Benson Boone Embraces Australian Tradition with On-Stage ‘Shoey’

Benson Boone’s Australian tour reached a memorable peak on Jan. 20 when the 22-year-old pop sensation embraced one of many nation’s most notorious traditions: the shoey.

Throughout his sold-out efficiency at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Boone paused the present to drink water out of a cowboy boot, sending the group right into a frenzy. For the unfamiliar, the shoey—a ritual involving ingesting from a shoe—has turn out to be a trademark of Australian live shows.

Whereas usually involving beer and a fan’s shoe, Boone opted for a sanitized twist, utilizing bottled water and a clear cowboy boot. In broadly shared TikTok footage, Boone was seen pouring bottled water right into a cowboy boot, pausing to ask the proprietor, “How a lot water do I put in it? Would you like me to place water in your shoe?”

With the group cheering him on, he quipped, “Okay—when in Australia,” earlier than elevating the boot to his lips. After downing the water, Boone returned the boot, including, “Not unhealthy, not unhealthy. You will have superb hygiene, miss, thanks.”

Boone’s shoey additionally locations him amongst a rising checklist of worldwide stars who’ve embraced the peculiar custom. Harry Kinds kicked off his 2023 Australian tour by sipping from a sneaker, calling it “some of the disgusting traditions” he’d encountered. Submit Malone and Stormzy have additionally participated, a lot to the delight of their followers, whereas Kylie Minogue famously carried out a shoey out of a excessive heel on the Brit Awards.

The second got here as a part of Boone’s Fireworks and Rollerblades World Tour, which incorporates performances in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland all through January. The tour comes amid a outstanding yr for Boone, whose single “Lovely Issues” dominated Billboard’s charts in 2024, spending seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard World 200 and eight weeks atop the World Excl. U.S. chart.

The only earned Boone the Prime Billboard World 200 Music and Prime Billboard World Excl. U.S. Music accolades on the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

“What’s up? Billboard, it’s Benson Boone. Thanks a lot for this award. Probably the most streamed tune of 2024 is fairly ridiculous. That is the award proper right here. I can not imagine you guys,” Boone stated in a digital acceptance speech for his awards final month. “Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in individual. You caught me proper in the course of tour, however I really like you guys greater than , and I hope that you just love the music that continues to come back this yr. So thanks a lot. Get pleasure from the remainder of the present. Peace.”