BY DAN GARCIA

Beyoncé might not control the weather, but don’t be surprised if she starts trying.

What was supposed to be a breezy spring night for the launch of The Cowboy Carter Tour in Chicago turned into a rain-soaked, lightning-filled test of patience, endurance, and fandom. But despite the hours-long weather delay that sent fans scurrying to Soldier Field’s covered concourses and pushed the concert start time past 10 p.m., Beyoncé didn’t just save the show, she turned the storm into part of the spectacle.

With severe thunderstorm alerts hitting the greater Chicagoland area Thursday afternoon and torrential rain flooding the stadium gates, Soldier Field issued the official word around 5 p.m.: The show would be delayed and wouldn’t begin before 9 p.m. Fans, many in full western-inspired glam, waited it out in ponchos and boots, crowding under awnings and huddling beneath stairwells, clutching their glittering cowboy hats in their hats to save their outfits from the heavy winds. The concourse buzzed with excitement and frustration, but no one dared leave, not when the Queen was still set to take the stage.

When the lights finally dimmed at 10:15 p.m., hours behind schedule, the eruption from the crowd said it all. The storm may have flooded the parking lots, but it couldn’t dampen Beyoncé’s thunder.

Beyoncé opened with “AMERIICAN REQUIEM,” the soaring curtain-raiser from Cowboy Carter, emerging in gold on a massive stage that stretched deep into the crowd. The stormy night immediately shifted into sacred territory. From there, she rolled into a cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” and used the moment to connect with the crowd after the delay:

“Thank you guys for your patience through the weather. Thank you for all your love, even throughout the storm,” Beyoncé said with a smile. “Y’all are here, I am here, and we’re gonna have ourselves a good ole time.”

She wasn’t lying. From there, the show exploded with powerful visuals and emotional punch. Her soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” (in the style of Jimi Hendrix) bled seamlessly into “Freedom,” which hit even harder under the post-storm skies. “YA YA” followed, with choreography that nodded to her Super Bowl show, while “Why Don’t You Love Me” reintroduced early Beyoncé sass into the cowboy universe.

As she transitioned into the second act with “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” behind a transparent podium, the political messaging ramped up. That led into the spaghetti western spectacle of “SPAGHETTII,” followed by hat-tipping versions of “Formation,” “MY HOUSE” (complete with a collapsing inflatable red house), and “Diva.”

The next act ushered in ballads and boundary-pushers, including “ALLIIGATOR TEARS,” the flirty “JUST FOR FUN,” and “PROTECTOR,” (with a special cameo from Rumi Carter) which brought a tender moment to the arena. After an emotional interlude, “FLAMENCO” and “DESERT EAGLE” brought back the footwork, followed by the atmospheric “RIIVERDANCE” and “II HANDS II HEAVEN.”

A standout of the night came next: during “TYRANT,” Beyoncé faced off with a golden mechanical bull. Then came “THIQUE” and the sultry denim-styled “LEVII’S JEANS,” followed by the genre-melting “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’,” which blended elements of “PURE/HONEY” and “SUMMER RENAISSANCE.”

Entering the second half of the long night, Beyoncé delivered the crowd-favorite “TEXAS HOLD ’EM” to deafening screams before firing into a run of classics, “Crazy in Love,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Love on Top,” “Irreplaceable,” and “If I Were a Boy”, as Soldier Field turned into one massive singalong.

She floated above the crowd during her now-iconic cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” before bringing it back to her southern roots with “Daddy Lessons” and “BODYGUARD.” The party didn’t stop as she rode the neon horseshoe to the B-stage for “CUFF IT,” then gave fans the silky slow jam “Dance for You.”

“HEATED” and her cover of “Before I Let Go” brought out full choreography and pure crowd energy, and then came one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the night: during “DAUGHTER,” Beyoncé sat at a gold-plated piano, only for the piano to suddenly erupt in flames. The effect was fiery, bold, and pure Beyoncé.

Closing the show was a Renaissance redux of “I’M THAT GIRL,” “COZY,” and “ALIEN SUPERSTAR,” complete with LED visuals, intergalactic staging, and golden costuming that evoked her 2023 tour, but elevated. Then, in one final act of triumph, she returned in an American flag dress for the stunning “16 CARRIAGES,” gliding above the stadium in a floating car, before closing with the emotional, red-white-and-blue finale “AMEN.”

And yes, the concert didn’t end until 1 a.m. Luckily, the City of Chicago literally extended its curfew, a treatment that only an artist of such magnitude would warrant.

From sheltering in place to shouting lyrics into the post-midnight air, Beyoncé’s Chicago faithful proved their devotion. And Beyoncé, ever the showwoman, proved that even a thunderstorm can’t dim her spotlight.

After all, when the Queen says we’re gonna have ourselves a good ole time—she means it. Rain or shine.

Imagine this: A warm summer night at Soldier Field, the Chicago skyline glowing behind you, and more than 60,000 fans all decked out in chrome and cowboy hats, chanting in unison for one person — Beyoncé. As part of her groundbreaking Renaissance Tour, the Queen herself transformed the home of the Chicago Bears into a dazzling, otherworldly celebration of music, movement, fashion, and freedom.

If you stayed home last weekend thinking, “I’ll catch her next time,” let me be blunt: You missed a once-in-a-generation spectacle. Beyoncé’s stop in Chicago was not just a concert — it was a cultural event, a fashion show, a dance party, a statement, and a masterclass in live performance. So whether you’re a part-time member of the Beyhive or a certified stan, here are all the reasons why you should’ve made the drive from Milwaukee to catch Queen B in action.

---

Beyoncé isn’t just a pop star. She’s a movement.

There’s a reason Beyoncé doesn’t need an opening act: the minute she steps on stage, she becomes the moment. And on Saturday night, that moment stretched for over two and a half hours, spanning 34 songs across multiple eras — from her Dangerously in Love ballads to Renaissance’s ballroom-inspired anthems. Her voice was flawless, effortlessly shifting from hushed intimacy to full-blown diva power, while her choreography hit just as hard.

With a live band, backup dancers, stunning visuals, and an elaborate moving stage, Beyoncé delivered a performance that felt more like a Broadway-meets-club extravaganza than a typical arena show. It was curated to perfection, but still pulsing with raw energy — reminding us why she’s regarded as one of the greatest live performers of all time.

---

She made Soldier Field her palace

Sure, Soldier Field may be best known for its gridiron history, but for two nights, Beyoncé was the only one calling the plays. In fact, now that Aaron Rodgers is no longer “owning” the Bears, Beyoncé seemed to lease out the entire venue — taking over the lakefront stadium with a sense of power, joy, and undeniable swagger.

The transformation was incredible. Giant LED screens wrapped the stage, the catwalk extended deep into the crowd, and lights lit up the night like a Fourth of July fireworks show — all to serve one queen’s vision. Surrounded by fans from across the Midwest (and far beyond), the atmosphere inside Soldier Field was electric from the moment gates opened until Beyoncé gave her final bow.

---

It wasn’t just a show. It was a runway.

Going to a Beyoncé concert is like attending fashion week — if fashion week involved tens of thousands of screaming fans in rhinestones. Renaissance-era Beyhive came dressed to slay, flaunting metallics, chrome accents, rhinestone cowgirl boots, and yes, an endless supply of disco ball cowboy hats.

But even with all that shine in the crowd, no one outshone the queen. Styled by Marni Senofonte, Beyoncé cycled through a series of couture looks that were both futuristic and fabulous — including a custom black-and-gold Schiaparelli bodysuit to open the night. Every outfit change was its own moment, paired seamlessly with a new mood, new choreography, and new visuals. Fashion wasn’t just part of the show — it was the show.

---

The visuals? Out of this world.

If Beyoncé’s voice was the soul of the night, her stage production was the beating heart. A sci-fi-glam fever dream brought to life, the Renaissance Tour’s visuals leaned into metallics, androids, and intergalactic imagery. One of the night’s most jaw-dropping moments came when Beyoncé sang atop a Cybertruck-inspired silver horse, slowly floating over the stage like a chrome goddess.

Lasers, robotic arms, chrome backdrops, and a transforming video wall all enhanced the music without overpowering it. Even the interludes — which featured glitchy, futuristic spoken word segments — added to the immersive vibe. Beyoncé didn’t just perform music; she built a world.

---

A journey through her evolution

The concert wasn’t just a celebration of Renaissance — it was a career retrospective for one of pop culture’s most influential figures. Beyoncé opened the night with a stripped-down rendition of Destiny’s Child’s “Dangerously in Love,” a reminder of where she started. But by the time she arrived at “Alien Superstar” and “Pure/Honey,” it was clear just how far she’s traveled — musically, creatively, and personally.

Gone is the girl-group ingénue. In her place stands a self-possessed, genre-bending, boundary-pushing icon. To witness that evolution in real-time, song by song, was nothing short of inspiring.

---

No openers. No filler. Just Beyoncé.

When you’re Beyoncé, you are the pre-show, the main event, and the encore. Skipping the tradition of having an opening act, Bey gave fans more of what they came for: her. No distractions, no warm-ups — just a two-hour-plus journey that never let up.

And it worked. The crowd didn’t need hyping. From the second the lights dimmed and the first notes rang out, Soldier Field was on its feet. The vibe? A communal, euphoric energy that pulsed with every beat and lyric.

---

FOMO is real — and so is redemption

Let’s not sugarcoat it: If you missed Beyoncé in Chicago, you missed something unforgettable. Social media clips don’t do it justice. Setlists can’t capture the energy. And no amount of sparkle on your couch can replace the glittering, sweaty, joy-soaked reality of being there in person.

But all is not lost — not yet. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour is still rolling through more stadiums across the U.S., and if there’s a show within driving distance, consider this your wake-up call. Trust me: You don’t want to be left out of the next unforgettable night.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour at Soldier Field wasn’t just a concert — it was a reminder of what live music can be at its very best: bold, breathtaking, and unifying. Whether you were in the front row or the nosebleeds, you left with the same feeling — like you’d just witnessed something transcendent.

Next time Queen B rolls through the Midwest, don’t hesitate. Bow down, grab your disco hat, and join the party.