Beyoncé's global impact felt at London shows: 'I've moved to England because of Beyoncé'

USA Today

14 hours ago

Beyoncé's global impact felt at London shows: 'I've moved to England because of Beyoncé'
Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" tour is keeping the momentum going in London, with fans from all over the world continuing to flock to the city to witness the international spectacle.
The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her June 14 show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. The show marked her fifth of six shows at the stadium on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. Her last show in London is set for June 16, before she heads to Paris for three nights.
And while the first U.K. show debuted over a week ago on June 5, fans continue to travel from across the globe, keeping the excitement alive for each show.
'I've moved to England because of Beyoncé'
"I've moved to England because of Beyoncé. That was about 15 years ago," says Patrycja Lesiakowska, who attended multiple shows in London along with her best friend from London, Chichi Mbagwu.
Lesiakowska says she became a huge fan back when Beyoncé released her 2006 album "B-Day," and she would go on to listen to that album and all the ones that followed on repeat.
"I realized that she never came to Poland, and I needed to see Beyoncé live. I needed to witness it. I had a brother that lived in England. So I took my opportunity to move to England to see Beyoncé during 'Sasha Fierce.' And I signed myself up for college, went to university and stayed in England because I loved it," she says. "And I've seen Beyoncé ever since. But the best thing about it, I've also learned English because of Beyoncé."
She says she used Google translate to understand her song lyrics and her interviews when she was 15 years old and would eventually learn the language.
'She taught me English'
"So she taught me English. She changed my life. I'm here. I met my best friend. I got a career I wanted," Lesiakowska says. "I live in an amazing country and I have the opportunity to see Beyoncé all the time. But we actually follow her all over the world."
Mbagwu and and Lesiakowska met through Beyoncé nearly 15 years ago when they both attended a House of Deréon launch in London and have remained friends since. They've attended her shows together over the years and plan to return to the stadium for her final London concert — their 52nd show together.
"I feel honored that I'm able to witness it. I think it's such a huge moment and a huge movement," Mbagwu says.
And while "Cowboy Carter" is rich with American history, the impact is profound all over the world.
"I think it personally resonates a lot because I think there's been a lot of erasure of Black people," Mbagwu says. "A lot of culture comes from Black people, and I think that's kind of lost down the line in terms of, you know, appropriation. The artistry, the message behind the songs and the way she of invokes her art — it's artwork. Genuinely 'Cowboy Carter' is artwork."
'Attending Beyoncé's tour in London felt significant'
Other fans traveled from Australia, Italy, the U.S. and everywhere in between. And it's clear no matter what pocket of the world, Beyoncé's impact and messages have not only been heard but felt.
"London is a city that carries such a vibrant energy," says Brendan Thomas, who traveled from West Yorkshire, England, for the show. "It's a cultural melting pot where art, music and people collide in the most inspiring ways. Attending Beyoncé's tour in London felt significant because it's one of those cities where the audience truly matches her energy."
He added: "The album feels deeply personal and unapologetic like Beyoncé inviting us into her world while reminding us of our own power. It resonates because it's not just music. It's a statement of freedom, resilience and joy."
As fans know, Beyoncé first debuted her "Cowboy Carter" tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. Her tour has been filled with family, fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. The June 14 show was no different as she debuted more looks and delivered another high-energy show.
The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.