“I needed this,” I thought to myself as I stood front row at J Balvin’s show at the Houston Rodeo on March 3, Hennessy and cranberry in hand, whilst white girl dancing to the EDM section. Very 2016 of me. As we’ve all been romanticizing a perhaps simpler time a decade ago, for a few hours, I wasn’t thinking about how my lower back and feet would be killing me the next day because I wore healed cowboy boots, or about the next round of unprecedented events on the news. No, I was singing and dancing to the Colombian star’s “Safari” like I was on top of a couch in some club in 2016, lower back intact.
That day, I realized how much of a connoisseuse I am of J Balvin’s music. From a setlist of 16 songs, I only didn’t know one. Because even as I complain about “Mi Gente” being overplayed, the moment Jose opened the show with it, it was as if I was seeing Beyoncé standing right next to him.
But it’s not just nostalgia. It’s a testament to his discography holding up as he enters his second decade as a mainstream act. “Morado,” palo. “Con Altura,” palo. “No Me Conoce,” palo. “Amarillo,” palo. They were all coreadas in full by the crowd. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of Texas’ biggest platforms, and J Balvin filled it to the brim. As noted by the Houston Chronicle, he’s one of the few Spanish-language acts who have played the Houston Rodeo outside the Go Tejano Day, their celebration of Latine heritage. More than 70,000 attendees showed up at NRG Stadium—an NFL venue, mind you—for a 60 minute set of just the hits. That speaks to his legacy.
A concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The show featured a 360 degrees rotating concert stage that opened up like an egg and featured five extended walkways which allowed J Balvin to be closer to the audience (and clearer videos for me!). Even as male stars are infamous for not delivering performances as grand as their female peers, J Balvin held up his weight by featuring dancers that would incorporate him into the choreography, larger-than-life props, and even perreito moments by Jose.
Also making its debut that day was the official cognac of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Hennessy. The brand hosted the Hennessy Roadhouse in the Rodeo grounds before the show, which featured Houston DJs playing Latine jams and opportunities to get and customize keepsakes like cowboy hats and bolo ties. I happily partook in securing the aforementioned items to complete my Rodeo chic look. At the show, the brand hosted a premium suite viewing of the Houston Rodeo. And after drinks and quick bites, as the brand’s guests, we were escorted to the Rodeo’s dirt area for exclusive front row access to J Balvin’s performance.
At concerts, I always take moments to scan the crowd. I love seeing fans enjoying themselves as they’re watching their favorite artists. There’s something about watching a stadium full of [mostly] Latines scream-singing “La Canción” like we were all recently dumped that gives me goosebumps. Live music events these days are so expensive, but the power of experiencing your song live makes the sacrifices worth it.
Ten years ago, J Balvin was starting his global takeover. Many ups and downs have followed. But just like we’re all looking back to 2016 yearning change, 2026 could be a renaissance for him: “Tonto” is everywhere on social media, and his public amends with Bad Bunny and Residente have helped improve his public perception. At the end of the day, you can’t make a hit not hit, and J Balvin has a catalog full of them. We can toast a Henny con cramberry to that.
Travel and accommodations were provided to the author by Hennessy for the purpose of writing this story.