Beyoncé is no stranger to making headlines, but her latest tour rollout has caught fans and critics off guard for a very different reason: cheap tickets. Just days before the kickoff of her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter Tour in Los Angeles, fans began noticing something unusual—resale tickets for as low as $20, roughly the same price as a limited edition McDonald’s Minecraft meal. So what exactly happened?
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album debuted to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. The country-infused project not only topped the Billboard 200 but also produced chart-topping singles like “Texas Hold ’Em.” She even took home the Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Country Album. But despite the accolades and buzz, enthusiasm for the tour seems to have hit a snag—at least when it comes to ticket sales.
On social media, users quickly jumped on the surprising price drops. One post on X (formerly Twitter) claimed to find nosebleed section tickets at SoFi Stadium for just $20, while others noted prices in the $27–$37 range. Comparisons to fast-food meals poured in, with users mocking the situation by saying the cost of seeing Beyoncé live had fallen below the price of a Big Mac combo.
Adding fuel to the fire, some skeptics on social media suggested that Beyoncé’s pivot to country music may not be resonating with her core fanbase. “Nobody cares about cowgirl Beyoncé,” one user bluntly posted. Another joked that the album tour should have been donation-based. Critics also speculated that the ambitious five-show opening in Los Angeles might have been too much, too soon.
Still, Beyoncé’s most loyal fans were quick to defend her. Many pointed out that her 2023 Renaissance Tour also got off to a slow start before eventually selling out and becoming the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist in history. “Wait until the tour starts and those clips hit the internet,” one supporter argued. “Everyone will be scrambling for tickets.”
It’s important to note that many of these low-priced tickets are resale listings—not official prices from Beyoncé’s team. That means the initial batch of tickets was likely sold at full price, and the cheap seats flooding the internet are from scalpers or fans trying to offload extras. In other words, Beyoncé may not be taking a financial hit—at least not directly.
Beyond pricing, there’s also the issue of audience expectations. Beyoncé’s foray into country music with Cowboy Carter represents a bold artistic shift, but it may not have the same broad appeal as her previous pop and R&B work. For some fans, the change in genre has created distance, especially when coupled with high ticket prices—some floor seats are still listed at over $1,500.
Some observers also believe timing and saturation play a role. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour only wrapped up last year, and it’s possible fans are experiencing a bit of “tour fatigue.” The economic climate, with inflation and high living costs, may also be contributing to slower ticket sales, particularly for those priced in premium ranges.
Despite the shaky start, it’s far too early to declare the Cowboy Carter Tour a failure. Beyoncé has built a career on reinvention and spectacle. Once the tour begins and clips from her performances start circulating online, public interest could spike dramatically—just as it did with Renaissance.
For now, the tour’s rocky launch serves as a reminder that even global superstars aren’t immune to missteps—or meme-worthy moments. Whether this is just a slow burn or a rare miscalculation remains to be seen. But if Beyoncé’s track record tells us anything, it’s not wise to count her out just yet.