Beyoncé’s highly anticipated Cowboy Carter tour stop in Chicago began with more of a storm than a splash as severe weather forced lengthy delays at her first of three scheduled performances at Soldier Field.
The Grammy-winning superstar was set to kick off the Chicago leg of her tour on Thursday, May 15, but fans were told to “shelter in place” after dangerous weather conditions swept through the city. According to reports from the Chicago Sun-Times and NBC Chicago, the city was hit with high heat reaching 95 degrees, followed by powerful thunderstorms that disrupted the evening’s schedule.
Venue officials made the initial delay announcement shortly after 5 p.m., alerting fans via loudspeaker that the show would not begin before 9 p.m. Spectators, many clad in cowboy hats, rhinestone-covered outfits, and boots in honor of the Cowboy Carter aesthetic, waited patiently as rain and wind battered the area.
According to NBC Chicago, stadium access resumed around 9:15 p.m., though floor seating remained closed until approximately 9:45 p.m.
Safety First at Soldier Field
Soldier Field officials said safety was their top concern and that detailed contingency plans were already in place.
“Our primary objective is to keep all our guests safe and secure,” officials said in a statement. “We have vast experience in handling severe weather on major event days. Our severe weather plans are ready to implement if the need should arise.”
Video footage obtained by ABC7 Chicago showed the intensity of the storm, with fans running for cover as gusts of wind overturned chairs and rain poured into the open-air venue. Despite the chaos, the crowd remained resilient.
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“If I have to sit through a tornado, outside in a field, I would do it,” one concertgoer told the station. “You only live once, and Beyoncé is a once-in-a-lifetime performer.”
The forecast for Friday night includes rain, but severe weather is expected to clear up by the weekend, allowing Beyoncé’s scheduled Saturday and Sunday shows to proceed without interruption.
Trouble Brewing on the East Coast
While Chicago’s weather may stabilize, Beyoncé’s East Coast performances could face another kind of disruption. Concertgoers planning to attend her upcoming shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are being warned about potential transit headaches due to a labor strike affecting NJ Transit.
As reported by Gothamist and NBC New York, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen began a strike on Friday, May 16, following the rejection of a tentative labor agreement. The engineers have been working without a formal contract for six years and have not received a pay raise during that period.
The strike’s timing poses significant challenges for Beyoncé fans trying to reach MetLife Stadium, which is expected to host five Cowboy Carter shows between May 22 and May 29. The stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 50,000.
“Meadowlands service for the Beyoncé concert remains TBD,” NJ Transit spokesperson John Chartier told Gothamist. The uncertainty has left fans scrambling to make alternative travel plans.
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Past Precedent: Shakira Shows Canceled
Just days before the Beyoncé shows, NJ Transit canceled rail and bus service for two Shakira concerts scheduled at MetLife Stadium. The venue’s website warned of significant delays and advised attendees to carpool, use rideshare apps, or take Coach USA buses.
“Larger crowds can result in very long post-event wait times (up to 2 hours) for service,” the site noted. Rideshare users were also warned about the likelihood of higher surge pricing due to limited transportation options.
The strike and its impact on public transportation could make attending the Cowboy Carter shows more difficult for the thousands of fans traveling from across the region to see Beyoncé perform live.
Beyoncé’s Tour and Recent Success
The Cowboy Carter tour is Beyoncé’s first major concert run since her 2023 Renaissance World Tour, which spanned 56 shows across North America and Europe. The tour follows her genre-blending country album, Cowboy Carter, which was released to critical acclaim earlier this year.
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won three trophies for Cowboy Carter, including Album of the Year, Best Country Album, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her collaboration with Miley Cyrus on “II Most Wanted.”
The tour also marks a family affair: recent shows have seen Beyoncé bring her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi, and mother Tina Knowles on stage during key performances, turning the tour into a celebration of legacy and empowerment.
In 2023, Beyoncé’s Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé debuted in theaters, documenting her last tour and giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process, production, and powerful performances.
As the Cowboy Carter tour continues to roll through cities across the U.S., fans are advised to check local weather forecasts and transportation updates, especially in light of ongoing labor disputes and unpredictable conditions.
One thing remains clear: Beyoncé’s fans are willing to weather almost anything to see her perform. Whether it’s thunderstorms in Chicago or transit strikes in New Jersey, the Cowboy Carter era is galloping forward — boots, glitter, and all.
