Save
Beyoncé may just be the biggest global superstar to come from our city. Whether you’re a fan still riding the Cowboy Carter high or not, Beyoncé’s rise to international stardom from her humble roots in the city’s historic Third Ward is a story of Southern fame and success that captures the authentic and magnetic essence of Houston. “I put it down for the 713, and we still got love for the streets” — here, we take a closer look at the sounds and places of H-Town that have shaped Beyoncé’s career — a hometown influence that continues to define some of the most popular music of our time.
How have the sounds of Houston influenced Beyoncé’s music?
Gospel and Church Roots
Beyoncé’s earliest performances were in her Houston church choir, where she learned how to use her voice as an instrument — full of range, emotion, and power. Those Sunday mornings at St. John’s United Methodist and St. Mary’s Catholic Montessori built the foundations for her vocal control and stamina. The influence of gospel is woven through her music and performances: the swelling harmonies of “Halo”, the triumphant call-and-response energy of Homecoming, and her habit of turning concerts into almost spiritual experiences. That spirit of uplift — of finding salvation and strength through song — is pure Houston gospel.
Hip-Hop and Chopped-and-Screwed Culture
flickr/@believekevin
Coming of age during Houston’s hip-hop explosion, Beyoncé was surrounded by the chopped-and-screwed sound pioneered by DJ Screw — a slowed-down, heavy, hypnotic style that gave Houston its signature musical swagger. Artists like UGK (Pimp C and Bun B), Geto Boys, Z-Ro, Slim Thug, Lil’ Keke, and Paul Wall defined that era, influencing the city’s sound and its attitude: confident, grounded, and unapologetically Southern. You can hear traces of that cadence in Beyoncé’s assertive delivery on “Flawless”, “Bow Down”, and “Formation” — all of which carry that cool, deliberate rhythm of Houston hip-hop.
Southern Soul and R&B
WikiCommons/@Leahtwosaints
Houston’s deep roots in blues and Southern soul gave Beyoncé her emotional storytelling instinct. The city that produced artists like Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Archie Bell & The Drells taught her that great music blends joy and struggle. That influence shows in her ability to balance vulnerability and power — to make heartbreak sound heroic, and resilience sound like rhythm. Songs like “1+1”, “Listen”, and “Love on Top” channel that distinct, timeless Southern soulfulness.
Country and Southern Heritage
Beyoncé never shies away from her country roots, manifested dramatically in her most recent album Cowboy Carter. You can hear them clearly in “Daddy Lessons”, which blends a New Orleans brass band groove with Texas country storytelling — a sound that bridges her Southern heritage with her modern artistic vision. That willingness to embrace her roots reflects Houston’s broader identity as a city where rodeo culture, gospel choirs, and street rap coexist effortlessly. In the studio, Beyoncé honours that mix as a celebration of the South’s complexity and creativity.
Which places in Houston have featured in Beyoncé’s music?
Beyoncé has woven landmarks of H-Town throughout her music and visuals. She’s long celebrated Frenchy’s Chicken, the Third Ward staple she grew up visiting, famously nodding to it in her “Heaven” video and hometown shoutouts. Her “No Angel” video, shot across Houston, turns the city itself into a character — featuring murals, car washes, corner stores, and the neighborhoods of Third Ward, Fifth Ward, and Acres Homes, grounding her glamour in the city’s everyday grit and beauty. She’s also referenced Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, a pillar of Houston’s Black community, in interviews about her upbringing and spirituality.
Where to enjoy Beyoncé’s music now in H-Town?
Though the Cowboy Carter tour has come to a close — and it may be some time before her next album — there’s still no shortage of ways to experience the Queen’s music right here in her hometown. Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé offers a stunning, reimagined experience of her greatest hits from “If I Were a Boy” to “Crazy In Love” performed by a live string quartet, surrounded by the soft glow of thousandsof candles. Set in one of the city’s most elegant venues, it’s an intimate, soulful homage to Houston’s own Queen, reminding fans that her magic still burns bright right where it all began.
Candlelight: Tribute to Beyoncé
–
4.64
·
November 8, 2025 8:30 PM
Resurrection MCC
From $36.80