Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour Is a Family Affair

Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter’s appearances on Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour weren’t just one-time surprises. The sisters, ages 13 and 7, respectively, accompanied their superstar mom on stage again during the second show of the tour Thursday night at Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium. Blue joined her for a variety of numbers, including “America Has a Problem” and “Before I Let Go,” before commanding the stage for a dance solo to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s “Deja Vu.” Little Rumi, on the other hand, stepped out during “Protector,” the ballad dedicated to her and her siblings. Although Monday marked her stage debut, Rumi was already a natural in the spotlight, waving to the crowd and growing giddy as they cheered.

That wasn’t the only touching family moment, though. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, also joined the trio mid-show. Bey gave her a special tribute to honor Knowles’s memoir, Matriarch, going No. 1 on The New York Times’ bestseller list. “Today is a big day, because my mother, who worked so hard on her book—she has the No. 1 book on The New York Times’ list,” Beyoncé told the crowd at SoFi Stadium. “Everybody please say, ‘Congratulations mama T,’” she added, to which her fans eagerly obliged.

The three generations of women embraced each other on stage—while Rumi jumped for joy. The packed Inglewood venue echoed with applause as I watched from the SoFi Suite. (SoFi Plus members can experience live shows like these, and sports games, by the way.)

Rumi, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy on stage at the Cowboy Carter Tour on May 1.

Although Sir didn’t appear on stage, Bey shared photos of him as a baby, as well as Rumi and Blue, on the big screen between acts. She also shouted him out while acknowledging her crew and band at the end of the show. “Please give it up for Blue Ivy Carter, and Rumi Carter, and Sir Carter!” she said proudly.

Ms. Tina offered similar praise for Beyoncé while speaking to ELLE.com about Matriarch. “From a very early age, I saw the talent in my girls,” she said. “They were different. They were so focused. That’s all they did. Well, not Solange as much. She always danced and sang and wrote songs—she started writing songs when she was like, seven—so I saw the talent and the drive. But the difference between the two is that Beyoncé—I just think nothing else mattered as much to her. She always was into music and dancing.”

The familial theme ties into the thesis of the Cowboy Carter Tour, too. It makes perfect sense that, while reflecting on and reclaiming her history, Beyoncé is also looking ahead to the legacy she’ll leave behind, including her children. Based on what we’ve seen so far, they seem ready to carry the torch.