In the automotive world, we know that even the most cherished rides can let you down at the worst possible moment. For pop superstar Beyoncé, that moment came mid-air, in front of thousands, when her flying stage prop decided it had had enough.
During the Houston stop on her “Cowboy Carter” tour, Queen B was performing her aptly named hit “16 Carriages” while being chauffeured around NRG Stadium in a vibrant red flying car. The prop, designed to give fans in the cheap seats a better view, apparently failed its Warrant of Fitness halfway through its journey. The vehicle began to tilt precariously to one side before sputtering to a complete halt, leaving the singer dangling above her screaming fans.
Like any driver dealing with a sudden breakdown, Beyoncé took immediate control, yelling, “Stop, stop, stop, stop!” after finishing the first verse. A pit crew of stagehands promptly rushed in, safely lowering the stricken vehicle back to terra firma. Her entertainment company, Parkwood, later released a statement chalking the incident up to a “technical mishap,” assuring everyone that no one was injured and the show continued.
Proving she’s a true professional who can handle any mechanical gremlin thrown her way, Beyoncé didn’t miss a beat. After being safely removed from the car, she simply walked back to the main stage to finish belting out the song. This wasn’t her first on-tour hiccup, either. Earlier in the tour, she experienced a “wardrobe malfunction” when her chaps fell down, which she also handled with unshakeable composure.
While someone’s getting a stern talking-to about pre-flight checks, Beyoncé proved that when one of your carriages breaks down, you just get out and walk. The show must, and did, go on.
