The ongoing Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Tour controversy with Megyn Kelly has intensified after the political commentator criticized Beyoncé for featuring footage of her during the concert tour’s visuals. Kelly voiced her objections on her own show, just as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter World Tour continues its global sweep, drawing attention for both its performances and public dissent.
Megyn Kelly Objects to Inclusion in Tour Footage
During a recent episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, Megyn Kelly revealed that she had learned Beyoncé was featuring video clips of her at shows around the world. Kelly expressed her frustration over the use of footage taken from her prior comments about Beyoncé’s move into country music.
“Beyoncé, who’s on some world tour right now reinventing herself as a country star, is running videotape during the show of yours truly.”
—Megyn Kelly, TV Personality
Kelly continued to challenge Beyoncé’s approach, highlighting the star’s wealth and social status while accusing her of exploiting criticism for sympathy on a large stage.
“Here is another one of the most privileged, beloved women in the world — and richest, based on her own fortune, never mind the man she’s married to,”
—Megyn Kelly, TV Personality
“But [she] still has to look for the one sliver where she could play the victim and be aggrieved because big bad Megyn Kelly said something completely milquetoast about her entry into country music.”
—Megyn Kelly, TV Personality
Context Behind the Tour Visuals and Public Backlash
The disputed footage stems from a past appearance by Kelly on Australia’s Sky News, where she critiqued Beyoncé’s exploration of country music. In each Cowboy Carter concert, edited clips of Kelly’s remarks are displayed on big screens at the venue, prompting strong reactions both in the arena and online. While Beyoncé’s team has yet to comment on the controversy, the decision to spotlight these criticisms during her performances highlights the wider debate over the pop star’s transition into the country genre.
Released in March 2024, the Cowboy Carter album marked a major stylistic shift for Beyoncé. The 27-track collection, which rose to the top of the Billboard 200, includes collaborations with country legends such as Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Despite initial resistance from the country music industry—signaled by the album’s absence from the CMA Awards and minimal radio airplay—Beyoncé achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart with the single “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Furthermore, Cowboy Carter claimed both Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Kelly Doubles Down on Criticism Amid Beyoncé’s Success
Unmoved by Beyoncé’s achievements and recognition, Kelly reiterated her skepticism regarding the singer’s entry into country music.
“She and her marketing people were treating that entry [into country music] like the second coming, like it’s Jesus incarnate,”
—Megyn Kelly, TV Personality
“‘All hail Queen Bey, she’s here to rescue country music,’ which was a perfectly thriving industry long before Beyoncé showed up.”
—Megyn Kelly, TV Personality
The ongoing discussion reflects a divide between those embracing Beyoncé’s genre expansion and those critical of potential commercialization or perceived disruption within a traditionally insular music segment.
Touring Milestones and Escalating Visual Disputes
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter World Tour has been met with packed venues and record-setting ticket sales, underscoring her considerable influence in the entertainment world. The tour has already reached key cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. Notably, her five-night stay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, grossed an impressive $55.7 million with 217,000 tickets sold, making it the highest-grossing single–venue engagement reported by Billboard Boxscore in 2025 to date. Beyoncé is slated to continue the tour with a series of performances at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium starting June 5.
Amid the tour’s commercial success, controversy over concert visuals has arisen more than once. Prior to Kelly’s airing of grievances, Beyoncé received a cease-and-desist letter from attorneys representing James Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment Co., objecting to the use of imagery from the Las Vegas Sphere during a video segment. In response, Beyoncé’s creative team adapted the visuals, swapping in London’s Allegiant Stadium in a nod to the legal dispute.
Broader Implications for Cross-Genre Artists and Critics
The Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Tour controversy with Megyn Kelly exemplifies how major artists leveraging public criticism for artistic or commercial impact can spark fresh debates about cultural boundaries and authenticity. As public figures like Megyn Kelly weigh in on these artistic choices, the discourse extends beyond personal disputes, touching on evolving themes of genre, representation, and the power of global superstar status. With Beyoncé set to command even bigger audiences in Europe, the conversation around her country music transformation—and the resistance it provokes—shows no sign of ending soon.
