American singer and songwriter Beyoncé headlined the 2011 Glastonbury Festival alongside acts U2 and Coldplay, performing on June 26, 2011 at the Pyramid Stage in Pilton, Somerset, England.
Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend... I’m pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy.”[12] “I’ve been there behind the scenes and I had the time of my life.
[19][20] Interviewed by BBC, Knowles mentioned that she sent close friend and co-headliner Chris Martin of Coldplay her set list in advance: "I made sure he approved it.
Last night, that force was Beyoncé, who took to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in all her big-haired, gold-spangled glory for a set that felt like a master class in how to seduce 100,000 people.
"[24] The Times described the performance as "blowing the festival apart", and subsequently lauded "a star at the height of her powers, beating the audience into submission with sheer professionalism and interstellar glamour.
[27] Music Radar mentioned that Knowles' set was "easily the most all-out pop thing the festival had ever seen", but called the performance an "undeniable success" and also praised "her incredibly tight, all-female backing band.
[29] Thomas Green of The Arts Desk concluded that "[He] saw many riveting gigs... but best by a country mile was Beyoncé at Glastonbury who quite simply lit up the festival's Sunday night with fireworks, showmanship and explosive party spirit.
"[30] Rory Gibb from now-defunct publication Drowned in Sound called the performance "electrifying", noting that "It’s tough not to suspect that Beyonce’s Sunday night would always have ended up the weekend’s highlight, but despite being predictably brilliant its slickness and seamless sense of drama is still a pleasant surprise.
It probably shouldn’t have been; as one of the biggest stars in the music world, and one whose live appearances tend to be accomplished by a full show, she always seemed a neat fit for the Pyramid Stage headline slot.
"[10] Other publications lauded her "dazzling" style and fashion choices, with UK Magazine Stylist further mentioning that she brought "Glastonbury 2011 to a rapturous close with a spectacular performance.
The triumphs of her fifth visual album and Lemonade were ahead of her, along with the political awakening which brought about such stunning moments as her Black Power-infused performance of "Formation" at the 2016 Super Bowl.
[38][39] Later revealed to be secretly pregnant with her first child at the time, several retrospective reviews from publications also highlighted her strength, stamina, and "cleverly designed" clothing choices.
[45][46] In a 2020 unranked "Glastonbury's 50 Greatest Moments" retrospective from The Guardian, writer Ben Beaumont-Thomas lauded "Beyoncé’s Vegas-style revue of a set, straddling power ballads, Prince and Etta James covers, a six-song Destiny’s Child medley and a version of Kings of Leon’s "Sex on Fire", [which] saw her make sure every single person in the 100,000-strong audience was having a good time.
"[47] Similarly, in a 2021 "10 of the best Glastonbury sets ever" retrospective from the same publication, writer Dorian Lynskey stated, "Beyoncé was imperial from the moment she opened with "Crazy in Love" and fireworks.
"[48] The success of Knowles' performance also ushered in the festival slot placement of several other prominent female pop or R&B acts in subsequent years, including headliners Adele (2016) and Billie Eilish (2022), as well as other notable performers Mary J. Blige (2015), Katy Perry (2017), Dua Lipa (2017), Miley Cyrus (2019), Janet Jackson (2019), Megan Thee Stallion (2022), and Olivia Rodrigo (2022), among others.