off of the Cowboy Carter Tour in the podcast below.
Also on the show, we have chart news on SZA’s SOS returning to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a 13th nonconsecutive week, how Billboard’s 2025 Woman of the Year Doechii hits the top 10 on the same chart for the first time with her Grammy-winning Alligator Bites Never Heal, and how Jack Black sets a new — short — record on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
