Beyoncé replaces Cadillac with gold horse after stage malfunction on Cowboy Carter Tour
Opening show lasted nearly three hours. Photo: File
Beyoncé has made a high-profile change to her Cowboy Carter Tour following a recent onstage incident. During the closing moments of her sold-out July 10 show in Atlanta, the superstar introduced a new spectacle: a gold mechanical horse suspended by high wires. The elaborate prop, with galloping leg movements, carried Beyoncé above the arena as she performed “16 Carriages,” stunning fans in attendance and across social media.
Beyoncé performing 16 CARRIAGES on a flying golden horse in Atlanta tonight#CowboyCarterTour pic.twitter.com/uhJAfVQ6Mh
beThe update comes after a high-profile mishap in Houston late last month involving a similar aerial stunt. On June 28, Beyoncé had been performing the same song while seated in a red Cadillac suspended above the stage. Midway through the performance, the vehicle began tilting unexpectedly. In fan-captured footage, Beyoncé can be heard calmly saying “stop” multiple times before thanking the crowd for their patience. Crew members then safely lowered her back to the stage, earning applause from fans inside NRG Stadium.
Following the incident, “16 Carriages” was removed from the June 29 setlist, with Beyoncé ending that performance with “Amen,” another track from her acclaimed Cowboy Carter album. The song was also omitted during two shows in Washington, D.C. on July 4 and 7.
The Cowboy Carter Tour, which began in Los Angeles this past April, has made stops in Chicago, New Jersey, London, and Paris, and will wrap up in Las Vegas on July 26. The tour has included special appearances by her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi, and a rare onstage collaboration with husband Jay-Z in Paris.
The acclaimed tour follows Cowboy Carter’s success at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where it earned both Best Country Album and Album of the Year. Beyoncé dedicated the honors to country music trailblazer Linda Martell, vowing to keep opening doors. With new visuals and an evolving setlist, Beyoncé continues to blend innovation and resilience as her historic tour enters its final stretch.