Beyoncé is giving the world a very generous gift this Christmas: The singer will be putting on a halftime show at the Houston Texans’ game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 25. Netflix and Beyoncé announced the news on the morning of November 18.
So what can we expect? Here’s everything we know so far about the holiday event.
Which songs will Beyoncé perform?
The superstar has not revealed her full set list, but she will be performing songs from Cowboy Carter live—for the first time. Her track “AMERIICAN REQUIEM” soundtracking the event’s teaser and her “BNCNTRY” license plate further make it clear that this will be a Cowboy Carter concert.
The show will be produced by her company, Parkwood Entertainment, and Jesse Collins Entertainment.
How long will Beyoncé perform?
It is unclear how long the halftime show will be. According to the NFL’s rule book, halftime in football games must be at least 13 minutes long. The Super Bowl has a longer halftime of 30 minutes (as the stage needs to be set up and taken down in the field), although the performances themselves are around the typical halftime length.
Where is Beyoncé performing?
She’ll be singing at NRG Stadium in Houston, where the game is being played.
Is the performance pre-taped?
Halftime shows are live, although there’s a chance her performance could include some pre-taped elements. It’s all a mystery until showtime.
Where can I watch it?
Netflix will be streaming the halftime show on Christmas day at 4:30 P.M. ET.
Will there be any guest stars?
None have been announced yet, but Netflix wrote in its press release for the special that “Beyoncé is expected to feature some special guests who are featured on the Cowboy Carter album.” For reference, Beyoncé collaborated with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Linda Martell, Willie Jones, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts on the project. It’s possible any of them could join her on stage.
What has Beyoncé said about the performance?
Not much yet: She just shared the teaser announcing the news with no caption.
She did discuss how she handles her projects though in her GQ interview released in September. “I create at my own pace, on things that I hope will touch other people,” she said. “I hope my work encourages people to look within themselves and come to terms with their own creativity, strength, and resilience. I focus on storytelling, growth, and quality. I’m not focused on perfectionism. I focus on evolution, innovation, and shifting perception. Working on the music for Cowboy Carter and launching this exciting new project feel nothing like prison, nor a burden. In fact, I only work on what liberates me. It is fame that can at times feel like prison. So, when you don’t see me on red carpets, and when I disappear until I have art to share, that’s why.”
She also addressed why neither Renaissance nor Cowboy Carter had visuals yet. “I thought it was important that during a time where all we see is visuals, that the world can focus on the voice,” she said. “The music is so rich in history and instrumentation. It takes months to digest, research, and understand. The music needed space to breathe on its own. Sometimes a visual can be a distraction from the quality of the voice and the music. The years of hard work and detail put into an album that takes over four years! The music is enough. The fans from all over the world became the visual. We all got the visual on tour. We then got more visuals from my film.”
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.