by Mary Spiller
July 26, 2025
An 84-year-old grandmother from St. Louis who went viral for pleading with Beyoncé to decrease live performance ticket costs simply obtained her want — price ground seats to the celebrity’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour, gifted by Queen Bey herself.
An 84-year-old grandmother from St. Louis grew to become an web sensation after a heartfelt plea to Beyoncé — and the worldwide celebrity responded in form. Ms. Ida Mae Macklin, who’s at the moment battling dementia, took to Instagram earlier this yr in a now-viral video asking Beyoncé for tickets to her “Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour.”
The video shortly gained tens of millions of views throughout TikTok and Instagram, resonating with followers who might relate to Macklin’s frustrations over rising live performance ticket costs.
“Look, Beyoncé, we’ve supported you a lot… we’ve adopted you, and I’m 80-something years previous,” Macklin mentioned within the video. “I can’t afford to see you no extra. I hate this. We want some tickets, we in arduous occasions. I used to have some huge cash.”
The video was filmed by Macklin’s granddaughter, Gabrielle, who began sharing clips of her grandmother as a approach to protect reminiscences amid her dementia analysis.
The account was initially began to doc Gabrielle’s time with Macklin, however it has grown considerably. The account now boasts 1.6 million views on TikTok alone, and a mixed 7.2 million views throughout platforms.
Macklin’s message reached Beyoncé, who gifted her ground seats to one of many Washington, D.C., exhibits over the Fourth of July weekend. In the course of the live performance, the singer even gave Macklin a particular shoutout from the stage.
Whereas performing Macklin’s favourite tune, “Boots On The Floor x HEATED,” Beyoncé known as out over the gang, “I really like you grandma, wherever you’re.”
Macklin and Gabrielle shared a sequence of clips from the live performance on their TikTok, documenting Macklin dancing to her seats, singing the evening away in a inexperienced and white accented cowboy match, and reminiscing in regards to the live performance the day after it was over.
Whereas the shock thrilled each Macklin and followers on-line, Gabrielle has at all times emphasised that the movies are greater than viral moments. The experiences are enjoyable, however the lifelong bond along with her grandmother is extra significant.
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