Beyonce has thrilled fans in the early hours of Sunday morning by announcing her Cowboy Carter tour.
The singer's Instagram dropped two posts - one of a flashing Cowboy Carter neon sign and a second close-up shot of the singer's face. The homepage of her website was updated with the same display. However, fans hoping for more details will be disappointed as no further tour dates have yet been shared.
It comes hours before Beyonce will go head-to-head with Taylor Swift for the album of the year award at the 67th Grammy Awards on Sunday.
The ceremony in Los Angeles will see performances from Brat star Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan, with Beyonce being the most recognised artist with 11 nominations.
Beyonce's Cowboy Carter album could become the awards’ most decorated LP, a title currently held by Santana’s Supernatural, which received nine awards in 2000, and one of the record’s singles, Texas Hold ‘Em, is up for the record of the year, song of the year and country song of the year. Should it win the top award, the LP would be Beyonce’s first record to win best album, having previously failed with 2008’s I Am… Sasha Fierce, 2013’s Beyonce, 2016’s Lemonade and 2022’s Renaissance.
But the former Destiny’s Child member will face still competition from Swift, 35, whose The Tortured Poets Department has been nominated. Taylor herself has also received five other nominations.
It's not unusual for musicians to use the ceremony to make huge career announcements. After picking up the Best Pop Vocal Album for album Midnights at last year's ceremony, Taylor used her acceptance speech to reveal release of her 13th album The Tortured Poet's Department.
Beyonce had been due to announce her latest tour in January but postponed because of the “devastation” of the California wildfires that has seen thousands of homes destroyed and communities ravaged.
The 43-year-old superstar, whose BeyGood foundation donated 2.5 million US dollars (£2.05 million) to Los Angeles relief efforts, had previously said she would reveal something – which fans have speculated is a tour or album.
It came as officials warned that winds scattering ash could threaten the progress made so far on the infernos that have sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their properties.
On Instagram, Beyonce wrote: “The January 14th announcement will be postponed to a later date due to the devastation caused by the ongoing wildfires around areas of Los Angeles. I continue to pray for healing and rebuilding for the families suffering from trauma and loss. We are so blessed to have brave first responders who continue to work tirelessly to protect the Los Angeles community.”
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Getty Images for The Recording A)Rock band Nine Inch Nails were about to make a tour announcement, and also said this would be deferred.
On Instagram, they wrote: “Since some dates and information about our world tour have leaked we are confirming that yes we will be touring and will provide more details soon. We are all watching the devastation that is unfolding in California and have paused our announcement while people try to deal with all that is happening.”
On Sunday, the BeyGood foundation Instagram account said it has launched the LA Fire Relief Fund, which “is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centres to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires”.
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WireImage)Image:
WireImage for Parkwood)Founded in 2013, the charity concentrates on economic equity, by “supporting marginalised and under-resourced programmes”, according to its mission statement.
Other celebrities who have donated funds include Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and her foundation, the Screen Actors Guild, the Recording Academy and MusiCares, and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis and her family – who have all pledged one million dollars (£819,000) each to those affected by the wildfires.
US reality star Paris Hilton launched an emergency fund to support families who have been displaced, kickstarting it with a personal donation of 100,000 dollars (£82,000) after she watched her Malibu home “burn to the ground on live TV”.
Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, revealed that her Malibu bungalow was one of the properties destroyed. She wrote: “It was my favourite place, my sanctuary, my sacred happy place. Now it is gone. God bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions.”
Actors Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg are also among the Hollywood stars who have lost their homes.
English (US) ·