When word got out Wednesday (Nov. 2) that Beyoncé would perform at that night’s CMA Awards, it seemed surprising enough on its own. Then when she emerged a little over two-thirds of the way through the 50th-anniversary show, she had her very own surprise still to unleash: the Dixie Chicks.
The legendary country trio joined Queen Bey for “Daddy Lessons” from her visual album Lemonade. The Chicks already had a connection to Bey’s twangiest song yet: They’ve been performing it on tour this fall. And immediately after the performance, they released a free download of the song on Twitter.
So after the initial shock of Beyoncé performing at a country show wore off, what was the reaction? Below, Reese Witherspoon, Anthony Hamilton and a host of country singers weigh in under the video:
Me either!!! — Loving this! @Beyonce @dixiechicks #CMAawards50 https://t.co/f4V1XyF7R4
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) November 3, 2016
.@Beyonce x @dixiechicks Very nice!! #CMAawards50
— Anthony Hamilton (@HamiltonAnthony) November 3, 2016
Yeehaw!
Dixie Chicks joined Beyoncé on stage for ‘Daddy Lessons’ at #CMAawards50 – download FREE here: https://t.co/aYnUOaMgWp#CMAawards50 pic.twitter.com/qtsv6x0cC2— Dixie Chicks (@dixiechicks) November 3, 2016
STOP it. @beyonce & @dixiechicks. Amazing. #CMAawards50
— Lindsay Ell (@lindsayell) November 3, 2016
IS THIS REAL LIFE?! @Beyonce @dixiechicks #CMAawards50
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) November 3, 2016
I was gonna keep live tweeting but @Beyonce & the @dixiechicks slayed me to death.
— Kalie Shorr (@kalieshorr) November 3, 2016
Straight chills…
I love how two worlds can merge with such ease! // #noboundaries@Beyonce @dixiechicks #CMAawards50— Sammy Arriaga (@SammyArriaga) November 3, 2016
That Dixie Chicks/Beyoncè performance just changed me permanently as a person a woman and a mother
— Leslie Grossman (@MissLeslieG) November 3, 2016
Beyoncé and The Dixie Chicks
— Benton Blount (@bentonblount) November 3, 2016
Dixie Chicks and Beyoncé…doesn’t get any better!!!!!!! #CMAawards
— Post Monroe (@postmonroe) November 3, 2016
My. Whole. World @dixiechicks @Beyonce #daddysaidshoot #CMAawards50
— Natalie Stovall (@NatalieStovall) November 3, 2016
YAAAAS QUEEN BEY & THE DIXIE CHICKS ?????? #CMAawards50
— Liddy Clark (@LiddyClark) November 3, 2016