Beyoncé contributed to setting streaming records for the NFL with her critically-acclaimed halftime performance during the Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
Both that game and the Kansas City Chiefs-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup were available on Netflix for the holiday, and as per a CNBC report, they have now become the most streamed NFL games in U.S. history.
A total of 65 million viewers in the U.S. watched the two games, with the Ravens-Texans game averaging 24.3 million viewers, while the Chiefs-Steelers attracted 24.1 million.
During Bey’s halftime performance, over 27 million viewers tuned in to see the live presentation of her country-inspired Cowboy Carter album.
The games signified the beginning of a three-year collaboration between the NFL and Netflix to exclusively broadcast Christmas matchups.
Beyoncé’s glamorous performance featured her daughter Blue Ivy, along with several guests who are part of Cowboy Carter. Post Malone participated in performing their duet “Levii’s Jeans,” while Shaboozey had previously collaborated on “Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin.” Initially, she was accompanied by the four women who perform with her on “Blackbiird”: Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell, and Reyna Roberts.
Soon after the show concluded, Beyoncé began to hint at a significant announcement on social media.
Accompanying a video of the legendary singer on a white horse brandishing a big American flag, the caption stated: “Check out that horse.”
The video then shifted to a date that displayed January 14.
Although no additional details were disclosed, rumors have circulated that Bey might announce a tour or possibly a new album.
The “Single Ladies” icon has had a joyful Christmas, having just been awarded 58 new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for her albums and singles throughout her solo career.
Included in that count were two Diamond certifications (indicating sales of 10 million units), both for songs featured on her 2008 album I Am… Sasha Fierce. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and “Halo” both soared beyond the 10 million threshold to reach 11 times platinum (11 million units).
Given the impressive sales from a catalog dating to 2003 (along with numerous Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum certifications for her contributions to Destiny’s Child), it’s no surprise that Billboard recently declared the singer the greatest pop star of the 21st century.
