The Boy Is Mine Tour Dallas-Fort Worth stop delivered R&B fans the night of their dreams, as Brandy and Monica put on a show that kept them out of their seats and on their feet at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. 

The long-awaited co-headlining tour has been requested by concertgoers since the iconic duet “The Boy Is Mine” was released in 1998. The critically acclaimed song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks and earned the duo a Grammy. Due to rumors of an alleged beef that swirled for decades, it seemed that wish would never come to fruition. But when the two participated in Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’s VERZUZ live-streaming music battle series in August 2020, hope was rekindled. 

In June, music fans learned that the singers would hit the road to co-headline The Boy Is Mine Tour, a 24-city tour that was extended to 29 cities, with Dallas-Fort Worth near the end.

To set the tone for the evening, American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts kicked off the night in a tea-green and white blazer, no shirt and white pants, shining with confidence. During his soulful set, he sang his latest single, “Nothing Compares,” along with other original music and renditions of R&B classics, concluding with a walk around the floor, where he handed out roses that sent some of the women in the crowd into a frenzy.

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Following him was California’s Keyshia Cole, who returned to Dickies Arena for the second time this year to deliver a solid, nostalgic performance that had the audience up on their feet singing along. She replaced Muni Long after the “Hrs & Hrs” artist recently announced that she would no longer perform on the remaining tour dates due to health reasons. She sang her beloved songs “I Changed My Mind,” “Love,” “Heaven Sent,” “Let It Go,” “I Should’ve Cheated,” and “Enough of No Love,” where she took a moment to remix “Dallas got love for me” in, among other notable songs.

Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child was up next and reminded attendees why her name will forever be ingrained in music history. She came on stage rocking an all-burgundy fit — a large hat, a fur shrug jacket, a revealing yet modest two-piece and boots. Her set began with “Motivation” from her album Here I Am and smoothly transitioned into a remix of “Say My Name.” After singing “Kisses Down Low” and “Coffee,” she spoke to the crowd.

“What’s up, Dallas-Fort Worth? It feels so good to be here with you all on tonight. It has been 15 years since I’ve toured the U S of A, and the amount of warmth and love of every city has been so beautiful, but I couldn’t wait to get up in Texas shawty!” she told fans with a smile.

With an all-male dance squad, she continued the show with “Ice,” “Without Me,” “Here We Go Again,” and a couple of more songs, including Force MD’s “Tender Love” and “All This Love,” and more before she leaned into “Bad Habit” to dive into a Destiny’s Child medley — “Bootylicious” “So Good,” “Independent Woman, Pt 1,” and “Solider,” which included a dance break and tribute to Houston.

The Big Moment

The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived, starting with a video of both vocalists entering and riding an elevator that emerged from center stage, opening to reveal the vocalists posing in black-and-white attire as everyone in the arena erupted in noise. For the first act, Brandy led the charge with “What About Us,” her choreography sharp and precise. The two icons walked in a circle, then Monica launched into “Knock Knock.” Brandy followed with “I Wanna Be Down” and removed her jacket. Monica answered with “Don’t Take It Personal,” and Brandy kept the hits coming with “Best Friend,” telling the crowd to “make some noise in this bitch.” Monica then took a solo turn with “Like This and Like That.”  

A video compilation celebrating Brandy’s career highlights, featuring testimonials from industry peers, jump-started act two. The song “In These Streets,” which Brandy sang in a viral Instagram video with actresses Jennifer Lewis and Roz Ryan, played before the 46-year-old returned in a prune-colored leather outfit with an LA hat, gold jewelry and shades, launched into “I Thought” followed by “Full Moon.” She then surprised the crowd with a quick Louisiana bounce remix of “‘Right Here (Departed)” that transitioned to “Who She Is 2 U” that incorporated Aaliyah’s “More Than A Woman” in the mix, before closing her segment “Afrodisiac.”

Monica’s return for the third act was equally dramatic. Dancers entered, pretending to play violins for “Street Symphony” before she appeared in a show-stopping ensemble: a long fur coat in caramel, white, and brown over a glittering jean tan corset and pants. Her set became a tribute to Atlanta culture, with “Everytime tha Beat Drop” morphing into a medley that included “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It,” “Take Me Thru Dere,” and “I’m So ATL” choreo moment where Monica even hit the viral “Eat It Up” dance before striking a pose with her dancers holding up the ATL sign. She went on to sing “Get It Off” and “The First Night,” ending by advising all the women: “Don’t give it up easy, ladies!”

A clever moment in the show occurred via a creative clip interlude in which puppets dramatized the infamous feud before the cords were literally cut, signaling the end of that narrative. The dual set featured another video montage of celebrity cameos singing Brady’s praises as “the vocal bible.” Brandy then rose from beneath the stage, seated at a piano in an all-black ensemble to deliver “Brokenhearted,” “Nothing”, “He Is,” and “Put That on Everything.” Monica returned on stage on a white couch with gold trimming, wearing a black dress with dramatic ruffles, to perform “Trust,” “U Should’ve Known Better,” “Love All Over Me,”  and “I Keep It To Myself.” Brandy reappeared for “Almost Doesn’t Count,” perched on a chair in a striking red suit dress with a black collar and a large black hat, paired with knee-high boots. “Thank y’all! I heard you singing,” she acknowledged, clearly moved by the crowd’s participation. Monica emerged in her previous outfit to record “Why I Love You So Much,” belting with raw emotion. 

For the fifth act, Brandy switched into an all-black ensemble for another dance break with her crew for “Talk About Our Love,” “Can You Hear Me Now,” and “Put It Down,” “Sittin’ Up in My Room” and “Top of the World.” 

“Yeah, we did that shit,” she declared.

Monica came back on stage in a long black leather jacket and leather boots for “Before You Walk Out of My Life.” She had a question for the concertgoers before singing “So Gone.”

“Tonight, it’s enough of us in here to ask, when the f**k are ya’ll going to let go of these white shoes?” she asked, holding up a pair of white sandals that were sitting on a silver platter, to which outbursts of laughter were the response.

For the final act of the night, both artists wore white. Brany sang “Angel in Disguise” and then Monica’s “Angel of Mine” was next. A Whitney Houston tribute video honored both artists’ connections to the late icon, leading them to sing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Monica gave a shoutout to Ray J in the building: “We got one wish that you be holy when you’re outside.” She also acknowledged family members in attendance, including the late Young Dolph’s family. 

Brandy sat on a stool next to Monica to perform “Have You Ever,” reflecting that it was “the hardest thing to sing at 15.”  The screams and cheers extended well beyond the song’s end. Brand then joked, “That’s dedicated to you, Syrai, cause I don’t have a man.” Monica followed with “For You I Will,” as the arena lit up with phone lights, creating a sea of illumination. 

After a dance break that introduced each dancer, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. “The Boy is Mine” began with both artists on separate platforms before they descended, met in the middle, and delivered the duet that started it all. It was a full-circle moment that felt both reflective and fresh, a testament to two artists who have grown, evolved, and found their way back to mutual respect despite everything.

The Boy is Mine Tour isn’t just a victory lap. It’s a declaration that Brandy and Monica remain forces to be reckoned with, both individually and together. Throughout the show, their high-quality stage productions, whether performed solo or together, demonstrate why they’ve stayed relevant for over 30 years and will continue to reign supreme.