By: Terrance Turner,
It isn’t often that you attend a concert where the artist is just as thrilled to perform as the crowd is to see him. But that was definitely the case when Shaboozey arrived to headline the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 13. From beginning to end, the Nigerian-American country artist appeared in awe of the size and scope of the venue — and the crowd — that he encountered when he stepped on stage. The enthusiasm on both sides was palpable, as Shaboozey thrilled the 67,000 fans who came to see him that night.
Shaboozey made the most of the moment, starting with his unique entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. Clad appropriately in a tan vest and matching chaps over his jeans, he looked around to take it all in.
“I’m just feeling all types of love right now and I can’t begin to describe it,” he told the crowd. “This is the biggest place I’ve ever played in my life and will probably ever play. I’m happy to be here again.”
He previously played at NRG Stadium as part of Beyoncé’s Christmas Day halftime show in 2024, but this marked his first time performing there as a headliner.
Many casual fans may only recognize Shaboozey for his two contributions to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter (“Spaghetti” and “Sweet Honey Buckin”), or his massive hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. But there’s more to Shaboozey than just a couple of chart-toppers.
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, he’s crafted a unique sound that brings together country, Americana, and hip-hop, and his unique artistry was demonstrated from the very first song.
“You won’t never find another like me,” he sang on the opener “Last of My Kind.”
From there he segued into the vengeful “Anabelle,” telling the title character, “There’s no way that I’ll forgive you.” And he captured the weary, disoriented life of a star traveling the world in “Blink Twice,” his solo version of a duet with Myles Smith that reminds the listener: “Time flies, so don’t blink twice.”
Shaboozey shares the stage with surprise guest BigXThaPlug during his Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo performance.
Is it really a country concert without a song about alcohol? Shaboozey indicated the answer was no. After grooving through “Tall Boy” (a reference to a tall 16-oz. can of beer), he brought a bottle of brown liquor onstage before “Drink Don’t Need No Mix,” a live version of his collaboration with rapper BigXThaPlug.
But he also displayed his range with a couple of covers: country singer Hank Williams Jr.’s “Family Tradition” and folk singer Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
For all the fun of the set, Shaboozey also showed a softer, more reflective side. He spoke openly about his faith and the power of prayer, growing emotional as he expressed thanks for all his success.
“My mantra is if God didn’t want me to be here, I wouldn’t be here,” he testified to the crowd that night. “If God didn’t want you to be in the position that he wanted you in, then he wouldn’t put you there.”
From there, he segued into “Amen,” his gospel-tinged collaboration with country singer Jelly Roll, which won the pair a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Shaboozey makes a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
The mood shifted dramatically after a surprise appearance by BigXThaPlug. The Dallas native delighted the crowd by charging through his Lone Star State anthem “Texas” and his platinum hit “The Largest.” That helped set up the grand finale for what Shaboozey himself called “the greatest moment of my life.”
“Houston, Texas, this is the largest crowd I think I’ve ever had for a show,” he told the crowd. “So when I do this song, I’m gonna perform it like I never performed it before.”
With that, he launched into “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which brought the massive crowd to its feet — giving the artist a moment to remember.