There was a moment towards the beginning of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s $400 million-grossing Cowboy Carter Tour this summer when the Grammy-winning artist wrapped up her rendition of the Star-Spangled banner with lyrics from the Paul McCartney’s civil rights anthem “Blackbird”— “You were only waiting for this moment to be free”—to transition to “Freedom,” her certified-platinum collaboration with Kendrick Lamar. As she sang, the megascreen behind Knowles-Carter flashed the words: “Never ask permission for something that already belongs to you.”

It was a statement about ownership in country music, civil rights and women reclaiming power (as another graphic showed in that set), all in just a few minutes. But coming from someone who has appeared on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 15 times since its inception, it serves as a message for those feeling disempowered in light of the setbacks women faced........

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