Mrs. Carter Show

Lore & Background

The tour's narrative centered on Beyoncé embracing her identity as Mrs. Carter while asserting herself as a modern-day feminist. Following the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on February 3, 2013, she announced the tour, referencing her marriage to Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter despite initial criticism from feminists. During a Vogue interview, Beyoncé explained, "I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I've ever been," noting that meeting her child clarified her purpose. Visually, the show featured royal aesthetics, with posters depicting her in Victorian golden royal tops and crowns referencing Queen Elizabeth I. The setlist evolved significantly; the 2013 leg included approximately twenty-five songs from her first four solo albums—Dangerously in Love, B'Day, I Am... Sasha Fierce, and 4—with seven tracks specifically from 4. After releasing her self-titled fifth album in late 2013, the 2014 shows incorporated eight new songs from that record, replacing many previous numbers.

In Their Own Story

The production was a massive logistical undertaking directed and choreographed by Frank Gatson Jr., featuring a main stage and a B-stage where Beyoncé flew over the crowd on a rope to perform three songs. Eight hundred dancers auditioned for the tour, with only females selected, joined by the French dancing duo Les Twins, backing singers The Mamas, and an eleven-piece female band. Controversy surrounded the media access; on April 24, 2013, Beyoncé's publicist banned all photographers except Frank Micelotta due to "unflattering" Super Bowl photos circulating online. This sparked a letter from the National Press Photographers Association requesting restored credentials. The tour also embraced charity through the "Miss A Meal" campaign and Goodwill support, where fans donated goods at stops. An auction on Charitybuzz, co-hosted by Beyoncé and her mother Tina Knowles for $25,000, offered a winner backstage access in Los Angeles and a wardrobe department assist with Knowles.

Reader's Guide

Fans attending the tour witnessed a high-fashion evolution where Beyoncé collaborated with designers like Emilio Pucci, Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), The Blonds, DSQUARED2, and later Tom Ford and Versace for the 2014 leg. A standout moment was the gold bodysuit by The Blonds, hand-embroidered in 600 hours with 30,000 Swarovski crystals to create an illusion of crystallized honey; it featured golden breast-cups with complete nipple detail and divided critics. Stuart Weitzman designed military-element shoes for the singer and band, focusing on danceability. The tourbook illustrated these visual aspects, while makeup themes drew from cosmic stars, film noir, 60's London, and cyber beauty. Commercially, the tour sold out immediately upon announcement, prompting added dates. It grossed $188.6 million in 2013 and $41.1 million in 2014, securing its status as the highest-grossing female and solo tour of 2013.

Did You Know?

• Eight hundred dancers auditioned for the tour, but only females were selected to join the performance.
• The gold bodysuit worn in 2013 took 600 hours to hand-embroider and used approximately 30,000 Swarovski crystals.
• Beyoncé banned all photographers except her personal photographer Frank Micelotta after unflattering Super Bowl photos appeared on sites like Gawker.
• The tour included a B-stage where Beyoncé flew over the crowd on a rope to perform three songs midway through the set.
• A $25,000 auction hosted by Beyoncé and her mother Tina Knowles allowed the winner to assist in the wardrobe department for a Los Angeles concert.