After starting the celebration off while performing at the New York City Jingle Ball, the singer – who turned 25 on Saturday – kept the festivities going offstage at her apartment.
And thanks to her long list of famous friends, there wasn't a blank space in the house.
Swift, who was already dressed for the night in the plaid two-piece outfit she wore to the annual holiday concert, was all smiles as she arrived at her Tribeca pad, where she was joined by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Sam Smith, Karlie Kloss and the girl band HAIM.
The music bigwigs reportedly noshed on pizza, according to the Daily Mail, donned party hats and – thankfully – snapped a shot of the epic get-together.
"So this is being 25 ... #WHAT #bestbirthdayEVER," she captioned a group photo of all the partygoers on Instagram.
With such a star-studded guest list – which also included Selena Gomez, Jaime King, Emma Roberts, Ansel Elgort, Kelly Osbourne, Nick Jonas and Chrissy Teigen – we can't imagine what Swift wished for when she blew out her candles.
But, hey, it's her party and she can ... shake it if she wants to.
Following their undoubtedly awesome "Flawless" remix collaboration, Nicki and Bey's new song "Feeling Myself" has leaked. "Feeling Myself" features the 32-year-old rapper spitting confident rhymes while Beyoncé croons the sultry chorus lyrics.
"Feeling myself, I'm feeling myself, I'm feeling my," Bey says on repeat. "Feeling myself, I'm feeling myself, I'm feeling my."
Nicki raps, "I'm feeling myself, back off/ Because I'm feeling myself, jack off/ Heard he think about me when he whacks off/ Wax on, wax off/ National Anthem hats off/ Then I curb that n---a like a bad toss/ Lemme get a No. 2 with some Mac sauce/ On The Run tour with my mask off."
"Feeling Myself" isn't the only treat Nicki Minaj fans are getting today. Her sexy song "Get on Your Knees," which features Ariana Grande, has also leaked early.
"Get on your knees, get on your knees, get on your knees/ Baby, just get on your knees," Minaj raps in the jam. "Say pretty please, say pretty please, say pretty please/ Baby just say pretty please."
As for Grande, she belts out, "I don't need a dozen roses/ You ain't gotta wine and dine, no/ I don't need a pretty poet/ Oh, gettin' all emotional/ You gotta beg for it, beg for it/ I wanna see you lookin' up/ Baby I'ma need you to beg for it."
"Feeling Myself" and "Get on Your Knees" will both be on Nicki's new album, The Pinkprint, out Dec. 15. Listen to the hot new tracks now!
Forbeshas tallied up all the money made by musicians in 2014 to find that ... drumroll, please ... Dr. Dre takes the top spot on its Highest-Paid Musicians of 2014 list.
Dre pulled in a cool $620 million. Before taxes. He definitely "beats" everyone else. Get it?
The big payday for him came from the sale of Beats, the company he co-founded, to Apple for $3 billion. You, or someone you know, is probably wearing some Beats headphones right now.
Dre's wealth gives him the widest margin between No. 1 and No. 2 on the list in Forbes' history.
Here are the rest of the Top 5:
2. Beyoncé: $115 million
3. The Eagles: $100 million
4. Bon Jovi: $82 million
5. Bruce Springsteen: $81 million
The list, notes Forbes, shows diversity when it comes to genre. Hip hop, pop and rock are represented in the top three spots, as you can see. But also among the list of 30 are DJ Calvin Harris and country's Toby Keith.
According to local news outlets, the couple spent his 45th birthday (he was born Dec. 4) at Iceland's ritzy The Trophy Lodge. On its sparse site, the property touts itself as a "private luxury resort and spa" that is "fit for a king."
Per the Nordic outlet Nútíminn, the couple arrived with bodyguards in tow via helicopter Dec. 1, with guests joining later for a party at the hotel.
Their location of choice – nestled in the mountains and beneath Langjokull glacier – may not be a household name, but it's definitely known in high-flying circles. According to the paper, the entire Lodge has recently been rented out by "rich Russians and other tycoons."
The couple jetted out over the weekend, just in time to hit Sunday's New York City premiere of Annie with daughter Blue Ivy, 2, in tow.
Outstanding Female Artist
Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
Jennifer Hudson (RCA Records)
Ledisi (Verve Records)
Mary J Blige (Capitol)
Outstanding Song
“We Are Here” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
“The Man” – Aloe Blacc (Interscope Records)
“Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
“i” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope)
“Good Kisser” – Usher (RCA Records)
Outstanding Album
“Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics” – Aretha Franklin (RCA Records)
“Beyoncé Platinum Edition” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
“JHUD” – Jennifer Hudson (RCA Records)
“G I R L” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)
“Love, Marriage & Divorce” – Toni Braxton & Babyface (Def Jam Recordings)
Capping off their first full day in New York City, Prince William and Princess Kate showed up at the Barclays Center Monday night to watch the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the game was a sideshow to the real event – the Duke and Duchess's meeting America's royal couple of music, Beyoncé and husband Jay Z.
And if that weren't enough, the game's undisputed star player was none other than the Cavaliers' LeBron James, a.k.a. "King James."
The royal couple took their seats opposite the music superstars just a few minutes into the third quarter. William was sitting with the new ambassador to his United for Wildlife charity, Dikembe Mutombo.
After that quarter, Beyoncé led the way, walking from one side of the court to the other to greet Kate and Will. They then all chatted together for a few minutes before going back to their seats.
"Jay Z wished Will and Kate 'Merry Christmas' when he was talking to them," said an eyewitness.
The fun evening had a serious cause behind it: The National Basketball Association is partnering with United for Wildlife to help fight illegal wildlife trafficking.
With William a fan of the sport, such an association is perfect. Earlier Monday, at a reception for the Tusk Trust, the prince concluded his remarks by saying, "I'm off to shoot some hoops now or whatever it is you do."
R. Couri Hay, a New York society publicist who knows members of the royal family, says Will is actually a bit of a pickup player himself.
"Will has told friends he is excited about going to the game because he and Harry love playing basketball," Hay told PEOPLE.
Sure enough, during a pre-game photo call with top NBA executives and former player Mutombo, William held a ball and joked, "This is where I should be spinning it on my finger."
Kate – in a grey coat by American designer Tory Burch and black jeans – brought him back to earth, telling him, "You are going to pretend you can actually score."
The entire spirit of the pre-game gathering was lighthearted. With Mutombo towering over him, the 6'3" William quipped, "At last I'm standing next to someone who is taller than me."
The Hollywood power couple and their adorable baby girl Blue Ivy attended the Annie premiere in New York City yesterday, and not only did the event become a family affair, but the trio even coordinated their wardrobes!
Blue looked super-cute in a Tartine et Chocolat's Edelweiss Heather light gray fur coat and a black dress, while her famous mama looked perfect (as always) in a black and white striped coat, gray dress and black hat. Meanwhile, Hova looked extremely dapper in a sharp gray suit.
Their little girl opted out of posing for pics on the red carpet, but both Bey and Jay smiled for the cameras alongside stars of the film Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane Wallis.
And the good times continued during the after party at Skylight Clarkson Square where Blue proved that she is Queen B's daughter.
"B and Jay, along with Blue were all smiles and having a wonderful time," an eyewitness tells E! News. "And Blue was dancing her butt off...with Jay and B looking all admiringly. It was super cute."
Their outing comes just after the music power couple was spotted taking in the sights in Iceland and traveling via helicopter to visit multiple tourist sites to celebrate Jay Z's 45th birthday late last week.
E! News learned that the two lovebirds visited the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, for romantic swims and some much-needed R&R. But their time in Iceland wasn't just about lounging back and taking some time to relax. The two were also spotted going on a helicopter trip over an active volcano as well.
How's that for an adventure!
According to TMZ's real estate sources Jay and Bey are the front runners in a bidding war on the 23,000 square foot palace in Beverly Hills -- and in the most UBER exclusive part of BH.
We're told there are a total of 4 offers on the pad -- listed by real estate maven Branden Williams -- and the Carters aren't the only celebs interested.
Our source says Beyonce, Jay and the seller are "just a few million dollars apart" on the price. They've already visited the home six times.
The deal's expected to close by Christmas for right around $70 million! Stuff that in your stocking.
Instead of revealing all of the nominees at once, the nods for different categories were revealed throughout the day via Twitter, and culminated with the announcement of the contenders for Album of the Year contenders on A Very Grammy Christmas, which aired on CBS tonight.
The pre-taped telecast, hosted by LL Cool J, included performances by Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Tim McGraw, Maroon 5, Mary J. Blige and Sam Smith.
"What we wanted to do is add a twist," Grammys longtime executive producer Ken Ehrlich told the crowd at the Shrine Auditorium ahead of the taping. "And everyone loves Christmas specials."
Each artist took the stage to belt a Christmas jingle, and also shared various holiday experiences.
But ultimately, it came down to revealing the celebs who have been recognized for Album of the Year, and we don't want you to wait any longer...
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
•Morning Phase, Beck
•Beyoncé, Beyoncé
•X, Ed Sheeran
•In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith
•Girl, Pharrell Williams
Find out who snags the top award when the 2015 Grammys air on Feb. 8.
The music power couple was spotted taking in the sights in Iceland and traveling via helicopter to visit multiple tourist sites.
E! News has learned that Bey and Jay have visited the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, for romantic swims and some much-needed R&R.
But their time in Iceland hasn't only been spent in the spa, the two were spotted going on a helicopter trip over an active volcano as well.
Bey definitely deserves to take a break after dropping the platinum box set version of her self-titled album just a few weeks ago.
The singer released a new track "7/11" along with an awesome video to go along with it.
And while there was initially major buzz over Bey releasing an entirely new album featuring collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj, and even Justin Timberlake, it looks like the rumors were just that.
Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, general manager of Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment, explained that a leaked track list was entirely made up.
"It's funny, I got a bunch of calls over the weekend and I would say, 'It's exciting to know people are excited,'" she said.
"Even if they're reporting it wrong, and that people would take their time to go and create a fake one-sheet—right down to using a Columbia logo on it."
The "Drunk in Love" singer had been tied with country music icon Dolly Parton for a whopping 46 nominations each.
But thanks to her self-titled, surprise album – which snagged a best urban contemporary album nod on Friday – she surpassed the country music legend as the most Grammy-nominated woman.
Beyoncé is currently tied with producer David Foster for seventh place among all artists overall with the most nominations, according to Billboard.com.
The nominees for Grammy's biggest award – album of the year – will be announced on A Very GRAMMY Christmas Friday (9 p.m. ET) on CBS. Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams, Mary J. Blige, Tim McGraw, Ariana Grande (joined by Big Sean) and Sam Smith will perform current hits and holiday songs.
When it comes to winning, Beyoncé has 17 Grammys in her collection. She has to win 10 more to catch up with Alison Krauss, who has won more Grammys than any other woman in history, with 27 under her belt.
Depending on what happens at the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, Beyoncé is set to take on the second spot on that list, which currently is held by Aretha Franklin, who has 18 statues.
Queen Bey collaborated with her longtime manicurist Lisa Logan and beauty company NCLA to create the NCLA for BEYONCÉ Nail Wrap Collection. Each set is inspired by a video from her visual album or iconic performance, basically her epic year in the spotlight. We reached out to Logan for the details on these wildly amazing nail wraps.
First up: “Je Ne Sais Quoi.” This neon design was named after a lyric in Beyoncé’s song “Blow,” and is inspired by the bright signs that illuminate the video. “When the graphic designers brought this to the table, it was like, wow! It looks as if they’re lit up on the nail,” Logan shares of the eye-catching design, adding, “It’s just enough of a pop of color.”
When it comes to “I Come With A Side Of Trouble,” we had to know if the black and white wraps (which are named after a lyric in “No Angel”) were in fact in Beyoncé’s handwriting. Logan couldn’t divulge, but did share they had to pay tribute to the entire album in some way. So they created an option that featured the album’s entire track list, in addition to notable lyrics like “H-Town Vicious.” “I’m just as big a fan as anyone and you can’t just choose one song.” As for having a black and a white strip in the set? Says Logan, “You can feel like you’re being a bad girl with the black nails or do the white side and be an angel. You can mix and match it. You may as well give the fans everything!”
For “No Rest In The Kingdom,” Bey and team mixed jewel tones and a fishnet print to mimic the bling-tastic Tom Ford bodysuit she wore during her 2014 MTV VMA Video Vanguard performance in August. “I saw that outfit in person and it’s breathtaking,” recalls Logan. “These nail wraps actually have a texture to them. You can feel the bumps, each color is a stone. You don’t lose how powerful the outfit was.”
Lastly, for “I Woke Up Like This,” which is probably the most popular lyric from “***Flawless,” they gave the black-and-white video a technicolor twist, creating various vibrant plaid designs. “I think you pull something that’s memorable from each video. The cool thing is everyone remembers the plaid and the denim shorts. It goes hand in hand with the video.”
At $18 a set, we’ve put in an order for all four (make that 8, one to wear and the other to mount on our walls) already.
Will you be adorning your digits with Beyoncé’s nail wraps?
The first, "7/11," is an aggressive track that's just begging for a Nicki Minaj verse. "Hold that Coke like alcohol/Hold that Coke like alcohol/Don't you drop that alcohol/ Never drop that alcohol/Never drop that alcohol/I know you care about alcohol/I don't think about that alcohol," Bey raps.
But as fun as "7/11" is, it's the second track, "Ring Off" that has everyone talking. In the track, Beyonce sings to her mother Tina Knowles, commiserating about her mother's recent divorce and marital troubles. (Listen to "Ring Off" in full at SPIN.)
"Mama, I understand your many sleepless nights. When you sit and think about father and how you tried to be the perfect wife," Bey sings. "I wish it didn't hurt at all/I don't know how I got here/I was once the one who had his heart/Until you'd had enough and then you took your ring off."
Rumors that Beyonce and Jay Z are headed for a divorce have heated up in recent months and "Ring Off" seems to deliberating be fanning those flames. So is Beyonce trolling us or is this a real confession about the state of her marriage?
Just a few hours after Solange Knowles said "I Do" to music producer Alan Ferguson, Vogue magazine gave readers a first look at the star's wedding dress and ceremony.
As it turns out, the bride wore a stunning gown created by Humberto Leon for Kenzo. The two had been spotted on numerous occasions in and around New Orleans in the months leading up to the wedding.
"Everyone I worked with on the wedding are friends who I love," Solange shared with the publication on her wedding day. "Everything was a labor of love."
Speaking of love, those closest to the singer also joined the white theme with stunning gowns and looks for the official photo shoot.
Inspired by the work of Italian artist Vanessa Beecroft, Beyoncé and Tina Knowles gave a straight face as they posed with Solange in the front row.
And for those wondering what Solange was wearing during her bike ride in the city with Ferguson just a few hours beforehand, E! News can confirm Stephane Rolland created the pre-wedding look.
After a weekend of festivities, close to 100 guests attended a New Orleans church Sunday afternoon to see Knowles and Ferguson wed. Despite missing the pre-wedding party, Jay Z and Blue Ivy Carter joined Beyoncé to watch their family member marry her longtime love.
"The couple looked happy, relaxed and beaming," an eyewitness told E! News. "It was a very chill vibe."
Congrats to the twosome on their new status as husband and wife!
As anticipation grows for Solange Knowles and fiancée Alan Ferguson's possible wedding weekend, the happy couple stepped out in New Orleans Friday night to kick off the festivities.
Wearing a stunning white gown with gold heels, Solange entered the Indywood Cinema theatre holding hands with her main man. Ferguson, who is a talented music video director, also appeared quite handsome in a well-fitted suit and jacket.
While the bride and groom looked "Crazy in Love," Solange's fabulous sister Beyoncé appeared to be glowing with enthusiasm.
Without Jay Z or Blue Ivy in attendance, the "Halo" singer put on a happy face as she entered the theatre. Wearing a dark blue jacket, black leather pants and matching heels, the proud sister sure knew how to kick off the weekend in style.
According to the theatre's Facebook page, guests watched Mahogany starring Diana Ross during the pre-wedding party. "It was beautiful. They were beautiful," the post read. "Diana Ross is beautiful, love is beautiful."
Although the extended family has had their ups and downs over the years, it appears everyone remains in a much better place.
"What's important is that my family and I are all good," Solange recently shared with Lucky magazine. "What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that."
That statement is in regards to the infamous elevator fight, which caught Solange and Jay Z in a physical altercation.
"At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different," they said May 15. "We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."
Besides, this weekend appears to be all about love and positivity as Solange marries a man that can't help but make her smile.
"Today couldn't have been more perfect. I couldn't have smiled harder," she revealed this summer after a romantic birthday getaway. "Thank you for all of your lovely and wonderful wishes. They warmed my heart and I simply feel grateful for all of the love."
Acording to Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, general manager of Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment, the leaked track list from last week—showing collaborations with Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake and more—was entirely fake. Cue the tears.
"It's completely made up," Callahan-Longo admitted. "After all the hubbub this weekend, we kind of said, 'Well, let's just put it out and say what it is.' It's funny, I got a bunch of calls over the weekend and I would say, 'It's exciting to know people are excited.' Even if they're reporting it wrong, and that people would take their time to go and create a fake one-sheet—right down to using a Columbia logo on it."
Callahan-Longo also explained that she would be interested in finding out who the zealous fan was who put all the time and effort into creating the mock-up, saying "I would love to know who did it. They clearly knew what a line sheet used to look like—they don't look like that anymore."
The music exec revealed that the Queen Bey most likely won't be dropping entire albums out of thin air anymore—because been there, done that.
"You can only be first once, so I'm not sure we'd want to do it again. We typically at Parkwood like to look at projects where, if it isn't unique or different in some way, it's really not interesting to us."
And while the star-filled follow-up album to Beyoncé won't be hitting the shelves any time soon, it was announced earlier this week that a platinum version of her 2013 self-titled album will be dropped later this month and is slated to include two new songs.
Beyoncé couldn't help but dress up in two outfits this year, one of which we haven't even seen until today.
It turns out that Queen Bey didn't just go as Janet Jackson (circa Rhythm Nation), she also paid tribute to one of her favorite artists: Frida Kahlo.
But that's not all, her hubby Jay Z joined in on the holiday fun and dressed as one of his inspirations, Jean-Michel Basquiat.
And of course, the evening wouldn't have been complete without their adorable toddler sporting a costume as well. Blue Ivy rocked red lipstick and a Basquiat-print jacket while she posed in a photo with her two famous parents.
The family of three all spent the night hanging out and having a ball with friends at Charlie Bird in NYC.
The "Drunk In Love" singer posted several snapshots of her evening outing on her Tumblr page, including shots of her posing and showing off her intricate makeup and a sweet photo of her snuggling up to her husband.
After rumors that she would drop another surprise album, the singer said that a platinum edition of "Beyonce," with two CDs and two DVDs, would feature two new songs, four new remixes with star collaborators and a concert video.
The edition -- which goes on sale on November 24 ahead of the holiday shopping season -- also includes the full album "Beyonce," which she released unexpectedly in December 2013 on iTunes with no prior publicity.
The announcement will temper speculation that Beyonce is planning another surprise album of entirely new material. Since the weekend, social media have been abuzz with an image of what appeared to be a record company memo describing an upcoming Beyonce release, raising hopes among her fans.
The purported memo said that a four-disc set would be physically released on "Monday, November 25," although November 25 is a Tuesday
"Beyonce," which was accompanied by videos for each song, sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, broke the iTunes record for debut sales and spawned hit singles including "XO" and "Drunk In Love," performed with her husband Jay Z.
Forbes magazine, in a ranking on Tuesday, said that Beyonce was the top-grossing woman in the music business last year. She earned $115 million between June 2013 and June 2014 -- more than double the $53 million she made from the previous year, the magazine said.
Taylor Swift ranked second with $64 million. The time-frame does not cover her release last week of "1989," which is forecast to be this calendar year's top-selling album.
Pink, who has focused heavily on touring, was the third top-grossing woman in music followed by Rihanna and Katy Perry.
Beyonce enraged some major retailers by releasing the self-titled album last year first on iTunes, brushing aside the usual practice of timing digital and physical sales together.
The purported memo appearing on social media said that her new release would come out first on iTunes on November 14. Beyonce's announcement made no mention of an iTunes version.
The alleged memo also said that Beyonce's release would feature Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Nicki Minaj which -- if accurate -- could explain the star collaboration promised in the boxed-set's announcement.
As speculation swirled over whether or not Beyoncé will be releasing a second surprise album, the singer put the world out of its misery by announcing her plans.
On Nov. 24, she will release Beyoncé Platinum Edition Box Set, which includes six new songs (two never-before-heard – "7/11" and "Ring Off" – and four remixes).
The set will also include the full Beyoncé album – which was released in secret in December – all of the music videos from the album and a mini calendar of the singer, according to the press release.
It will also include a live performance DVD of the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour with commentary and an accompanying photo booklet.
While that is plenty of new material for fans, eyes will still be peeled for a new album dropping this month as well. Over the weekend, a supposed leaked album release confirmation seemed to promise Beyoncé Volume 2 to be available for download on Nov. 14.
One can only hope!
On Saturday, a photo of what looked like the release confirmation for an album titled Beyoncé Volume 2 circulated online – and if it's legit, the album will apparently be available for download on Nov. 14, and physically in stores on the 25th.
According to the release, it will be part of a 4-disc package that will include 28 music videos, a DVD of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour and a DVD of the On the Run, Live from Paris show, which she performed with husband Jay Z.
It also allegedly features collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake, and most adorably, her 2 ½-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.
Reps for the singer did not immediately respond for comment.
Bey debuted a chic, chin-grazing bob Sunday in N.Y.C. (see photo above), losing a lot of length from that beautiful long mermaid hair she’d been rocking.
This isn’t the first time the star has cut her super-long strands in favor of a shorter look. There was the major pixie moment of 2013 and that whole inverted bob situation she had going shortly after.
“I got a little teary eyed!” Bey’s stylist Kim Kimble told PEOPLE last August after the pixie cut. “I’ve been working for her so long, she has this beautiful long hair and it’s hard to grow hair out. I feel like it’s my hair, I work so much with her. I feel a little emotional but excited for her too. Maybe I’ll cut my hair off now. Short hair, don’t care.”
Beyoncé's Halloween costume pays tribute to one of her favorite pop divas of all time: Janet Jackson!
The "Drunk In Love" singer was seen posing with fans backstage at the Power 105.1 Powerhouse event in New York City Thursday night, rocking a head-to-toe Rhythm Nation look.
Between the key earring, slicked back hair and black baseball cap, vest…everything, Bey's look was on point.
Blue Ivy's mama has been a longtime fan of Jackson, and she's gushed about her being one of the biggest inspirations for her career over the years.
To add to her mama's Jackson theme, baby Blue was seen wearing a Michael Jackson costume!
The toddler looked adorable in the King of Pop's signature red marching band jacket, a white shirt and black tuxedo pants.
She made sure to accessorize properly for the night, by adding a top hat and aviator frames to the mix.
But that's not all—BIC also sported the iconic white socks look with black flats, a pair of glittery gloves and even held a mic as her dad Jay Z walked her to their car.
The family that dresses together…
That might explain why Blue Ivy's mom and dad have had back-to-back date nights in New York this week.
On Wednesday night, 33-year-old Bey worked a bold jumpsuit with white, tan and black vertical stripes (!), pairing her edgy look with a complementary clutch, platforms and beaucoup hair extensions (no more baby bangs). Her 44-year-old rapper hubby looked city chic as well, wearing a simple black shirt and jacket with jeans and Timberland boots.
The On the Run couple attended the premiere of Jake Gyllenhaal's latest film, Nightcrawler, last night at AMC Lincoln Square.
Bey and Jay arrived at the theater together and took an elevator straight up to the floor where the screening was, but not before posing for photos on the red carpet with the man of the hour. Gyllenhaal has been getting major buzz for his role as a fairly creepy individual who starts selling footage of accidents and crime scenes to media outlets (might selling his soul be next, hmm?). Nightcrawler opens on Halloween.
Lest we forget, Gyllenhaal was among the many celebs who made a cameo in Beyoncé and Jay Z's mock Run trailer ahead of their mega-successful tour.
Blue Ivy's parents were the picture of cool-casual at the premiere, Beyoncé in denim-on-denim, her wavy hair long and loose under a black hat (and no sign of those little school-girl bangs she'd been rocking) and Jay Z in jeans, black T-shirt and a royal-blue blazer with leather lapels.
The couple kept close to one another and waited to enter the theater until the lights had dimmed.
At the premiere they chatted with Jake, his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal and their mother Naomi Foner, but opted to skip the afterparty.
We hear the couple’s security team “swept” a cinema at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Monday afternoon in anticipation of the rapper and the diva showing up to support their pal Jake Gyllenhaal during the premiere of his new thriller, “Nightcrawler.”
Upon arrival, the pair was whisked up to the theater in a private elevator, though they then huddled outside the cinema’s main doors as guests were ushered by.
After posing with Gyllenhaal, Jay and Bey sat next to him in a back row, then dashed off when the credits rolled.
We hear they’d previously requested a copy of the film be sent to them in Paris, which arrived under strict lock-and-key.
Once the screening began, Gyllenhaal’s co-star Rene Russo — whose husband Dan Gilroy wrote and directed the project — opted for an intimate dinner at Masa with brass from distributor Open Road Films, before joining Oscar-nominated Gyllenhaal at a Stone Rose after-party where other guests included 50 Cent.
“Nightcrawler” stars Gyllenhaal as creepy crime-scene cameraman Louis Bloom, who shoots gruesome accidents and shootings in LA to sell as TV news footage.
Despite Gyllenhaal having learned to live with press and paparazzi attention, he told us the role, for which he lost 30 pounds, “certainly gave me more empathy for the job certain people do in the media.” He added, “The film says a lot about giving audiences what they want and how the audience is complicit.”
Sir Philip Green, who helms the fashion conglomerate that owns Topshop, announced the creation Parkwood TopShop Athletic Ltd today. The "50-50 joint venture company," set to be unveiled in fall 2015, will feature clothing, accessories and footwear designed for a range of fitness, dance and sports-related activities.
Green released a statement regarding the new company and its intended creative direction: "We have been looking at this category as fashion inspired fitness develops, and know that this is right in our customers' heartland. Creating a partnership with Beyoncé, one of the most hard-working and talented people in the world, who spends many hours of her life dancing, rehearsing and training is a unique opportunity to develop this category."
Green later told Women's Wear Daily that the company is quite different from typical Celebrity x Brand collaborations: "This is about building a brand and building a business—a separate, proper business, with separate overhead and a separate office."
While we do have to wait an entire year for the collection, there is some solace in knowing that there will be Beyoncé-approved duds to hit the gym in. The singer released her own statement today regarding the new venture: "I could not think of a better partner as I continue to grow the Parkwood business. I have always loved Topshop for its fashion credentials and forward thinking. Working with its development team to create and produce a technical and fashion-led collection is exciting and I'm looking forward to participating in all aspects of this partnership."
Green will hire a separate team to run the Beyoncé activewear brand because, well, it's Beyoncé! The Parkwood team will ensure high quality and a unique creative direction for the line.
Beyoncé has stepped out in Topshop on many occasions, typically sporting her go-to crop top and skirt combos, as well as chic little dresses, muscle shirts and printed midis. It will be interesting to see how the singer's streetwear sensibility will translate to an athletic line—we can only imagine the cool silhouettes, printed nylons and must-have sneakers to come.
Last month, the 59-year-old former Eurythmics singer made headlines for labeling the "Love on Top" songstress a "feminist lite." Now, Lennox is once again sounding off on today's pop music icons.
In an interview with NPR, Lennox was asked about female musicians being overly sexual in their performances (aka, twerking). "The reason why I've commented is because I think that this overt sexuality thrust—literally—at particular audiences, when very often performers have a very, very young audience, like 7 years old, I find it disturbing and I think its exploitative. It's troubling. I'm coming from a perspective of a woman that's had children," she said.
"Some people will know that you specifically criticized Beyoncé for this the other day," NPR's Steve Inskeep asked her.
"Well, I didn't specifically criticize Beyoncé," Lennox explained. "I was being asked about Beyoncé in the context of feminism, and I was thinking at the time about very impactful feminists that have dedicated their lives to the movement of liberating women and supporting women at the grass roots, and I was saying, 'Well, that's one end of the spectrum, and then you have the other end of the spectrum.'"
"Listen, twerking is not feminism," Lennox added. "That's what I'm referring to. It's not—it's not liberating, it's not empowering. It's a sexual thing that you're doing on a stage; it doesn't empower you. That's my feeling about it...Maybe this is a good thing because it creates debate."
While sounding off on Bey last month, Lennox also admitted to being a fan of the Grammy winner. Speaking about Beyoncé's show, Lennox said, "I would call that 'feminist lite.' L-I-T-E. I'm sorry. It's tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she's a phenomenal artist—I just love her performances—but I'd like to sit down [with her]. I think I'd like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I'd like to listen to them. I'd like to hear what they truly think."
Beyoncé and Jay Z have faced a whirlwind of whispers in recent months that they were on the rocks and ready to split, but now it appears the couple are doing well!
"They did have major problems," a source tells PEOPLE. "But they worked it out and they've renewed their vows."
Also confirming their relationship is on steadier ground: The pair have been been seen house-hunting in Paris several times over the past month. "They're looking for a place," confirms an insider. The properties they've toured so far have been nothing short of extravagant, including a villa near the Seine, a home in a gated community referred to as "Millionaire's Row," and a townhouse next to the Elysee Palace.
The real estate news doesn't come as a total surprise – Bey and Jay have been vocal about their love for the City of Light in the past.
"We love Paris," Jay Z told the audience at the last show of the couple's On the Run stadium tour there in September. "It's special to us because we got engaged here, and this is where Blue Ivy was conceived."
The recent news of the couple's united front comes after a summer of breakup speculation, initially kicked off with footage of Beyoncé's sister, Solange, attacking Jay Z in a New York City elevator in May.
While the source admits the stars' relationship can be strained, "they worked it out for [the sake of] their reputations and for [their 2-year-old daughter] Blue Ivy."
And while there's been no official word on talk of a possible pregnancy (and a rep for the singer did not respond to request for comment on the vow renewal), the source says the couple do have at least one collaboration in the works: a new album.
It happened Friday night when the talented names in music stepped out on the town. The trio was seen out at Harry's Bar in London for a weekend kick-off meal.
Adele looked relaxed and comfortable, rocking a barely-there make-up look. The Someone Like You singer also sported an oversized gray sweater and patterned scarf.
Beyoncé, on the other hand, went for a more dressed up look. Queen Bey was smoking hot in a floral romper and black heels. The singer also showed off those infamous new bangs to complete the look.
The "Crazy in Love" singer's hair has gotten quite a lot of attention over the years. From her curly ringlets to the sudden blonde, the singer owns any style she goes with.
Beyoncé's hubby also looked happy to be next to his bombshell wife. Jay Z stepped out in all black everything, with a camouflage coat to add some color.
The power couple also partied it up with Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am that night. They were seen at a private party, with Adele also making an appearance.
Clearly, the life of a pop stars never ends. Sounds like one night out we'd all like to attend!
The 33-year-old "Flawless" singer and her 44-year-old hubby stepped out in London Wednesday night dressed in coordinating black and white outfits.
For their date night, Bey looked super fashionable in a black and white polka dot skirt and a black and white patterned blouse under a black motorcycle jacket. Beyoncé completed her monochromatic ensemble with black sunglasses, black and white striped heels and her new blunt bangs. And for her man, he sported black pants and a white hoodie under a black jacket.
Talks about one cute coordinating couple!
The 33-year-old pop star debuted her new and very (very!) short bangs while arriving at the Gare du Nord Station in Paris, France Tuesday afternoon.
Beyoncé donned a wine-red colored jump suit with a matching clutch and a gold choker necklace—but it was her new hairstyle that caught our attention immediately.
The Drunk In Love singer styled her hair in long soft waves, but we couldn't help but notice her ultra-short doll bangs that rest quite a few inches above her eyebrows. It's a bold look, but is Bey everyone to shy away from a strong style? We think not.
And this isn't the first time that Beyoncé has opted for super short bangs. She rocked a similar style in her Why Don't You Love Me music video, where she wore a Bettie Page-esque blond haircut—complete with blunt, short bangs.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Iggy Azalea
Beyonce
Luke Bryan
Eminem
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Lorde
One Direction
Katy Perry
Pharrell Williams
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko
Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
FAVORITE ALBUM - SOUL/R&B
Beyonce "Beyonce"
John Legend "Love in the Future"
Pharrell Williams "G I R L"
With a little more free time on their hands, the talented Hollywood couple continued their vacation in Paris by visiting the Louvre with their daughter.
In new pictures just released on Beyoncé's website, the family explores a variety of paintings, statues and other artistic elements featured in the iconic museum.
During their private visit, Blue Ivy showed her interest in the arts by grabbing mom's camera to snap a few special images. Queen Bey also couldn't help but capture her daughter as she walked around the venue in a gorgeous, polka-dot pink dress.
The "Single Ladies" singer even took time to snap a selfie in front of a memorable work of art. Is it just us, or is the statue taking a selfie too?
Ever since Beyoncé and Jay Z wrapped up their sold-out tour, the couple has been focusing on family and spending time together as a unit.
In recent weeks, the twosome caught up with close pal David Beckham at the Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Barcelona F.C soccer match.
The married duo also shared precious moments with their baby including a snapshot of Beyoncé on the swings next to her daughter.
So what's next for the power couple?
There's still speculation that the twosome could be combining their talents once again for a "huge" album.
Dash Radio's DJ Skee recently broke the news on-air after getting word on the collaboration from sources close to Bey and Jay's camp, adding that the album is set to be released in late 2014 or early 2015.
Oh, how we hope this news will be true!
The city’s first all-news FM radio station aired its last segment on Wednesday, sadly shuttering after “sustained poor ratings performance and significant financial losses over the past three years despite the substantial financial and human resources we invested.” It’s terrible news for staffers being laid off.
But there is a silver-lining: As the station figures out how to move forward, listeners will be treated to 100% Beyoncé — all day, all night. It’s almost a Flawless business plan (sorry, had to do it).
The new clip features the 33-year-old singer's recent On the Run concert in the City of Light, which featured a surprise performance from Minaj. The video begins with Bey dressed in a sexy colorful leotard. Jay Z's other half sings her hit while dancing with backup dancers as hoards of fans scream and cheer from the audience.
Midway through the five-minute vid, Minaj comes out on stage to bust rhymes and rap alongside Beyoncé. Watch the hot music video for yourself!
Meanwhile, Minaj opened up to L'Uomo Vogue this week about looking up to Beyoncé as a mother and wanting a family of her own.
"Seeing Beyoncé with her daughter [Blue Ivy] and husband was so tender, and it showed me that it is possible to be an animal on stage and a caring mother at the same time," Minaj revealed.
"I don't want to work my whole life without ever experiencing the joys of a family," the "Anaconda" crooner also dished. "The time is not yet ripe, but when I decide to get married and become a mother, I would like to take a hiatus and dedicate myself completely to my child."
"Family has always been very important to me, and that is why I want to wait until the right moment before starting my own. Right now I am too busy, but at a certain point the situation will change," she gushed.
A photo posted on Beyoncé's Instagram page on Friday shows the 33-year-old pop star without makeup and wearing a white crown made out of white roses...and it's unclear if she's clothed. Her shoulders are bare, with a small mole seen on her right side, and the image is cropped above her chest.
The headpiece covers most of her head and hair, with a few tendrils falling to her chin. The singer sports a haughty, defiant look and stares straight at the camera with her head tilted slightly to one side (Instagam Selfie-ing 101). The photo is set amid a painted white floral backdrop.
The singer has shared photos of herself without makeup before.
Many online users have said they think Beyoncé has her pics photoshopped before they are posted. She has not commented and has continued to post photos of herself, sometimes in a bikini, and of her family.
One recent image shows her and hubby Jay Z's 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, sporting a flower crown made of tiny red roses. The child is also seen swinging on a swing set with her mama. Bey and Jay are seen embracing in another pic.
The two were recently photographed in Paris. They watched a soccer match with retired British soccer star David Beckham and ran into former French president Nicolas Sarkozy last week. The couple had ended their hit On the Run tour with two shows near the city in mid-September.
Beyoncé shared yet another candid snapshot of her with her little one, Blue Ivy, on her website.
The 33-year-old is seen swinging side-by-side with her two-year-old daughter as the both don matching white bikinis.
The latest pics come just a day after the "Drunk In Love" singer posted several personal photos of her and her family on her website.
And while there were a few precious pics of baby Blue spending time with her mom by the pool, and dad Jay Z on a toy four-wheeler, all eyes went directly to Bey's series of sexy bikini pics.
All throughout the three images, Yoncé shows off her killer figure, and enviable curves, in a white retro-inspired two piece.
The swimwear is comprised of a high waisted bottom with a bra-like top, giving ample coverage yet showing off exactly how toned the Grammy-winning singer is.
Bey and Jay were most recently spotted watching a soccer match in Paris alongside none other than British soccer stud David Beckham.
They all caught Paris Saint-Germain F.C. play against Barcelona F.C in the City of Light and even ran into former French president Nicolas Sarkozy before making their way out of the venue.
But back to the family-filled pics, keep 'em coming Bey, we can't get enough!
The married duo were seen chatting with the sports legend in the crowd and even running into former French president Nicolas Sarkozy before leaving the venue.
Bey wore a black fedora paired with a sequin blouse while her hubby donned a black and white plaid sweatshirt and the couple's On the Run Tour hat.
The singer had joined her husband Jay Z to perform "Holy Grail" and "Young Forever" at the Global Citizen Festival. But after some enthusiastic dancing, Bey's blouse popped open, exposing her nude bra. Of course, nothing fazes the queen and Beyonce merely continued the rest of the performance casually, pulling her top closed.
And yo, blouse malfunction, we're really happy for you, Imma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best wardrobe malfunctions of all time.
In an interview with GLBT website PrideSource, Annie Lennox called Beyoncé's feminist values into question. Referring to the "XO" singer's recent MTV Video Music Awards performance, the Eurythmicsmember, 59, argued, "I would call that 'feminist lite.' L-I-T-E. I'm sorry. It's tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she's a phenomenal artist—I just love her performances—but I'd like to sit down [with her]. I think I'd like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I'd like to listen to them. I'd like to hear what they truly think.
Lennox was seemingly unaware that Beyoncé has in fact championed feminism in other ways than through her music. In a January 2014 essay for The Shriver Report, for example, the R&B diva said feminism "requires both men and women" to work. "We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life," the "Run the World" singer wrote. "And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible." And, when Beyoncé covered British Vogue in May 2013, the 17-time Grammy winner said, "I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I'm just a woman, and I love being a woman."
But Beyoncé isn't the only artist who makes Lennox worry. Without identifying anyone else in particular, the singer said, "I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don't think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism—no, I don't."
"I think for many it's very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it. I have issues with it. Of course I do," the "Why" singer acknowledged. "I think it's a cheap shot. I think what they do with it is cheap," she added. "What can I tell you? Sex always sells. And there's nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they're 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it."
Regarding the polarity of the word "feminism," the singer said, "People's relationship to the word has been a bit ambivalent over the last few decades. According to who you speak to, they don't sometimes quite know what to do with the word...Some women, many women, still have issues with the word and almost distance themselves from it because they're afraid it's synonymous with hating men."
Without mentioning Emma Watson's #HeForShe campaign, Lennox continued, "I think that what happened over the years, and quite rightly so, is that women had to be incredibly radical, stringent and strident about the voice of feminism. They had to do that, but I think that nowadays it's a more subtle thing. But we need men to be onboard with us. That's my view. Some women might disagree with me."
"I'm not saying I hold the key to the absolute truth—I'm not saying that at all—but I also feel very much that the LGBTQ movement and the women's movement need to get together far more frequently because we're coming from the same place of human rights and civil rights," the Scottish singer argued.
Jay Z headlined the Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn, where Beyonce surprised the audience by performing with her husband.
He told the crowd of 60,000 — many of whom earned free tickets by volunteering — to support the Global Citizen Festival's effort to end poverty by 2030.
"We out here for a good cause," he said onstage. "I want to thank everybody out here for this good movement."
Dressed in all black, Jay Z wore a hoodie with the Global Citizen Festival's logo and the names of other headliners, including Carrie Underwood, The Roots, Alicia Keys, Tiesto, fun. and No Doubt, who brought out special guest Sting to perform "Message In a Bottle," a crowd favorite.
Jay Z's electrifying set opened with audio from Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." The Brooklyn-born rapper then went into his own New York anthem, "Empire State of Mind," and followed it with his rich catalog of hits, from "Big Pimpin" to "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" to "99 Problems."
He left the stage, but moments later the crowd roared as Beyonce entered alongside her husband. She sang the choruses from his songs "Holy Grail" — where she danced excitedly — and "Forever Young" as the audience cheered and sang along.
The concert marked another New York venue that Jay Z — hip-hop's most powerful voice — has performed in. He has had numerous sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, where he held a Sept. 11 benefit show in 2009, and he is one of a few rap acts to perform at Carnegie Hall. He opened the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with eight consecutive shows in 2012.
No Doubt's set included hits such as "Don't Speak" and "Hey Baby," while a pregnant Underwood belted during "Before He Cheats" and "Jesus Take the Wheel," where she was misty-eyed.
The Global Citizen Festival coincides with the U.N. General Assembly meeting. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon were among the world leaders who attended in support of the anti-poverty campaign.
Hugh Jackman hosted the third annual event, which also featured Olivia Wilde and Jessica Alba and aired on MSNBC. Stevie Wonder headlined the festival last year, and Neil Young and Foo Fighters were among the lineup it its inaugural year.
If you answered yes (and why would you not?), then you're in luck: Queen Bey's official 2015 calendar is available for purchase now!
As shown on the "XO" singer's website, the calendar has 12 glossy Beyoncé pics—featuring plenty of bedroom eyes, lingerie, sparkles, cleavage and bootyliciousness! The $14.99 (plus shipping) calendar also includes a 12" x 24" centerfold of you-know-who.
Now, one of the first dates you'll want to mark on your Beyoncé cal is Jan. 7, 2015—Blue Ivy Carter's third birthday! (FYI, it falls on a Wednesday this year, so you can go ahead and adjust your party plans accordingly.)
It is hard to believe, though, that Bey and Jay Zs little girl has been living the good life and growing up right before our eyes for almost three years now. Baby Young Blue should cherish her time as the family star, because she might be sharing the spotlight with another Carter baby before you know it.
Bey, 33, told ABC News last year she "would love more children," saying Blue "needs some company." And while she and Hov, 44, seem to be constantly dodging pregnancy rumors, it could be at any point in those 12 calendar months that Beyoncé starts marking the progress of baby No. 2!
Perhaps that's projecting, but it never hurts to plan ahead...
On Tuesday, Jay Z's wife shared a handful of new shots on her website, including an adorably kissy-face picture of 2-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter!
Queen Bey, 33, showed off her tiny middle in a cinch-waist dress in one snap, and in a va-va-voom bikini shot, she put her bootylicious curves and killer cleavage on full display.
In order to look like that, the "XO" singer works out on the reg and generally eats healthy food. Of course, every now and then Bey allows herself a little diet splurge—like the delicious looking smiling pancake she shared a picture of Tuesday.
Every so often, though, Bey and hubby Jay will feel they overindulged just a little too far and need a nutritional reset. So, during times like this, the power couple stick to a vegan diet!
Blue's parents did this back in December with a 22-day meat-free plan. They worked with Marco Borges, a personal trainer and CEO of 22 Days Nutrtion, who told E! News at the time Bey "is all about health and wellness...She just wants to feel good."
"The transition [from vegan] was fairly easy," he explained, "because [now] she's sticking to a mostly plant-based diet with some fish here and there."
To be fair, though, Borges worked with Bey on a combination of "body-weight squats, lunges and pliés, along with plyometric exercises and sprint intervals".
Often, too, she was joined by Hov in the gym! "They're like every other couple, they love spending time together, they'll work out together whenever its possible, whenever their touring schedules allow," said Borges. "They'll absolutely jump in the gym together whenever they can, she'll be running and he'll be on a bike, or she'll be jumping rope and he'll be running."
Now if only Jay and Bey could motivate all of us in the gym...
Less than a week after concluding her On the Run tour with Jay Z in Paris, the talented singer shared new photos of her visit away from the stage.
While visiting a Paris Cathedral, Beyoncé was able to capture intimate, priceless moments with her husband and baby girl.
In one photo, Blue Ivy sports an adorable hair bow as she tries to touch a piano with her growing fingers. Meanwhile, mom watches from behind as her daughter explores one of music's greatest instruments.
In another snapshot, Jay Z stands alone on a balcony that overlooks the dimly-lit church. "Jay Z my life travel," the photo caption reads.
Finally, all three members come together hand-in-hand to share a spiritual moment near the altar. With Blue Ivy standing in the middle, the family bows their heads as candles bring light to the dark room.
Truly stunning and beautiful photos, just like this family!
This weekend, fans of the power couple were able to witness one of their concerts from Paris. The 150 minute plus concert, which first aired on HBO Saturday night, gave fans all around the world the opportunity to experience the magic of the couple's most recent stadium tour.
In between performing major hits such as "Young Forever," "Crazy in Love" and "Single Ladies," Beyoncé and Jay Z shared personal videos from some of their most memorable life moments.
One of our favorites came when Beyoncé performed "Halo." On the giant screen, viewers and concertgoers watched Blue Ivy enjoy birthdays, vacations and playtime with mom and dad!
Although the couple hasn't announced plans to expand their family, scenes like these make us hope for baby No. 2 sooner rather than later.
That's what most viewers said after watching Beyoncé and Jay Z's highly anticipated On the Run special Saturday night on HBO.
The 150 minute plus concert (that was also commercial free!) gave everyone the opportunity to experience the magic and amazingness of the couple's stadium tour that wrapped up just one week ago in France.
Although there weren't any major announcements (she's not pregnant and no, they aren't getting divorced), viewers still had plenty of reasons to "Bow Down" to the couple.
For those who missed out or for those who want their Bey and Jay Z love validated, we're here to help. Here are six things we couldn't get enough of while watching Saturday night.
1) Beyoncé's Costumes: From amazing onesies to long-flowing dresses, Queen Bey consistently looked stunning throughout the show.
And according to fashion designer Michael Costello, the singer was very hands on throughout the entire process.
"She's such a visual person. She knows exactly what she wants…I have a newfound appreciation for her," he told E! News exclusively when explaining the Paris wardrobe. "The colors are very beautiful, and the prints are very sparkly. She really does bring a piece to life!"
2) Beyoncé & Jay Z's Chemistry: One minute into the show, we saw the husband and wife kissing in front of the cameras. It only continued throughout the night as they both looked into each other's eyes on multiple occasions.
The love fest reached an all-time high when they thanked one another for an amazing tour.
"I'm your biggest fan. Give it up for Mr. Carter," Beyoncé told the crowd. Jay Z replied, "It's been an honor to share the stage with the woman I love who I think is the greatest entertainer of our time."
Trouble in paradise? We don't see it here!
3) Behind-the-Scenes Videos: Where do we even begin with the pre-taped videos shown throughout the night on the big screen?
Whether it was Beyoncé holding onto a gun, Jay Z smoking cigarettes shirtless or Beyoncé's sexy mug shot, we were glued to the screen in anticipation for what would appear next.
It's just another way the couple made their shows not just a concert, but an experience.
4) Hit After Hit After Hit: Whether you like Top 40, hip-hop, R&B or rap, there were songs for every music fan during the show.
From "Crazy in Love" to "Empire State of Mind," all the couple's favorites were included.
We also can't help but applaud the Paris crowd for their enthusiasm throughout the night. Whether doing the "Single Ladies" dance in unison or jumping together during "N---gas In Paris," that crowd was a devoted crowd. Bravo, ladies and gentlemen!
5) Their "Forever Young" Performance: Is it okay to admit we may have become a little emotional while watching this performance?
As the couple performed "Forever Young", pictures from their wedding day flashed on the screen. We also couldn't help but notice Jay Z putting his hand around Beyoncé's back at they watched the footage together.
A truly memorable performance from two unforgettable artists.
6) Oh, and Their "Halo" Performance Too: Two words: Blue Ivy!
As Queen Bey performed her hit single, we couldn't stop staring at the giant screen as we watched her baby girl enjoy birthdays, vacations and playtime with mom and dad.
After watching that, we can only hope baby No. 2 is on the way!
It looks like Beyoncé and Jay Z are teaming up do create something special together, making practically every fan of the power couple giddy with excitement. Karli Henriquez, Vice President of Pop Programming at Dash Radio, tells E! News the married musical pair are joining forces to put together a "huge" new album.
Dash's DJ Skee broke the news on-air after getting word on the collaboration from sources close to Bey and Jay's camp, adding that the album is set to be released in late 2014 or early 2015.
Um, what?! Start the countdown!
Obviously, we can't help but wonder all kinds of things upon the reveal: Will there be more songs like "Drunk in Love" (#surfbort)? Is this going to be another surprise release like Queen B's last album? Will there be videos? Does this mean another joint tour is going to happen?!
The exciting news comes right after the power couple wrapped their highly successful On the Run Tour in Paris this past weekend, and also shortly after there was speculation as to whether or not there was trouble in paradise.
The spouses of six years never openly commented on the status of their marriage amid reports that they're on the outs, but collaborating on an album together might do the trick to shut all of that down.
Touché.
The "Irreplaceable" singer may have ended her On the Run tour Saturday night on a high note. But new video from an Instagram user shows Queen Bey may have had a little help with her vocals during the final performances.
While singing "Partition," the 33-year-old drops it low to engage with a few excited fans in the pit.
Soon after, Beyoncé stops mouthing off any words, even as a vocal track continues to play in the background.
Looks like a lip-sync fail.
In all honestly, we can't be too upset with the singer. After all, she is Queen Bey.
Her final shows in Paris featured a surprise appearance by Nicki Minaj, who performed the "Flawless Remix."
And when she wasn't shaking her booty and showing off her amazing figure (she's not pregnant yet, folks), Beyoncé had some kind words to say about her hubby.
"At the end of the show, they both said something to the other," an eyewitness told E! News. "Beyoncé was first and said, ‘I'm your biggest fan. I love you so much' to Jay Z. Jay Z then said he was really glad to share the stage with his wife."
Even though the tour may be over, fans can still watch the couple do their thing on the upcoming HBO special airing this Saturday night.
Gawker was first to uncover the Instagram video.
Maybe that's how the "XO" singer gets so much done? Because in her world, there's always 12 full hours of sunlight!
Whatever the reason, we're thrilled that the results are Caribbean sunset-colored maxi dresses like this beauty.
Not only is the color on this combo a total vacation dream, but the shape is cozy enough for flying off to Bali or lounging around on a yacht—or you know, whatever normal people might do in the heat.
Slap on some gold high-heeled sandals and jewelry and it's fit for dinner at a chic club. Switch to flats and a straw hat and you can rock it straight to the beach.
Once again we say, where is the Beyoncé clothing line for Target, Kohl's, Macy's or H&M? Because if this dress was part of the collection, it would sell out in a hot minute!
Pregnancy rumors started flying after Jay Z reportedly changed a "Beach Is Better" lyric to say, "'cause she's pregnant with another one," during a performance Friday in Paris.
But, after Jay, 44, and Bey, 33, wrapped up their On the Run tour in France, a picture of the couple drinking what appears to champagne was tweeted from Life + Times' official account. And while this isn't a direct denial of what Hov might have implied on stage, he and Beyoncé have a history of setting the record straight through telling photos rather than carefully constructed public statements.
Not to worry, though: Mr. and Mrs. Carter plan to expand their brood! In an interview last year with ABC News, Blue Ivy's mama said she "would love more children," noting that her and Jay's 2-year-old daughter "needs some company."
Beyoncé admitte that she's "very protective" of her mini-me. "I just want to make sure that she can have a healthy, safe, normal life...in the back of my mind, she's my priority. And life is completely different now. So I'm—I feel really, really just lucky that I can still do what I love, and now have a way bigger meaning. And that's to be her mother."
Aw! So it looks like, for now, at least, Blue gets to keep mom and dad all to herself!
Case in point? The "Drunk in Love" songstress shared numerous snapshots from her recent family vacation in Italy, where she and Jay Z, Blue Ivy, Tina Knowles and a few other lucky pals celebrated her 33rd birthday.
Bey looked as happy as can be in a photo of her posing on a beach with her hubby.
The rapper had his arm wrapped around his leading lady, who wore a colorful cover-up underneath her patterned two-piece swimsuit.
Yoncé also showed off her insanely toned figure (hello, flat abs!) in a bikini while aboard a yacht off the Italian coast in several of the pictures.
She also took a moment to pose seductively on one of the boat's balcony's and showed off her flash tattoos all across her arms and back. But really, who on Earth is looking at her temporary ink, right?
The proud mama also shared a series of snaps of her adorable daughter playing with a shovel and pail in the sand.
Blue was dressed equally as fashion forward as her famous mother, wearing a leopard-print headband and multicolored ruffled bikini.
Before taking their successful On the Run Tour to Paris this week, Bey and Jay spent several days in Italy and the South of France to soak up the last bit of summer and unwind from their hectic schedule.
They deserve it!
Best US Act
Beyonce
Katy Perry
Eminem
Pharrell Williams
[You decide the final nominee]
Best Female
Ariana Grande
Beyonce
Katy Perry
Nicki Minaj
Taylor Swift
Best Live
Beyonce
Bruno Mars
Justin Timberlake
Katy Perry
One Direction
Beyoncé and Jay Z, who concluded their headline-making On the Run tour in Paris on Saturday night, were spotted out and about strolling the French city's streets on Monday where they were snapped looking crazy in love as walked arm in arm.
The powerhouse couple, who most recently celebrated Bey's 33rd birthday in Portofino, Italy, appeared relaxed and comfortable in each other's company, showing no signs of marital strife, despite being at the center of rampant split reports less than two months ago.
Bey, 33, showed off her toned and trim gams in a monochromatic mini dress teamed with a pair of black wedge heels and trendy matching clutch. She paired her head-turning ensemble with bright red lipstick for a pop of color and wore her hair down in soft curls, creating a perfect date night look that combined just the right amount of glamour and sex appeal. Meanwhile, the singer's rapper hubby wore black jeans, a black sweatshirt and bright white tennis shoes, opting to coordinate his outfit with his missus.
Earlier today, Bey and Jay released the first video from "Bang Bang," a three-part short movie trilogy the couple created with director Dikayl Rimmasch. The trilogy, which was first shown during the duo's On the Run Tour, shows the pair playing outlaws speeding through the California desert.
"In my first conversation on the telephone with Jay Z he explained his concept of On the Run," the director told Nowness. "He said: 'We're not trying to do this literally. It's not that we're Bonnie and Clyde. We're on the run from everything. On the run from becoming a cliché. On the run from doing the same thing again.' Everything he mentioned was a level of consciousness he has for staying alive as an entertainer and as a human being. He wanted to keep it more abstract because for him it was very abstract. How do you stay new, not just to your audience but also yourself?"
Over the weekend, the spotlight was on the married couple once again when they took the stage at the packed Stade de France in Saint-Denis, about eight miles north of the City of Love, where they put on a PDA-packed performance as their wildly-popular tour came to an end.
"Beyoncé and Jay Z looked in love," an eyewitness told E! News after watching Saturday's concert, "At the end of the show, they both said something to the other. Beyoncé was first and said, 'I'm your biggest fan, I love you so much' to Jay Z. Jay Z then said he was really glad to share the stage with his wife."
Looks like there's no stopping the lovefest!
Beyoncé and Jay Z posted the first of a three-part short film called Bang Bang, inspired by the Bonnie and Clyde legend and directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, while scenes were bring filmed by the couple's On The Runtour.
The three-minute, black-and-white clip, which premiered on Nowness, introduces Beyoncé as a glamorous cabaret singer and her spouse as a cigar-puffing player. Ennio Morricone's distinctly lush, Western-flavored orchestral music swells behind them — neither sung nor rapped — as the two then speed through the California desert in a dusty '60s Pontiac GTO.
A concert film of the On the Run tour is set to air on HBO on Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET.
The performers told the audience at Stade de France that Paris was also where their 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, was conceived.
"We love Paris. It's special to us because we got engaged here and this is where baby Blue was conceived," the rap star said.
Beyonce and Jay Z were married in 2008.
Nicki Minaj joined Beyonce onstage for their collaboration, "Flawless," which excited the crowd of nearly 80,000. Beyonce and Jay Z off kicked the three-hour show with "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." They also performed the hits "Crazy In Love," ''Single Ladies," ''Big Pimpin," ''Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Drunk In Love."
"I'm your biggest fan. I love you," a teary eyed Beyonce, 33, said looking to Jay Z, 44. He replied: "Greatest entertainer in the world. I love her. She's my wife."
The Saturday night concert mirrored the sentiments from last month's MTV Video Music Awards, where a teary Beyonce was joined onstage by Jay Z and Blue Ivy, amid the numerous rumors surrounding their marriage.
The Paris show was being filmed for an HBO special to air in September. The duo also performed Friday in Paris.
Beyonce and Jay Z kicked off the "On the Run" tour in June.
Jay Z reportedly changed the words to "Beach is Better" to "Cause she's pregnant with another one" during the final performance of the "On the Run" European leg in Paris on Sept. 12.
The couple has not made an official announcement -- but publicists weren't involved when they revealed Beyonce was pregnant with their first daughter, Blue Ivy, either. The singer famously debuted her baby bump on the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet.
"I put a lot of thought into how I wanted to unveil it. It was important to me that I was able to do it myself," Beyonce says of announcing she was pregnant the first time. "It was the toughest red carpet I ever did.I didn't want a crazy picture or gossip story to break the news, so I decided to say nothing and proudly show my baby bump. I felt it was more powerful to see the love and enthusiasm as opposed to saying anything."
This second announcement comes amidst divorce rumors that the couple have been fighting since the beginning of their "On the Run" tour, which earned over $100 million in the US.
Nicki Minaj joined Beyoncé and Jay Z during their One the Run tour concert in Paris Friday. The surprise appearance went down during Bey and Nicki's remix of "Flawless."
For the special performance, the divas matched in colorful bodysuits. Bey's leotard-like ensemble showed off her long legs while Nicki's highlighted her curvaceous cleavage.
One fan posted a shot of Beyoncé and Nicki performing on stage together with the caption, "Beyoncé & Nicki Minaj onstage performing Flawless Remix."
Nicki also posted a backstage selfie of her and Bey looking cute and happy together with Jay photobombing them in the background. "The QUEEN, could never thank you enough," the rapper wrote.
Another lucky fan caught part of the stars' performance in a video. "#nickiminaj special guest at #ontherun tour in Paris by #beyonce & #jayz," they captioned the clip.
Beyoncé's latest display of flawlessness was captured on camera perfectly as she prepared to board a private jet in Nice, France, on Wednesday, smiling with her wavy, bob-length hair flying about. The pop star, who recently celebrated her 33rd birthday, and husband Jay Z are vacationing in Europe with their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, and their families.
Beyoncé, her hubby and their little girl were spotted taking a small boat to the airport. Bey looked like an earthy beauty in a hunter green T-shirt with a colorful floral design and a dark racing stripe on both sleeves, printed shorts, textured, pointy stiletto heels and what appeared to be temporary gold and black metallic tattoos on her arms. She also sported a studded one on her left leg.
During the past week, the family visited the French island of Corsica, Antibes, France, and Portofino, Italy, where the singer donned a cute floral bikini and crashed a couple's wedding!
The power couple is set to perform two concerts in Paris on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 to conclude their On the Run Tour.
Beyoncé and Jay Z dropped by the Musée Picasso in Antibes, France, earlier today along with several family members including Blue Ivy and Tina Knowles.
The crew has been vacationing in the South of France in honor of the singer's 33rd birthday for over a week now and has been spotted on multiple boats (you know, yachts and the like…) throughout.
But it hasn't all been fun in the sun for the music couple and their pals, there has also been plenty of art history along the way!
The Carters looked their best for the summer outing at the museum—Bey rocking a leopard-print, belly-baring dress, while the rapper opted for a striped tee and white jeans.
And toss all those breakup rumors to the side, you guys, an onlooker says that the husband and wife appeared "very much in love" and were "always hugged as they strolled around the town."
Earlier this week, the "Drunk in Love" duo accidentally stumbled on a wedding in Portofino, Italy, during one of their sightseeing excursions.
According to an eyewitness, the couple dropped by church Divo Martino, where Yoncé stopped to congratulate the blushing bride and take a photo.
She "was so happy Beyoncé stopped," the source explained.
Prior to their trip to Portofino and Antibes, the Grammy winner celebrated her birthday by having a beach party in Corsica with her nearest and dearest.
The powerhouse couple, who are currently vacationing in Portofino, Italy, in celebration of the singer's 33rd birthday, opted to take a tour of a local church in the seaside town on Saturday where a wedding just happened to be going down.
So, of course, since this is Queen Bey, the pop star kindly took a moment to take a pic with the blushing bride, who was beaming from ear to ear (and presumably forgetting all about her groom) as she posed side-by-side with the world-famous hitmaker.
Talk about the luckiest bride in the world!
Meanwhile, Bey and Jay have been putting speculation that their marriage is on the rocks to rest, enjoying a romantic getaway in honor of the "Crazy In Love" singer, which has been full of PDA-packed snapshots of the duo.
Prior to their trip to Portofino, the superstar singer celebrated her special day by having a beach party in Corsica with rapper hubby, daughter Blue Ivy, mom Tina Knowles and more family and friends.
Then it was off to the seaside town where photographers have snapped the lovebirds strolling the streets arm-in-arm while flaunting their love for each other—in addition to a little impromptu wedding crashing!
Hey, who needs professional wedding pics when you have a shot with Queen Bey?!
But just how thankful is she?
To answer that question, it's crucial to note there are basically two types of people in this world: those who send out thank-you notes and those who slip on a bikini and perform acrobatic stunts in the grass to show appreciation.
Queen Bey falls under the latter category, so the freshly minted 33-year-old took to Instagram with photographic proof her fans inspire her to defy gravity, a considerable feat of flexibility and flawlessness.
"Thank y'all so much for my birthday wishes!" wrote the singer, who marked the milestone Sept. 4 and was spotted celebrating with husband Jay Z in Portofino, Italy.
We're very pleased with her response, although we can't help but wonder what Blake Lively got for baking Beyoncé a birthday cake.
It appears the "Crazy in Love" singer is continuing to celebrate her 33rd birthday with hubby Jay Z.
Photographers spotted the couple enjoying a day in the seaside town of Portofino, Italy where their romance didn't appear to be on the rocks.
Wearing a V-neck T-shirt and black swim trunks, Jay Z put his arm around Queen B as they walked around the community.
Beyoncé looked cute as ever with a summer hat, floral bikini top and classy cover-up. We also loved the gold accessories and henna art proudly displayed on her healthy figure.
E! News learned that the superstar couple enjoyed a beach party late last week where Beyoncé's loved ones wrote "Happy Birthday" in sticks on the sand.
Daughter Blue Ivy, mom Tina Knowles and more close family and friends were in attendance for the summer bash.
An eyewitness told E! News Jay and Beyoncé were very playful and joyous with one another as the entire group stayed on the beach for around four hours.
The group enjoyed playing paddle ball and even took lots of pictures. Hey Bey, any chance you can post some of those photos soon?
For now, the famous family appears to be simply relaxing and enjoying the final weeks of summer! It sure sounds like one fabulous trip!
Jay and Bey were all over each other -- pretending to enjoy themselves on the beach. Jay played a little paddle ball while Blue played in the sand ... until it was time to head back to their yacht, off the coast of Corsica.
Yeah, we're calling it ... time to kill the break up talk. We should all be this unhappy.
The self-proclaimed diva turns 33 this year and in keeping with tradition, she traveled overseas to enjoy some quality down time with her family.
Jay Z, Blue Ivy and Yoncé were all spotted arriving on a private jet at Bastia-Poretta airport in Corsica, where they're expected to enjoy a peaceful vacation in the South of France.
According to a source, Jay tipped their hostess on the private jet a hefty sum of €500, and when she returned to provide him with change, the rapper laughed and refused to accept. How nice!
E! News has also learned that the Carters have chartered a luxury yacht that rents for around $800,000 per week.
And while there have been rumors that the music power couple have hit a rough patch in their marriage, an insider explains that the two are moving forward as a united front.
"They've had their problems, but they're still solid. Going away for Beyoncé's birthday in September is a tradition they have. It's a chance to get some quality time together and relax far from worries about their crazy work schedules."
Meanwhile, Bey's staff over at Parkwood Entertainment gave her a special surprise in honor of her big day. (Video)
An adorable throwback pic (it is Thursday, after all) of her with a birthday-themed party hat was posted on the Grammy winner's website earlier today, along with a sweet video of a cake made just for Queen Bey.
The clip of someone cutting a slice of cake was accompanied by the following heartfelt message: "It's B Day! The Parkwood Entertainment family has taken over a small slice of Beyonce.com to send a special birthday wish. Happy Birthday, Beyoncé and may this new year of life be sweeter than them all!"
After seeing these photos, that capture an intimate moment between the two, we can all agree they are definitely, maybe, possibly, absolutely, perhaps, probably, 100% for sure breaking up or staying together.
Queen Bey looks gorgeous as usual as she poses in a number of looks, from a trench coat with only black briefs underneath to a photo with a surfboard strapped to her back. And in the poem titled “Bey the Light”, which was written in her own words and “remixed” by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Forest Gander (because sure, why not), she opens up about how her daughter has given her new purpose.
“It’s my daughter, she’s my biggest muse,” she writes (but as we read it, we imagine her softly rapping the words). “There’s someone we all find out soon, more important than ourselves to lose.”
Bey also writes about how she hopes others interpret her talents: “You call me a singer, but I’m called to transform, to suck up the grief, anxiety, and loss of those who hear me into my song’s form.”
For more on the star’s shoot, styled by Roitfeld (and to read the whole poem) click here. And tell us: What do you think of Bey’s art?
Rumors have been swirling for weeks that the power couple’s relationship has been on the rocks, but at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, they tried to at least present a united front.
As Beyoncé finished her 15-minute set, hubby Jay Z — carrying daughter Blue Ivy — presented her with the Video Vanguard Award onstage. Queen Bey said a few words to the crowd, she embraced her family, and then they headed home. (Hopefully without having to travel in any elevators.)
To many viewers, the family’s appearance felt like something cooked up in a p.r. boardroom in an attempt to counter the reports of their imminent split.
Beyoncé seemed to shed tears, but were they tears of joy for her award or of sadness over the unraveling of her six-year marriage?
“I see a lot of hurt and pain here,” says Florida-based body language expert Susan Constantine. “They’re just trying to save face. They feel no emotions toward each other,” adds Constantine, who examined a video of the appearance as well as this still photo (at left).
The body language expert, who also works as a jury consultant, says that pictures can sometimes be more telling than videos. Discovering how someone truly feels is about analyzing their “microexpressions” — brief, sometimes involuntary movements of the face that betray emotions.
“Jay Z and Beyoncé are completely distant, and their minds are on something else,” she says. “Beyoncé feels really uncomfortable.”
Constantine says the superstar’s body language indicates she might be going through emotional trauma and hasn’t reached the acceptance stage yet. Hence the discomfort.
Even 2-year-old Blue Ivy might be trying to tell us something.
“I see this sense of sadness. It’s almost like Beyoncé is looking at her going, ‘It’s OK,’ ” Constantine says. “And the baby is saying, ‘This doesn’t seem right.’ Children are very perceptive.”
Of course, that uneasiness on the baby’s part might just be about appearing on a stage in front of thousands of screaming fans. Or maybe she was just thinking about Miley Cyrus’ performance from last year.
Beyoncé’s face: “She’s giving a false smile,” Constantine says. If she were really happy, her eyebrows would be lifted and her eyes would be more open.
Jay Z’s face: “This is what we call a flat face,” Constantine says. “There’s no expression whatsoever.” Happiness would be indicated by upturned corners of the mouth. But he’s less strained than Beyoncé.
Eyes: “Neither one of them is looking at each other,” says body language expert Susan Constantine. “Their interest is more in their daughter.”
Beyoncé’s hand over midsection: She’s blocking her stomach area — the home of emotions in the body — indicating a feeling of vulnerability. Were she feeling comfortable, she’d expose her midsection.
Beyoncé’s hip: Her hips are angled away from her husband, indicating disassociation. “In other [older] photos, you see Beyoncé leaning into her husband,” Constantine says.
Blue Ivy: Her hands are clasped in a prayer-like way. Happiness would be indicated by raised arms and an extended body. Instead, she’s making herself small. “Maybe she’s praying her parents get back together,” Constantine says.
On hand to receive the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, the 32-year-old diva performed a 16-minute set (watch it here) that included "Drunk in Love," "Mine" and "Jealous" as Jay watched from the audience with the couple's daughter Blue Ivy on his lap. After the performance, Jay and Blue came onstage to present a tearful Queen Bey with the award as the adorable 2-year-old said, "Good job, Mommy." Jay Z and Beyonce kissed after he handed her the statuette.
"I am so full... I have nothing to say," Beyonce said after her hubby handed her the award. "I am filled with so much gratitude ... Little Blue, I love you, my beloved, I love you, my fans, I love you, MTV, I love you, good night."
What did you think of Beyonce's performance?
After a stunning, energy-filled performance of a medley of songs from her self-titled album, Beyoncé was presented with the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award from husband Jay Z and adorable 2-year-old daughter Blue Ivy at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
Wearing a colorful mosaic bodysuit, the singer accepted the award from Jay Z — who she referred to as “my beloved” — and sealed the deal with a kiss.
The couple, who have been plagued by reports of an impending split, appeared to be picture of a happy family as Beyoncé broke down in tears at the sight of her adorable tot.
And there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience or on Twitter after the power couple’s offspring exclaimed “go Mommy!” into the microphone.
According to widespread but unconfirmed reports, America's most powerful entertainment couple might not make it to their next wedding anniversary. But at least they're not in trouble with the feds.
The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General issued a report today saying Bey and Jay did not violate longtime U.S. sanctions against Cuba, which forbid U.S. citizens from visiting the island and spending any money there as tourists except under special license.
The couple did have such a license to visit under the "people-to-people" educational exchange program, and they did not abuse it, the report concluded.
When Shawn Carter and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (their real names) were mobbed by fans during their four-day visit to Cuba in April 2013, two Miami-area Cuban-American lawmakers demanded an investigation. Most Americans aren't allowed to visit Cuba, not even superstars.
Jay Z even addressed the controversy by posting an Open Letter song to his blog.
The federal investigators reviewed media reports of what the couple did during their vacation: Dinners in private homes, a walking tour of Havana neighborhoods, a tour of Cuba's top art school, a visit to a children's theater group and stops at several dance clubs "where the couple heard live music and occasionally took to the dance floor," the report said.
None of this could be considered deliberate or inadvertent support for Cuba's Communist-run state, which is what the U.S. sanctions against Cuba are supposed to prevent.
"All of these activities serve the U.S. foreign policy goal of helping the Cuban people by facilitating exchanges with them and supporting the development of independent activity and civil society," the report said.
"No further investigation is necessary," the report concluded.
Fortunately, that's precisely what Beyoncé is showing off in the latest pics that surfaced on her selfie-filled Tumblr.
The Grammy winner shared a series of snapshots of her in a pair of super-short black denim shorts and a flowy black-and-white crop top complete with a gold headpiece.
But it wasn't her fun sense of fashion that caught everyone's attention…
Bey inadvertently (or maybe not) flashed quite a bit of under boob in one of the photos. Blue Ivy's famous mom appeared to be trying to cover up after a gust of wind blew up her blouse, but the cameras still managed to capture her cleavage.
But enough about her mini wardrobe malfunction—look at her abs, people!
The 32-year-old flaunted her washboard stomach in the sexy ensemble and recently did the same in a revealing outfit during a trip to K1 Speed in Torrence, Calif., where she, Blue, Jay Z and their pals went indoor go kart racing.
One cute pic from the Carters' fun outing shows baby Blue walking hand-in-hand with daddy Jay from behind as they stroll by the indoor track.
Hov was decked out in khakis and a Trapstar jersey while his little girl donned an adorable ivory summer dress with pink sandals.
This first look starts off in black and white, with a glamorous Beyonce serenading Jay Z in an old-fashioned night club setting. The trailer quickly moves into a series of cuts promoting their concert tour, flashing by at break-neck speed. It certainly looks exciting.
Their first HBO concert event premieres Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
It looks like the superstar singer and her loved ones are enjoying some time off. Bey shared some fun photos of her and hubby Jay Z having a family day with daughter Blue Ivy at K1 Speed in Torrence, Calif., where the duo, who are currently on a mini break before starting the European leg of their On the Run Tour, revved their engines for some indoor kart racing with their baby girl to celebrate a family friend's birthday.
One of the snapshots shows Yoncé giving the camera a Bonnie & Clyde look while wearing the venue's face mask and showing off her rock-hard midriff and gold body chain.
Another cute pic is of baby Blue walking hand-in-hand with daddy Jay from behind as they stroll by the indoor track. Hov was decked out in khakis and a Trapstar jersey while his little girl donned an adorable summer dress. Queen B also made sure to let fans know once again that she's No. 1, playfully posing at the top spot of the winner's podium.
The family-friendly photos come on the heels of more rumored reports claiming the power couple are on the verge of breaking up.
"There has been talk of divorce and it's been really tense at times on the tour," a source recently told E! News of the private pair. "Beyoncé has been leaning on her mom and sister a lot since they are so close. Jay wants everything to work out and is trying to convince Beyoncé how much he does not want a divorce. It's flowers, constant texts and telling her he loves her. He is pulling out all the stops."
Let's hope these photos are Bey and Jay's way of saying everything is A-OK.
The "Drunk In Love" singer has selected several schools in six East Coast cities to donate school supplies to this coming fall.
The Grammy winner's charity, #BeyGOOD, will be handing out the supplies at underfunded school districts in Baltimore, Charlotte, N.C., New York City, Washington D.C., and Newark.
Backpacks, pencils, notebooks, folders and more back-to-school essentials will be handed out to children during "pep rallies for good" at the schools.
Yoncé has also teamed up with State Bags to produce a special edition backpack—which will be handed out during the donation as well as available for sale.
All of the proceeds of the sales from the #BeyGOOD State Bags will benefit the 2014 Back to School Program, which is aimed at benefiting at-risk children.
There's also a Back To School Bundle that is available for purchase online, that features all Bey-themed goodies that are bound to make your friends jealous.
"Our #BeyGOODxSTATE GIVEBACKPACK Program and inspirational bag drop events go beyond a simple material donation by providing children in underfunded communities the role models and motivation to beat the odds," Scot Tatelman, State Bags co-founder, explained in a statement.
"Partnering with Beyonce's #BeyGOOD movement not only creates a platform for children to receive backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming year, but also drives them to reach their full potential."
HBO is recording two shows from the current Beyonce/Jay Z tour -- the Stade de France concerts in Paris scheduled for Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 -- and plans to include more than 40 songs in the finished special. Whatever makes the final cut will air Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
The "Drunk in Love" singer shared a snap of herself sitting on an outdoor couch, seemingly enjoying some down town after hitting the road nonstop for her and Jay Z's On the Run tour this summer.
But is it just us or does it look like her latest Instagram photo has been altered? Not that this wouldn't be the first time that the Queen Bey has been accused of Photoshopping her Instagram pics…
At first glance, all you see is Yoncé in all her flawless, makeup-free glory, rocking a chic summer outfit and gazing off into the distance. Upon further review, you may even catch Jay snapping the photo in the reflection behind her.
She looks downright perfect. She always does though (like here, and here, and here, and who could ever forget this), so this is nothing new!
However, if you're really savvy—or just a wee bit obsessed with Bey, as we are—you'll notice that there's a cellphone on the table that appears to be slightly curved.
Maybe she got her hands on the new iPhone 6? And the design is…different? Maybe it's the sunlight reflecting that's causing the distortion?
Here's to hoping it's one of the aforementioned things, or that there's some other easily explainable reason behind this because otherwise it means that Blue Ivy's gorgeous mama has gone in and messed with God's work.
What do you think is really going on in Bey's latest IG pic?
The spouses of six years have not commented on the status of their marriage amid reports that they're on the outs. "There has been talk of divorce and it's been really tense at times on the tour," a source tells E! News of the private pair. "Beyoncé has been leaning on her mom and sister a lot since they are so close. Jay wants everything to work out and is trying to convince Beyoncé how much he does not want a divorce. It's flowers, constant texts and telling her he loves her. He is pulling out all the stops."
The rapper, 42, and the singer, 32, completed their On the Run tour on Aug. 6 in San Francisco, Calif. The musicians, who are parents to Blue Ivy Carter, 2, will take their act to Paris for two shows in September.
For now, they seem to be putting on a united front. "While they're still on tour, it's all business," an insider says. "They're professionals and they're trying to keep everything as professional as possible."
In fact, after their last U.S. concert, Beyoncé Instagrammed a photo of the daddy-daughter duo boarding a plane. "Thank you San Fran! Your city is beautiful," the "Partition" singer wrote. "It was the perfect place to complete the best tour of my life! Thank you to all the fans that supported our show. God bless."
Instagram, it seems, is Beyoncé's preferred medium for sharing her side of the story. She's mulling her options, according to sources, but it may be too little, too late.
So what's next for the hip-hop power couple, who have collectively created a nearly $1 billion empire? "Beyoncé is torn because she loves Jay so much and wants to keep their family together," a source tells E! News of the Grammy-winning musicians. "She's turning to family and God to help her through it."
The pop queen posted on her Instagram page on Saturday two photos of herself wearing a jersey with the number 4 and "Carter" printed on it. It's similar to husband Jay Z's signature Brooklyn Nets jersey that was issued when he was a part-owner of the NBA team (the two also have a strong connection to the number—it appears in their birthdates and Bey even named her 2011 fourth studio album "4").
She sports two braids and appears to be pantsless in the pics, which show off her shapely legs, and in one of them, she poses seductively while looking behind her and standing on one foot.
It is unclear when the pictures were taken. Beyoncé and Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, have been the subject of marital trouble and even breakup rumors over the past few weeks and have not commented about them. However, Bey has used Instagram several times to seemingly debunk reports about her personal life.
The power couple, parents to a 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, recently completed the North American leg of their On The Run tour, which Bey dubbed "the best tour of my life," and are set to perform two concerts in Paris in September.
“Beyoncé’s over the top and Jay’s the perfect complement,” Ambrose told PEOPLE at a Lexus Short Films event in NYC. “Beyoncé’s fashion is like Vogue couture, Jay is more like ‘the best accessory’ — very laid back, has a little bit of street edge, but still the sense of glamour to it.”
Ambrose added that the rapper refined his fashion aesthetic more after teaming up with Bey, personally and professionally. “When the two of them got together, he was really in an executive place,” she said. “I think that he just grew into his look as if it was second skin, and I think that when you settle down, you become more secure. I think his look has become so much more solid. When you live a solid life, your look is solid.”
And seeing the couple collaborate on tour has been a high note for Ambrose’s styling career. “They’re hard workers, and they’re two extraordinary artists and the dynamic to me is one of the best tours I’ve seen in years,” she gushed. “It was shocking to me because you’ve seen both of those tours separately so you’re like, ‘What are they going to do?’ But they really pulled off an amazing, amazing, riveting, sexy, provocative, edgy show.”
Next up: We can’t wait to see what the superstar songstress wears to the VMAs as she excepts her MTV Video Vanguard Award. And we hope Jay’s standing stylishly by her side.
Hip-hop’s royal couple, who have stayed silent amid reports of marital trouble, just wrapped up two shows in San Francisco on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we’re told are staying at Paltrow’s $10.5 million Brentwood home before flying to France for gigs on Sept. 12 and 13.
On Monday, Beyoncé posted Instagram photos of herself in the doorway of a sunny home, showing off decor that looked similar to Paltrow’s Brentwood estate.
Bey and Jay are famously close with Paltrow and her “consciously uncoupled” husband Chris Martin, with Paltrow calling the rapper “Uncle Jay” in interviews.
In a February interview with South Africa’s Fairlady magazine, Paltrow said of her son Moses’ fondness for Hova: “I think my son would like to be more like Uncle Jay! He asked me the other day how he can look more like Uncle Jay. I said ‘I would have to think about it.’?”
Bey told E! of Paltrow last year: “She is incredible. She’s a great friend on every level.” Reps didn’t comment.
It turns out that the famous duo called the St. Regis Hotel their home away from home while they were in town, and stayed in the Presidential Suite.
The pad costs a whopping $15,000 a night and boasts over 3,200-square-feet of luxurious amenities like floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views of the City by the Bay, and a private elevator free from photographers and fellow hotel guests. And we all know by now what goes down when there's a billion dollars on an elevator…sorry, had to!
And when Hov and B weren't doing their thing on stage at AT&T Stadium, they were enjoying all the fine dining that the city has to offer with their crew members and daughter Blue Ivy.
Daily Mail reports that the Carters were spotted grabbing a bite to eat at Tosca Café, as well as Boulevard Restaurant located in the Mission district.
Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am also made sure to join in on the fun at Tosca—where they all dined in a private room during their visit—and was seen hugging the famous musicians goodbye before leaving in a separate vehicle.
Bey and Jay have some time before they hit the road again, this time for the final dates of their tour in Europe.
Their expected to perform in Paris on Sept. 12 and 13.
Just one day after wrapping the U.S. portion of her wildly successful On the Run tour with husband Jay Z, MTV reveals the powerhouse singer, 32, will receive the MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 24. She will also perform at the show.
The special award honors an artist's entire body of work, which in Bey's case stretches back to her start in Destiny's Child in the '90s before releasing her first solo album, Dangerously in Love, in 2003.
"Not many singers have the power or ability to command such a massive legion of fans, drop a number one album out of literally nowhere and take the world by storm tour after tour," MTV writes of its decision to honor the singer. "Queen Bey seems to do it with ease and at the same damn time."
Previous Vanguard Award winners include Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Britney Spears.
In addition to the Vanguard Award, Bey is also nominated in eight categories at the awards show this year, more than any other artist.
Beyoncé and husband Jay Z are jointly nominated for video of the year for "Drunk in Love." Her other nominations include best female, best collaboration, best video with a social message, best cinematography, best editing, best choreography and best direction.
The MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from Inglewood, California, on Aug. 24 at 9 p.m. ET.
The power couple, who have not commented on the relationship reports directly (although Bey has posted cryptic Instagram pics), seemed less "crazy in love" than usual while performing in front of some 40,000 fans at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The show portrayed different stages of a relationship: Happiness, heartache and forgiveness. Check out 5 highlights from the concert, the second-to-last stop on their U.S.-leg of the On The Run tour. The two are set to perform two shows in Paris on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.
1. Subdued Beyoncé: Bey appeared less energetic than at previous On the Run concerts and her display of affection towards Jay Z often seemed staged. She occasionally smiled and danced alongside her hubby playfully but the two did not have a lot of interaction when they weren't performing a song together.
2. Emotions run high: Beyoncé appeared teary while performing her song "Resentment," in which she sang the lyric, "Been ridin' with you for 12 years why did I deserve / To be treated this way by you"—which was changed several weeks ago from "six years" to reflect the start of the singer's relationship with Jay Z in 2002. The two wed in 2006 and have a 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy.
Both Jay Z and Beyoncé appeared emotional at the end of the concert, during which personal photos were displayed to the audience. Bey also walked offstage while draping her arm around her hubby and rubbing his side affectionately.
3. Fake PDAs?: The two wowed audiences worldwide with a sexy performance of Beyoncé's song "Drunk in Love" at the 2014 Grammys and replicated the steaminess onstage while touring. But at Tuesday's concert, Beyoncé seemed reserved and less flirty than usual towards her husband as they performed the song and also appeared distant when he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her at the end of it.
The two also engaged in what seemed to be a quick, frigid, forced peck on the mouth at the conclusion of the concert. They moved farther apart from each other after it.
Amid the breakup rumors, the pair had earlier this week raised eyebrows when they did not seem to interact backstage during their performance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The two also did not spent time together at an after party. On Tuesday, E! News learned that Beyoncé has been taking meetings to discuss the future of her assets (although this is not unusual for celebrities). She and Jay Z are both estimated to be worth almost $1 billion.
Liv, who has been accused by tabloids of being Jay-Z's mistress, released a video for her new single "Sorry Mrs. Carter" on Monday, and in it, she says she and Beyoncé's rapper husband "never screwed." However, she does imply that Jay-Z wanted to and that he still thinks about her today when he's supposed to be with Beyoncé. Oooohsnap!
The song, which heavily—and I mean heavily—samples the OutKast song "Sorry Mrs. Jackson," continues with the verse, "I'm sorry, Mrs Carter," referencing Jay-Z's real last name. And to put to rest any doubt about the song's meaning, Liv has tabloid covers superimposed on the screen showing headlines alleging her hook up with Jay-Z.
Rumors have been swirling for weeks about trouble between Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who have been married since 2008 and have a daughter together, Blue Ivy. The couple will wrap the stateside leg of their "On the Run" tour on Wednesday in San Francisco, and will perform together again in Paris on Sept. 12 and 13 for their upcoming HBO special.
I will warn you about clicking on the video (here) as Liv is not nearly as talented as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, or a bunch of pots and pans clanging together.
As speculation around the state of Beyoncé and Jay Z's marriage mounts, a source tells E! News exclusively that Bey has been taking meetings to discuss the future of her assets. And while this may raise a red flag, it's also nothing new for a celeb of her monetary stature to meet with someone to make sure things are in line.
Plus, including the earnings of her business mogul hubby, these two are entering astronomical territory. "Combined they are very rapidly approaching the billion-dollar mark," Zack Greenburg, senior editor at Forbes and also author of the book Empire State of Mind: How Jay Z went From Street Corner to Corner Office, tells E! News.
A billion-dollar couple?! You bet. And Bey didn't fail to mention their whopping net worth in her latest musical release.
In the "Flawless" remix featuring Nicki Minaj, the superstar singer referenced the infamous Hov and Solange elevator fight by saying, "We escalate, up in this bitch like elevators," and then threw in a line about their financial status, "Of course sometimes s--t go down when it's a billion dollars on the elevator."
The confrontation between her husband and sister at the Met Gala is what sparked the idea that there was trouble in paradise. A handful of head-scratching headlines have plagued the couple since then—including a New York Post report that a certain "Single Ladies" singer was shopping for a solo apartment—but Bey and Jay have made continuous efforts to keep up the public perception that they are the blissfully in love couple we all want them to be.
Rather than address the speculation, Bey and Jay have chosen to employ an "actions speak louder than words" tactic, which they've done in the past to silence their critics, by showing off sweet PDA moments during their joint On the Run tour.
Despite rumors of marital strife, Beyoncé and Jay Z's On the Run Tour is officially a giant win for the power couple.
The nationwide stadium tour grossed more than $100 million in ticket sales, reports Billboard.com. The nearly two-month tour wraps in the U.S. on Wednesday in San Francisco, although they will perform again in Paris on Sept. 12 and 13. Those shows will be filmed for an upcoming HBO special.
Omar Al-Joulani, vice-president of North American touring for Live Nation, confirmed the robust sales figure to the music publication and also said the tour sold at more than 90 percent capacity, disproving rumors of struggling ticket sales.
Al-Joulani declined to comment on speculation about the state of the couple's six-year marriage, saying he hasn't read anything about it, but said the success of the tour means "everybody's winning."
Indeed, the show takes in more than $5.2 million per night, and the "Drunk in Love" duo fill nearly 45,000 seats a performance, on average.
"These shows sold tremendously well at the end," said Al-Joulani, noting that ticket sales typically spiked in the days just preceding a show. "It was a very successful tour, and we're pleased to have that big gross number at the end."
The tour also stands out for how quickly it came together – an extra-impressive feat considering the pair were on the road for much of last year. Most shows are planned a year or more in advance, but Al-Joulani said this one "came together quite quickly, around mid-March. By April, we had everything together."
He said the popularity of the couple demanded the production be "epic," and elements of the live show included a moving high-def screen, pyrotechnics and hydraulic lifts. Buzz from the couple's high-concept trailer for the tour also helped to generate interest, Al-Joulani said.
However, the success of the tour ultimately came down to the live performances, which Al-Joulani said the duo dazzlingly delivered.
"These events are driven by content and demand, and being dramatic and creative and putting out content people want to see," he said. "The two of them are as about creative as you can get, and it was pretty brilliant to watch them work. The show itself is spectacular."
But the sensual togetherness that the couple manifest on stage every night didn't carry over to the afterparty at the Rose Bowl, a source exclusively tells E! News.
The couple hosted an intimate, celeb-studded afterparty at the venue following Sunday's show in Pasadena, Calif. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren and Ellen Pompeo and hubby Chris Ivery were among the 25 to 30 people in attendance.
We're told that Jay Z and Beyoncé, who continue to put on a united front and make performance magic while under the shadow of a murky cloud of rumors about the supposedly declining state of their marriage, arrived at the party together and left together—but they socialized separately.
They each chatted with guests and worked the room otherwise normally, but they were not lovey-dovey, the source says.
Moreover, they didn't spend any time together backstage earlier in the evening, sticking to their separate dressing rooms and not interacting much at all while off stage.
But once again, when they were on stage...
Crazy in love.
At least some of Beyoncé's art is unequivocally reflecting life, however—she addressed her family's recent elevator incident in the new remix of her tune "Flawless," featuring Nicki Minaj.
"We escalate, up in this bitch like elevators/of course sometimes s--t go down when it's a billion dollars on the elevator," Bey sings, repeating the line for effect.
On their latest On The Run Tour stop, which touched down in Los Angeles for the weekend, the couple impressed a star-studded audience that included Natalie Portman, Nicole Richie and Lea Michele.
And Sunday's show ended on the ultimate high note: When Jay, 44, and Bey, 32, finished performing the final song of the night, "Forever Young," the co-headliners shared a kiss on the lips and held each other for a show-stopping moment.
Their finale featured a sweet peek into their lives as family footage rolled, including shots of 2½-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.
The couple then walked off arm-in-arm to the main stage.
"Last but not least, give it up for Mr. Carter," Beyoncé told the audience, closing out the show. Followed Jay Z, "No. Last but not least, give it up for Mrs. Carter." Their fond sentiments were followed by an arm-in-arm exit.
This warm display is just the latest way they've combatted the rumors of marital trouble that began even before their tour kicked off in June.
In fact, there was no shortage of emotion at Sunday's show, either. As she powered through her relationship ballad, "Resentment," Beyoncé's eyes began to water.
The couple performed a handful of songs together, including "Drunk in Love." At the end of their steamy duet, a grinning Jay Z held Beyoncé from behind. (Video)
Queen Bey, who is currently on tour with husband Jay Z, alludes to the elevator fight between her husband and sister, Solange -- "Of course sometimes s*** goes down when there's a billion dollars on an elevator," she sings.
Listen to the remix featuring the former "American Idol" judge below, but be warned -- there's some not-so-suitable-for-work (or young ears) language.
But while execs at the Thursday session wanted to put out a statement, Jay Z and Beyoncé declined — because they couldn’t agree on what it would say.
Now officials fret that the couple’s $100 million On the Run Tour might be canceled before its scheduled finale.
“This may not make it to San Francisco,” a source said. “I’m definitely not sure that they’ll make it to Paris.”
The tour, which is promoted by Live Nation, was in LA this weekend and was to arrive in San Francisco for two shows beginning Monday. The finale is scheduled for Paris in September.
HBO, meanwhile, plans to telecast a major special on the tour in September.
“There are lawyers that have now joined the tour, and they’re not here just to see them perform. They are here to help hash things out,” the source said.
The Post first reported that the power couple’s marriage was on the rocks and that Beyoncé was hunting for her own apartment.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and HBO chief Richard Plepler wanted the meeting before “this becomes a public-relations nightmare,” the source said, adding that HBO cameras have captured much of the performances and the network plans a major special in September.
“Rapino is pissed that everything is so out in the open and things are so heated,” the source said.
It’s gotten so bad that the couple, who married in 2008, are living separate lives even on the tour.
“They’re not just staying in different hotel rooms, but they have booked separate hotels, and they arrive separately to each show,” the insider said.
On stage and online, however, the stars have been playing the loving couple — with Jay Z snuggling Beyoncé during a show Wednesday night in Seattle.
The source said that one of the problems in the marriage is Jay Z’s controlling nature and that, even now, the rap impresario won’t back off.
“They’ve had discussions lately about the inevitable sit-down interview when they finally do split, and Jay’s been adamant that he doesn’t want Beyoncé sitting down with Barbara Walters or Oprah Winfrey pretending to be the victim,” the source said.
It’s estimated that Jay Z has a net worth of more than $550 million and Beyoncé about $300 million. But the source said it’s unclear who would get what in a divorce.
“From what I know, there’s no prenup.” the source said.
Despite recent family drama and an onslaught of split rumors, the power couple have been spotted together more than ever since they began co-headlining the On the Run tour on June 25.
From yacht time in Miami on June 27 to a shopping trip to Ralph Lauren Kids with their 2½-year-old daughter Blue Ivy on June 30, the "Crazy in Love" performers have been projecting the image of the perfect family while they travel the country.
Not that the tour has gone without incident.
At a concert in Cincinnati on June 28, Beyoncé added her own fuel to the fire of cheating rumors when she changed the lyrics to her 2006 single "Resentment" to seemingly reference Jay Z, whom she began dating in 2002 and wed in 2008.
But of course, the power couple have bounced back from controversy before, notably after the Met Gala afterparty altercation between Beyoncé's sister Solange and Jay Z in May.
That incident seemed like a distant memory by July 21, as Jay, 44, and Bey, 32, enjoyed a day off in New Orleans by having lunch with Solange and some close friends before visiting the National World War II Museum together.
"They seemed to be having a nice time and were really relaxed and super low-key," an eyewitness told PEOPLE of the family lunch.
And while neither wore their wedding bands at their Seattle show on Wednesday, Jay Z found time to give his wife a quick peck on the cheek during their few minutes on stage together during the two-and-a-half-hour set.
Well, Blue Ivy's parents were a lovey-dovey, smiling picture of a happily married couple onstage Wednesday night when their On the Run tour took over Seattle's Safeco Field. At one point, Queen Bey, 32, and Hov, 44, could barely contain their grins as they stared into one another's eyes. Then there was a tender moment when the "Crazy in Love" duo held hands as they gleefully made their way across the stage.
Between these public PDA moments and Bey's adorable Instagram snaps of her hubby and their little girl, it's clear that hip-hop's royal couple is putting up a united front. They've chosen to employ this "actions speak louder than words" tactic in the past to silence their critics.
Breakup rumors began to swirl about the couple back in May when leaked footage showed Bey's sister, Solange, physically attacking Jay in a hotel elevator after the Met Gala. A source told E! News at the time the scuffle was a result of Jay's allegedly inappropriate flirting with Rachel Roy, but Beyoncé issued a statement shortly afterwards insisting they had "moved forward as a united family."
A handful of head-scratching headlines have plagued the couple since then—including a New York Post report that a certain "Single Ladies" singer was shopping for a solo apartment—but Bey and Jay have made continuous efforts to keep up the public perception that they are the blissfully in love couple we all want them to be.
Beyoncé and Jay Z are as real as it gets. Otherwise, things are not looking good for the rest of us.
That’s how much their “On the Run” summer concert tour is paying them, Page Six has learned.
With breakup rumors swirling, the duo is currently rocking through a 21-stadium tour, and music industry sources tell us they’re being paid $4 million per gig, guaranteed and independent of ticket sales — totalling $84 million for the couple to share.
Meantime, their tour is expected to bring in more than $100 million in ticket sales. By comparison, the Rolling Stones raked in $126 million from 23 shows last year in what was the sixth- highest-grossing tour of 2013.
The Post reported that Beyoncé was shopping for a $21.5 million apartment in Chelsea without her husband last month, but the asking price will be chump change once her tour with Jay Z ends Sept. 13.
They’re scheduled to play Seattle on Wednesday. Some stops on the tour are expected to hit $5 million in sales.
Buzz over a possible split between Bey and Jay began after the rapper got into an epic, embarrassing elevator fight at the Standard High Line with Beyoncé’s little sister Solange in May.
Rumors swirled that the fight might have kicked off because Solange thought Jay has strayed.
On Monday, The Post reported Beyoncé was secretly looking at a 4,045-square-foot apartment on West 19th Street without Jay Z.
Ironically, word of their marital strife seems to be fueling interest in the couple’s current tour.
Chicago critic Greg Kot wrote after a July 24 Soldier Field show in front of 60,000: “Maybe it’s all just a plot hatched by Beyoncé and Jay Z to keep the media’s ongoing fascination with their lives and careers at a fever pitch.”
The couple will wrap up their tour with two shows in Paris’ Stade de France, which seats more than 81,300. So they’ll presumably be motivated to stay together till late summer.
Reps for the couple didn’t get back to us.
The booty-ful belter looked at a $21.5 million Chelsea penthouse early last month — weeks after a videotaped elevator-smackdown involving Bey’s sister, Solange Knowles, and Jay, and amid growing rumors of an impending break-up, said sources close to the superstar couple.
“She was very quiet, as if she was looking on the sly,” a source said.
Fueling the notion that Beyoncé is not shopping for the both of them is the fact that Jay Z has always been extremely involved in their real-estate deals, sources said.
Yet he was nowhere to be seen during the apartment showing, they added.
Jay also would be loathe to leave their current posh Tribeca pad, a source said.
Noting that the couple’s 8,309-square-foot Tribeca crib is more than twice the size of the 4,045-square-foot West 19th Street pad Bey was looking at, the source added, “I can say with certainty that Jay is not downsizing.”
The source said it would seem clear the new home is for Beyoncé and their 2-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy.
“There’s no way a $20?million apartment is for her mother or her sister. That would be wildly unlikely,’’ the source said.
As The Post reported Sunday, sources say it’s not a question of if the power couple will split but when.
The apparent trouble between them surfaced publicly May 5, when Solange was caught on videotape punching and kicking Jay Z in front of Bey in a Manhattan hotel elevator.
A source told The Post that Solange attacked her brother-in-law because she thought he was planning to meet Rihanna later that night.
The Chelsea pad is being marketed by Town Residential Realtors Wilbur Gonzalez and Adam Taylor, who declined to comment.
A publicist for Beyoncé hung up when asked for a comment, while a Jay Z rep said she knew nothing about either of them looking for a new apartment.
The Grammy-winning singer gave us another reason to be "Crazy in Love" with her as she posted several new Instagrams from a beautiful water destination Saturday.
While lying down on a set of surfboards, the 32-year-old flashes a smile to her 14 million plus Instagram followers.
She also shows off a little bit of cleavage while posing in her floral tank-top with matching Capri pants. Looking good, Bey!
As the sun begins to set, the "Irreplaceable" beauty continues to let her hair down as she poses on the shore with a drink in hand.
The relaxing day couldn't come at a better time for the singer. Currently, Beyoncé and husband Jay Z are performing together during their On the Run tour.
Just last week, the twosome had special guest First Lady Michelle Obama in the audience with daughters, Sasha and Malia.
The power couple's next stop is Canada where they will take to the stage on Sunday in another packed arena.
But a source who has been close to Beyoncé and Jay Z for years tells The Post that all is not well — and hasn’t been for quite some time.
This is the first peek behind the firewall that is Beyoncé and Jay Z Inc. — what drew them together, why they’re headed for a split and why love was never the thing that held them together.
“There’s still something there, even though it’s not going to last,” says the source. “Business is always part of the equation. They know they’re the king and queen of hip-hop — and really, all of music. Neither wants to lose that.”
Their current “On the Run” tour is predicted to gross $100 million, according to Forbes — which also ranked Beyoncé the world’s most powerful celebrity of 2014, with Jay Z ranked sixth.
Billboard ranked the couple No. 1 on their February 2014 Power 100 list. Their combined net worth, according the International Business Times, is nearly $1 billion.
But in the weeks since Beyoncé’s sister Solange was caught attacking Jay Z in a hotel elevator after the Met Gala, the couple’s tightly controlled image has been crumbling.
And while they’ve been pushing back, kissing on stage and playing happy family on Instagram, the source says Jay and Bey are permanently broken, and that both are at fault.
“Knowing them as I do, obviously there’s a little something to certain rumors,” the source says. “When your man or your woman isn’t getting it done for you, and I’m talking emotionally, not necessarily sexually…they keep things quiet.”
Not for much longer.
‘They’re the only sharks’
When Jay Z and Beyoncé first got together in 1999, she was a star but a sheltered one.
At 19, she still lived with her parents in Houston — dad Matthew, who quit his job at Xerox to manager her career with Destiny’s Child, and mom Tina, who became the group’s stylist. She hinted at being a virgin, and it’s reported that she left school at 14.
Jay Z, then 30, had emerged from the Brooklyn projects as a hip-hop powerhouse. Having released his critically acclaimed debut “Reasonable Doubt” in 1996, he had a breakthrough commercial smash with 1998’s “Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life.”
A year later, Jay Z was arrested for allegedly stabbing producer Lance “Un” Rivera in a dispute over bootlegging; Jay pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and walked away with three years’ probation.
Jay Z and Beyoncé have always been circumspect about the beginnings of their romance, even as they stoked intrigue with their collaborations.
After breaking with Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé’s next project was a duet with Jay on his “’03 Bonnie and Clyde,” and in the video, they played a hip-hop version of the outlaw couple.
When Beyoncé released her first solo album, 2003’s “Dangerously in Love,” Jay appeared on two tracks — including the first single and video for “Crazy in Love.”
It was a master stroke of marketing: She gave him class, he gave her cred.
Jay Z was infatuated with Beyoncé, says the source, but the bottom line was business; he knew he could do big things for her, and together they could be a juggernaut.
For Beyoncé, however, it was a slower burn. According to an interview with the Web site Celebuzz, her uncle Larry Beyince said that initially his niece had no interest.
“He was after her and she wasn’t,” Beyince said. “She told me she wasn’t too fond of him…I guess she wasn’t attracted to him.”
The source says Beyoncé was most interested in Jay’s mind. “Jay’s a kingmaker; she recognized that. This was a come-up for her, no question. She had to learn the ropes as presented by Jay — but really, this was mostly about business.” As for dating others, he says, “they each had guilty pleasures.”
The source believes that, along the way, she did really fall for Jay Z, and her parents, who had groomed Beyoncé to be a star from a very young age, were fine with it — for a time.
But Matthew Knowles — who was described by former Destiny’s Child member LaTavia Roberson as “a drill sergeant” who made the girls work hours a day, seven days a week — slowly found himself edged out of his daughter’s life and career by Jay Z.
Beyoncé had gone from one man to another, never truly being on her own.
“There’s no bigger controller than Jay,” the source says. “She’s great, but she’d be a little lower on the totem pole if it weren’t for hooking up with him.”
In terms of ambition, talent, business acumen and work ethic, Beyoncé and Jay Z were perfectly matched. “They are solid, solid business people who know what they’re doing,” says the source, with Jay the mastermind.
Their image, joint and separate, is based on exclusivity and unavailability; everything from the drop date of an album (2013’s “Beyoncé,” with its surprise one-day onslaught of 14 tracks and 17 videos) to a baby (Blue Ivy, born on a cleared-out hospital floor in NYC) is shrouded in mystery.
Instead of interviews, they post to Instagram or drop clues in their lyrics.
Beyoncé herself has spent every single day since 2005 being trailed by her own personal camera crew, which documents each waking moment of her life.
In 2013, Beyoncé told GQ magazine that she stores the footage in a climate-controlled warehouse based on the NBC library.
“I now know that yes, I am powerful,” she told GQ. “I’m more powerful than my mind can even digest and understand.”
“They don’t subscribe to that ‘teach-a-person-to-fish’ thing,” says the source. “They’ll give you a fish once in a while, but they let everyone know that they’re the only sharks in the water.”
Jay hangs with some of the crew from [his company] Roc Nation, but he’s doing bigger things than even they can keep up with. And Beyoncé only really gives her sister Solange and [ex-Destiny’s Child members] Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams any real love. But even they can’t swing by without first getting clearance.”
And it can be hard to stay in touch — Beyoncé and Jay Z both change their cellphone numbers every two weeks.
Even other celebrities aren’t immune to quality control. It’s not who they hang out with, says the source — “it’s who hangs out with them.” According to the source, they shunned Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s wedding because it was too low-rent for the Jay Z/Beyoncé brand. “They are guarding like hell their status,” the source says. “Beyoncé wasn’t going to allow a Kardashian to socially climb her. And Jay didn’t want Kanye with Kim — he thinks it’s bad for business. I think Jay lost a little respect for Kanye there.”
‘Business first’
Over the past few months, says the source, Beyoncé has been losing respect for Jay Z and, ever on-brand, she’s been dropping hints.
While performing “Resentment” during the couple’s June 28 show in Cincinnati, Beyoncé changed the lyrics from “Been ridin’ with you for six years” to “Been ridin’ with you for 12 years.” That would reference the year they became a couple.
And after the lyric “I gotta look at her in her eyes and see she’s had half of me,” Beyoncé tacked on the lines, “She ain’t even half of me/That bitch will never be.”
Recent photos show that the “IV” tattooed on her ring finger — for her birthday, Jay’s birthday, and their wedding date — has been erased.
The source says the elevator fight after the Met Ball was really over Jay’s protégé Rihanna, who he allegedly planned to meet later that night at his 40/40 club.
“Solange was like, ‘Enough is enough — you must be [screwing] Rihanna,’” says the source. “To many people who know them, they know it’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
Today, the source says, it’s not whether they’ll split, but how they’ll split — adding that the only time Jay and Beyoncé are really together is on stage. They’re allegedly traveling with marriage counselors, but Jay — as he’s always done — spends much of his time on the phone, tending to business.
“His phone’s constantly ringing,” says the source, “Jay trying to make deal after deal.”
Calls to representatives for the couple by The Post were not returned.
The question now is whether to stay married while essentially living separate lives — becoming the Bill and Hillary of hip-hop — or publicly divorce.
Ultimately, it will be about the brand.
“There’s face-saving involved — they don’t want to be looked at like other celebrities out there,” says the source. “They are business people first, entertainers second. Husband and wife comes somewhere down the line.”
Not only did Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia attend the power couple's On the Run concert in Chicago on Thursday night, but the duo also managed to squeeze in sweet family outing during their time in the Windy City.
Bey, Jay and daughter Blue Ivy all dined together at Chicago Cut Steakhouse last night around 5 p.m. The trio entered the building through the front, and Bey was carrying the couple's 2-year-old little girl.
The "Irreplaceable" beauty looked stunning in a casual yet chic ensemble, sporting a No. 4 Dallas Cowboys jersey with her hubby's surname emblazoned on the back. She teamed the top with fitted white jeans and added a pair of black pointed-toe pumps for an extra touch of glam, wearing her long hair in adorable pigtail braids.
Meanwhile, her rapper hubby also looked handsome in a Timberland boots, Diesel jeans and a designer T-shirt.
According to an eyewitness, the couple was laughing together as Blue Ivy jumped up and down in their booth. The tiny tot rocked pigtailed hair just like her gorgeous mama and undoubtedly kept her proud parents entertained.
The famous family noshed on tuna tartare and prime beef sliders and was seen sharing steak and salmon dishes. Bey and Jay sipped on rosé wine and "looked happy," the insider said.
Earlier in the day, the 32-year-old songstress was spotted shopping at Topshop, one of the stunner's favorite retail stores, before she took the stage that night with her hubby at Soldier Field.
The hip-hop royal couple are currently in the midst of their On the Run tour, and last week, they performed in Houston (Bey's hometown), where they treated their crew to a fun-filled night of roller-skating after the show.
"Beyoncé spent her childhood here at the rink," a source told E! News, who added that Hova and the entire On the Run crew was there (no Blue Ivy, though, since it was past her bedtime). "They had a lot of fun!"
Bey and Jay are next expected to take the stage in Winnipeg, Canada, on Sunday before they head to Seattle, where they will perform on Wednesday.
Beyoncé is getting her feminist on in her latest Instagram snapshot.
The "Drunk in Love" singer posted a photo of herself dressed as Rosie the Riveter earlier this morning looking every bit the diva that she is.
Queen Bey rocked a red bandana and denim shirt in the pic, and flashed her bicep muscle in the cute pic.
The signature slogan, "We Can Do It!" was posted in the background and mimicked the famous World War II poster perfectly.
The songstress is currently traveling across the country with her husband Jay Z for their joint On the Road Tour.
The two most recently played a show in Bey's hometown of Houston, where they enjoyed a night at the roller rink with friends during their downtime.
E! News previously reported that the music power couple took their crew for a night of roller skating at Houston rink Fun Plex Entertainment, a spot that Bey used to frequent in her younger years.
"Beyonce spent her childhood here at the rink," a source tells E! News, who added that Hova and the entire On the Run crew was there (no Blue Ivy, though, since it was past her bedtime). "They had a lot of fun!"
The source added, "They ate, they danced, they skated."
After bringing their On the Run tour to the Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Beyoncé, 32, and Jay Z, 44, spent their day off indulging in some quality time with their family in the Big Easy.
The couple had an easygoing dinner at Kingfish, a restaurant in the French Quarter, on Monday night with Beyoncé's sister Solange, 28, and a few close friends.
Despite rumors of a possible split, Beyoncé and Jay Z were spotted looking cute and cozy and enjoying each other's company.
"They seemed to be having a nice time and were really relaxed and super low-key," an eyewitness tells PEOPLE.
On the menu for the group: a chef's selection of appetizers.
Their gastronomy tour, however, didn't begin or end there. Earlier in the day, the two had an intimate lunch date at Cochon Restaurant.
Their daughter Blue Ivy, 2, also got in on the sightseeing fun. Beyoncé posted a cute photo on Instagram of her baby girl sweetly swinging over the sidewalk as her parents hold her up.
The family also made a visit to the National World War II Museum, snapping pictures of the vintage aircraft.
After performing for thousands of fans in her hometown on Friday night, Bey and her man took their crew for a night of roller skating at Houston rink Fun Plex Entertainment, a spot the superstar singer used to frequent in her younger years.
"Beyonce spent her childhood here at the rink," a source tells E! News, who added that Hova and the entire On the Run crew was there (no Blue Ivy, though, since it was past her bedtime). "They had a lot of fun!"
Source continues to tell us, "They ate, they danced, they skated."
Sounds like the perfect outing, right?! Bey also posted a bunch of photos from the group's fun night on her Instagram, from pictures of the crew getting down to the music on the rink to adorable pics of Queen B with her skates laughing on the floor of the rink.
Currently, Jay, Bey and her sister Solange are in New Orleans, where the duo performed last night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. E! News learned that the trio ate at Kingfish restaurant tonight, a venue that we learn Solange is a big fan of.
The power couple won't be in Louisiana long, however. They're scheduled to continue their On the Run tour tomorrow in Dallas, Texas.
Beyoncé seemed to tease involvement with the hotly anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation on Saturday, posting a short video to Instagram promoting the trailer’s Thursday release.
The atmospheric clip flashes a few subtly sexy images across the screen – a dark silhouette against a window, a finger tapping, hands pushing up a dress – as a slowed down, husky version of "Crazy in Love" seems to play in the background.
So is Queen Bey on the soundtrack? (Rita Ora, who plays Mia Grey, is signed to husband Jay Z’s Roc Nation label.) Does she make a cameo? Time will tell.
Fifty Shades of Grey, starring Jamie Dornan as the mysterious Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as his lover Anastasia Steele, hits theaters on Valentine’s Day.
Watch Beyoncé’s Instagram video here.
While Jay Z seemingly is the one most at fault, he’s also the one doing all in his power to keep the couple together, even hiring marriage counselors who are believed to be traveling with the super duo on their tour, the source said.
“They are trying to figure out a way to split without divorcing .?.?. This is a huge concert tour and they’ve already gotten most of the money from the promoters up front,” the source said.
Despite the tens of millions the couple will pocket from the current tour, this will certainly be their last and the end of the tour could officially spell the end of the marriage, the source said.
“There are no rings, if you haven’t noticed,” the source said, admitting that he thought things would get better after the birth of the couple’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
“For just a split moment, things got real for them and she was even talking about adding to the family,” the source said.
“But, after a while, Jay was out doing Jay and Bey was out doing Bey. They made the classic mistake of thinking a child would change everything and help to rekindle the initial fire, and it didn’t.”
The Rock Hall announced Friday that outfits from Beyonce's Super Bowl performance and music videos will debut Tuesday in the Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall in its Legends of Rock section, next to iconic pieces from Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.
The 32-year-old Beyonce would be eligible for induction into the Rock Hall as a member of Destiny's Child in 2022 and as a solo artist in 2027.
The exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio, will feature Beyonce's ubiquitous black leotard from her "Single Ladies" music video, as well as her body suit, skirt and jacket from her Super Bowl performance last year in New Orleans.
Rock Hall curator Meredith Rutledge-Borger said they have been trying to court Beyonce "for a really long time."
"When we looked at the depth of the amount of stuff that she was willing to send, we just thought, 'The only way we can really showcase these items is to put them in the Legends of Rock area in the museum,' which really is the spot that we have to pay tribute to legends of rock, which Beyonce has proven herself to be," she said in an interview.
Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, the general manager of Beyonce's production house, Parkwood Entertainment, said the singer was honored and humbled by the opportunity to have her personal items in the museum.
"For an artist to be able to have a presence where all of her idols and mentors live, it is a big deal," she said. "It's very meaningful to an artist when you feel like you've accomplished certain levels and to be asked to be part of this before she's eligible, I think that's really special."
Beyonce's Givenchy gown from the 2012 Met Gala and her tank top, denim shorts and leather pumps from her 2003 "Crazy in Love" music video also will be on display, among other outfits.
The singer's inclusion is part of the Rock Hall's push to bridge contemporary icons with classic ones. The Rock Hall launched its Right Here, Right Now exhibit featuring items from Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and the Black Keys earlier this month.
"We felt that (Beyonce) really needed to take her rightful place alongside Aretha Franklin and the Supremes and Janis Joplin," Rutledge-Borger said. "Rock and roll has an intergenerational appeal and we want to make sure we're hitting all the right notes and keeping up with what's happening today and what's legendary today."
VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX - "Fancy"
Beyonce ft. Jay Z - "Drunk in Love"
Pharrell Williams - "Happy"
Sia - "Chandelier"
Miley Cyrus - "Wrecking Ball"
BEST FEMALE:
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX - "Fancy"
Beyonce - "Partition"
Lorde - "Royals"
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea - "Problem"
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - "Dark Horse"
BEST COLLABORATION:
Beyonce ft. Jay Z - "Drunk in Love"
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea - "Problem"
Pitbull ft. Ke$ha - "Timber"
Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga - "Loyal"
Eminem ft. Rihanna - "The Monster"
Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - "Dark Horse"
BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE:
Angel Haze ft. Sia - "Battle Cry"
Avicii - "Hey Brother"
Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts"
J. Cole ft. TLC - "Crooked Smile"
Kelly Rowland - "Dirty Laundry"
David Guetta ft. Mikky Ekko - "One Voice"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
30 Seconds to Mars - "City of Angels"
Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts"
Arcade Fire - "Afterlife"
Gesaffelstein - "Hate or Glory"
Lana Del Rey - "West Coast"
BEST EDITING:
Eminem - "Rap God"
MGMT - "Your Life is a Lie"
Zedd ft. Hayley Williams - "Stay the Night"
Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts"
Fitz and the Tantrums - "The Walker"
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY:
Sia - "Chandelier"
Beyonce - "Partition"
Usher - "Good Kisser"
Michael Jackson ft. Justin Timberlake - "Love Never Felt So Good"
Jason Derulo ft. 2Chainz - "Talk Dirty"
Kiesza - "Hideaway"
BEST DIRECTION:
DJ Snake & Lil Jon - "Turn Down for What"
OK Go - "The Writing's On the Wall"
Miley Cyrus - "Wrecking Ball"
Beyonce - "Pretty Hurts"
Eminem ft. Rihanna - "The Monster"
Queen Bey wore the designer jumpsuit at the On the Run tour kickoff in Miami last month, but over the weekend Bey instagramed a collage of the look, this time with one major addition—a floor-length veil.
That isn't the only wedding aspect to the On the Run tour—Beyoncé and hubby Jay Z are sharing never-before-seen footage of their wedding as part of their performance.
The "Single Ladies" singer boasts an enviable wardrobe for her On the Run tour in addition to the jumpsuit, with designers like Versace, Alexander Wang and Nicola Formichetti for Diesel taking credit for several of her costumes.
But is there trouble in paradise for the singer and her hubby? Bey sparked cheating speculation earlier this month when she embedded a cryptic lyric change into her rendition of "Resentment." However, the hip-hop couple royal looked more in love than ever this past weekend. We're talking a particularly PDA-packed "Drunk in Love" performance.
The Grammy-winning songstress posted several cute snapshots on her website of her playing with Blue at an undisclosed location, including one of her jumping on a trampoline while carrying her little one.
In another too-cute-for-words pic, Blue is seen sitting by the end of the pool in a, what else, blue bathing suit.
Bey kept up her tradition of not showing her daughter's face in any of the photos, choosing to only reveal pictures of her back.
The couple's only child was featured in a separate series of shots showing her playing with crayons on a beach-side bench as well as in the sand with a friend.
There were also pics of the music power couple walking in a garden, as well as them snacking on cherries and some pizza.
But it's not all fun and games for the Carters, the two are in the middle of summer-long stadium tour.
During their concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday night, Bey and Jay gave the audience quite a show and packed on some serious PDA during a performance of "Drunk in Love."
The special will tape on Sept. 12 and 13 at Stade de France in Paris, the final stop of the tour's international leg. It will air later in September, though no date has been set.
"This is a major musical event that belongs on HBO," says Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming. "It's going to be a night to remember."
HBO is currently airing "Beyonce: X10," a series of short concert performances airing before "True Blood" on Sunday nights. It also aired her documentary "Life is But a Dream" in 2013. Jay Z's "Picasso Baby" also ran on HBO last year.
Mother-daughter duoBeyoncé and Blue Ivy, 2, sported matching looks during a trip to Kara Walker's art exhibit in New York City recently. Queen Bey posted photos from the day, which show the two wearing white and pink almond blossom-printed Dolce & Gabbana dresses, on her website.
The 32-year-old pop star is wearing the adult, '50-style version of the floral outfit, which retails for more than $1,000, while Blue Ivy sports a similar dress from the childrenswear collection, which features an empire-waist.
A week ago, Beyoncé shared on her Instagram page a photo of her and her daughter's hands, showing the two wearing hot pink nail polish.
"Me and my Blue, and my Blue Blue, riding," she said.
It was like they were having a conversation through songs in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Beyonce went from a rock-heavy arrangement of "If I Were a Boy" to a cover of Lauryn Hill's grand "Ex-Factor." She sang the latter as a woman scorned and repeated the line, "Why won't you cry for me?" The crowd at the Citizens Bank Park sang along, and cheered her on.
Jay Z's reply: His confessional and emotional 2002 tune, "Song Cry." It opens with the line: "I can't see them coming down my eyes, so I got to make the song cry."
He performed the track holding the microphone closely with both hands as he stood in place, all while a video of the power couple was shown in the background. She was in a wedding dress and they rode a motorcycle and danced.
She also cried, began shooting someone and was hit with a bullet. And then she sang the weighty ballad about a deceitful lover, "Resentment."
Beyonce performed the 2006 song sitting down and wearing a wedding veil. She changed the lyrics to note she's been "riding with you for 12 years," which earned a rousing roar from the crowd. And a video followed, starting with the line, "Love is an act of endless forgiveness."
The back-to-back performances full of sentiment and sensation were welcomed since Jayonce is pop's most intimate couple. In concert, they seemed to lay it all out through song.
Beyonce was most passionate when she sang the upbeat number "Why Don't You Love Me." She even grew teary-eyed after she belted some of the lyrics and paused for a minute as the crowd cheered. And cheered. And cheered.
She followed that by singing Justin Timberlake's part on the hit "Holy Grail," staring directly at Jay Z and singing the lyrics as if it were written for her. The transition from "Why Don't You Love Me" to "Holy Grail" was one of many that worked perfectly as the duo performed three dozen songs — some in snippets — for a feverish group of fans at a stadium with 40,000 seats.
They kicked off the nearly three-hour concert with high energy, going from "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" to "Upgrade U" to "Crazy In Love." They changed clothes about 10 times throughout the show, wearing mostly black with touches of leather onstage.
When Jay Z rapped about his "bad chick, H-town" during "Tom Ford," Beyonce crept onstage. And when Jay Z performed the anthemic "Clique," Beyonce was behind him. She nodded her head and then transitioned to "Diva," where her singing style is not far from rapping, and her swag is not far from Jay Z's.
It was also one of many songs where Beyonce danced with skill, enticing and igniting the audience and proving even further that she is contemporary pop's leading performer. She danced with precision on songs like "Run the World (Girls)," ''Flawless" and "Ring the Alarm." Sometimes it was so clean she appeared robotic. And she also did the Nae Nae dance.
Other highlights throughout the night included Jay Z's catalog of hits, such as "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)," ''Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Big Pimpin." He went from "H to the Izzo" to "...In Paris," ending it by rapping the Kanye West verse: "She said, "'Ye, can we get married at the mall? I said, "Look, you need to crawl before you ball."
Beyonce's follow-up: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)."
Earlier today, the Internet was ablaze with reports that Jay had been having a long-term affair with Mya. But as quickly as the rumors spread, the 34-year-old singer took to Instagram to swiftly put out the flames.
In response to a user asking Mya if she was Jay's mistress, Mya wrote, "Never did, never was, never will. Illegitimate, thirsty sources with no facts and that's the ‘media' for you-especially today. I play second to no one, pay my own bills, have my own label, own management company, rely on God only and respect myself & marriage too much for nonsense."
She continued, "False rumors are crafted for ratings & numbers. And miserable, unhappy people need someone to judge to deter the attention away from their own misery and feel better about their miserable lives. If they did it to Jesus, they'll do it to anyone. God bless."
The Mya-Jay cheating rumors originated from a blind item posted online claiming the 44-year-old rapper had a longtime relationship with a "very short named R&B singer who hasn't had a hit in awhile and doesn't really even act or record any longer." "She basically lives off the generosity of Jay-Z and a couple of other guys," the post claimed.
Mya aside, Beyoncé and her hubby have been at the center of cheating speculation since his Met Gala elevator brawl with Solange Knowles. Bey added fuel to the rumors this week during a concert when she changed the lyrics of her song "Resentment," her 2006 song about infidelity, to reflect the number of years she and Jay had been together.
Despite causing the rumor mill to go into overdrive with cheating allegations, Beyoncé shared sweet photos of her family on her Instagram and website.
In one image, Bey is seen playing in the ocean and holding up the "Roc" sign—for Jay Z's record label. And while she hasn't directly addressed the latest reports that she and her hubby are on the rocks, it seems pretty clear that she's standing by her man. So maybe the rumors are just that, right?
Yoncé first sparked all the buzz when she changed the lyrics to her lovesick ballad "Resentment" during her On the Run Tour stop in Cincinnati.
And while she may be singing about someone being unfaithful to her onstage, she's certainly living it up with her close-knit family when she's off duty.
In the other shots, Bey and Jay are seen frolicking in the ocean together—their silhouettes captured perfectly by the photographer.
The music power couple's daughter Blue Ivy Carter is also shown by silhouette only, playing with her dad in her adorable pigtails.
Bey also shared a photo from their family day outing on Father's Day recently, where the three visited the old Domino Sugar factory in Brooklyn to check out the Kara Walker exhibit.
The rapper is seen holding his baby girl as the fam spends time taking in the massive sculpture.
Bey and Blue also appear to have coordinating their wardrobes down to a fine art, as the mother-daughter duo wore matching dresses made from the same fabric. So sweet! Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Get Matching Red Nails (Photo) First it was matching bathing suits — and now it’s matching nails!
On Wednesday, Beyoncé posted a pic of herself and daughter Blue Ivy showing off their new manicures in what we’ll assume is the pair’s favorite color.
“Me and my Blue, and my Blue Blue, riding,” the singer adorably captioned the photo.
Beyonce is currently on tour with husband Jay-Z, but it looks like she’s gearing up for a relaxing holiday weekend with the family.
The pop star also shared photos of herself wading in the water with her cousin (and good pal!) Angie Beyince and her 2½-year-old little girl watching dolphins swim in the ocean.
Not a bad way to spend some downtime, that’s for sure. We’re definitely envious.
Bey was performing her song "Resentment" -- all about being lied to and cheated on -- and she tweaked a few words to make the whole thing sound SUPER personal.
She tweaked the lyric, "Been ridin' with you for six years" and changed it to 12 YEARS. Not coincidentally, she's been with Jay for 12 years.
Then she changed the line "Like I couldn't do it for you like your mistress could" ... to "Like I couldn't do it for you like that wack bitch could."
Not clear why the change to "wack bitch" ... but the sentiment was clear ... being with someone for 12 years who was cheating on you. The crowd got the message and roared.
Rumors about possible infidelity have been surrounding the couple since TMZ posted the infamous Solange elevator fight video ... it certainly could explain why she was so mad.
A local mom was gobsmacked on Monday when she went to Ralph Lauren in East Hampton, where her 3-year-old daughter bumped into the adorable first daughter of hip-hop, Blue Ivy.
“The woman overheard her daughter chatting with someone,” said an East End spy. “When she looked over to see who it was, her daughter was speaking with Blue Ivy and Beyoncé.”
The source added Blue Ivy, 2, was “telling the other girl she was shy.” Jay Z then joined the conversation, and “couldn’t have been nicer, asking the other girl how old she was.”
Beyoncé and Jay Z closed the night out with a video of them from their Cincinnati On the Run Tour stop over the weekend and it certainly was worth the wait.
Jay started off the performance with a few verses—and a swipe at TMZ, no less—and sat back as his leading lady took center stage and danced provocatively on a pole.
Bey looked as flawless as ever in a colorful leotard and didn't miss a step in her Crazy Horse-esque routine.
So how come these two couldn't make it to the stage in Los Angeles?
Well, they're really super busy, you guys!
In fact, they're currently in the midst of their stadium tour which will see them perform dates across the country throughout the summer.
The two shared never-before-seen footage from their wedding during a video montage on the opening night of their concert, as well as clips of their adorable daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
But it was a photo that they used earlier in the night during their Ohio stop that caught everyone's attention: Justin Bieber's mug shot.
According to concert goers, once the image of the pop star was shown on the big screens, Bey said, "even the greatest can fall."
You hear that, Beliebers?!
COLLABORATION: Drunk In Love, Beyonce featuring Jay Z
True to form, Queen Bey cranked up the heat during her On the Run Tour with Jay Z, which kicked off Wednesday in Miami.
Naturally, her stage costumes were just as over-the-top fabulous as we imagined. The sizzling show included a number of outfit changes, but the one we just can't shake outta our mind? The assless onesie, of course.
Yup, you read that right. One of her looks left absolutely nothing to the imagination, booty-wise.
Only Bey could pull this off with such ease. She's as comfortable in a butt-baring bodysuit as we would be in a pair of jeans and a tee.
Beyoncé's other costumes included an Atelier Versace fishnet and leather bodysuit—accessorized with a fishnet head mask and combat booties.
Another hit? A multicolored Versace leotard, complete with a golden headpiece. Noticing a trend here? Bey loves a bodysuit.
But it wasn't all leather and lace; The "Drunk in Love" singer rocked a long-sleeved, belted denim jumpsuit with hardware detailing.
All we have to say is, Bey, keep doing what you do best and run the world.
Which of her insanely awesome costumes is your favorite?
The event: Jay Z and Beyoncé kicked off their On the Run dates Wednesday night in Miami with tantalizing spectacle, triumphant vocals, palpable sensuality and booty-shaking anthems.
The venue: Sun Life Stadium
Raindrops falling on my head: Soggy weather couldn't dampen fans' spirits as they waited in line for hours ahead of the doors opening. Maseo Pleasant, 17, of Seattle, and his best friend, Taylor Hayes, 18, both sported colorful ponchos as they braved the persistent drizzle. Waxing ecstatic about Beyoncé, Hayes said, "This is my first concert! Who better than the queen?" Hayes and Pleasant met up in Little Rock, where they're both from. They then beelined for Miami just for the show. "If they play Partition and Crazy in Love, I'm going to cry," Pleasant half-joked.
Like mother, like daughter: Clad in matching black rompers, Adrianna Lopez, 16, and Milanni Garcia, 14, hardly stood out in the fashion-forward crowd. Their excitement was unique, though, in a will-call line. Lopez could hardly contain her enthusiasm for Queen Bey. "I saw her last year and was like, 'Bucket item number one? Check.' " Lopez credits her mom Vanessa as the real fan, though. Showing off an Instagram photo of the mother-daughter team at last year's Mrs. Carter World tour, Vanessa, sporting an understated, black Beyoncé T-shirt, called it "a very proud moment."
Going the distance: There are fans, and then there are FANS. Gaby Ortiz qualifies as the latter. The 27-year-old arrived in Miami from Argentina on Monday — just for the show. Donning her pal Adrian Ferguson's oversized Sean John jacket, she said she came for both artists. "I am really excited to see how they collaborate." Longtime friend Ferguson, 28, is a big Jay Z fan, having seen the rapper several times already. "(My love for Jay Z) came after Hard Knock Life, Volume 2," he says. As for Beyoncé, he's also an admirer, and even refused to listen to her latest for the sake of hearing it in its purest form: "I want to hear it live first."
Black and white: The tour boasted a stark and classy black-and-white color scheme. Tour shirts stuck to the theme, stating "On the Run" in various witty ways: old English letters, coded abbreviations. There were a couple of fun Beyoncé-centric detours, too. A black baseball cap blared in all-white caps, "BOW DOWN," a reference to Beyonce's aggressive feminist tune Flawless. A $75 gray sweater quoted Partition's "cake by the pound" lyric, a reference to both cake and booties.
Oh, Florida: The unpredictable Florida weather cleared by 8 p.m. Still, eager fans were greeted with soaked seats and aisles. The looming threat of downpour wasn't any more welcoming.
It's showtime! By 9:30, fans are getting antsy. The stadium has filled enough that the delay is increasingly unfounded. Luckily, a beautiful black-and-white video breaks the silence, sirens ring, and Beyoncé whispers "I need some gangster s---" before seguing into '03 Bonnie and Clyde, the couple's collaboration that samples Tupac classic Me and My Girlfriend. She's clad in a fishnet mask; he's in black glasses, a star-speckled shirt, black jacket and thick signature gold chains.
Show me what you got: Among purple lights, smoke, and strobes, the funky horns and infectious downbeat of smash hit Crazy In Love reverberates through the audience. Whatever void or annoyance was apparent at their absence is instantly forgotten as Jay Z flows "show me what you got."
Hands up: Beyoncé exits and Jay Z rolls through a string of fan favorites, including N----- in Paris and Tom Ford. Beyoncé enters again for her place as the sexy background vocalist on Tom Ford. Then, in the blink of an eye, amid a sea of red, a costume change signals it's Bey's show again as she sings, "Who runs the world? Girls." The words of feminist speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie blaze across the screen.
Go, girl: For all the debate about Beyoncé's feminist cred, this show doesn't mince words. Beyoncé unquestionably identifies. Strutting across the stage in a leopard-patterned, long-sleeve leotard, she knows she's flawless and sings so.
Top of their game: Early on, it becomes apparent that this is a totally integrated performance. Sure, it gives Beyoncé time for her phenomenal costume changes, but the coordination is not just remarkable, it's the absolute best way that two of the world's best performers can deliver a show that proves why they're on top together.
Switch up: Vintage videos mix with onscreen party scenes featuring the likes of Diddy, as Jay Z (sporting a fedora) lets the audience rhyme half of Big Pimpin' a cappella. Exit Jay, enter Bey, seated in a glass chair and wearing a full-length sequined bodysuit. Tension builds with chopped beats, only to make way for a grandiose entrance for Jay Z on fan favorite On to the Next One.
On fire: Jay Z segues into Clique as Beyoncé creeps up in hooded leather. A montage of war images, static and beehives precedes a blazing performance of U Don't Know by Jay Z — really, a row of fireballs explodes behind him.
Can't touch this: This show is worth it just for Beyoncé's ensembles. She reappears in black lace, drop-sleeve number, a la Stevie Nicks, for Haunted, a highlight performance, boasting creamy vocals that contrast with other awesome numbers like the more agro Flawless and triumphant Crazy In Love. Her vocal range is as vast as her fashion choices.
In love with Beyoncé: A very happy chair shares a sensual display for the expected, though no less titillating, Drunk In Love. She's still wearing the black lace. As Jay Z says in the following Public Service Announcement: "Got the hottest chick in the game wearin' my chain."
Taking over: Beyoncé takes over vocal duties for Justin Timberlake on Holy Grail, one of the stronger tunes on the rapper's Magna Carta Holy Grail album. The song is a standout with a sticky trap beat and transitions to a slow body-grooving hook.
Nearly 12 years after releasing debut collaboration '03 Bonnie and Clyde, music's unstoppable couple, Beyoncé and Jay Z, are embarking on their first joint tour, hitting 16 North American cities this summer and launching Wednesday in Miami.
It's the perfect move for the dynamic husband-and-wife duo, who are behind two of last year's most-talked-about albums: Beyoncé's celebrated self-titled effort, which surprised the world when she released it with 17 music videos in December (2 million copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan), and Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, which was given away to 1 million Samsung Galaxy users via a smartphone app last July (2.2 million copies, 1 million of which were purchased by Samsung).
And with one of spring's biggest songs in duet Drunk in Love (which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and sold 1.6 million downloads) and stories about them and young daughter Blue Ivy flooding the media, America's love affair with these prominent parents doesn't seem to be slowing down.
"People are definitely infatuated with them as a power couple, first and foremost," says Chuck Creekmur, CEO of AllHipHop.com. "A lot of people look at them as a royal family of sorts and idealize them in a lot of ways to represent true love and a fairy tale coming true."
But will their On the Run tour be a storybook success? Reports surfaced last week that the stadium show wasn't selling well and blamed poor ticket sales on the infamous elevator fight between Jay Z and Beyoncé's sister, Solange. Live Nation has debunked those rumors, telling Billboard that the tour has sold $86 million in tickets.
"If ticket sales don't reach expectations, it will be viewed as negative, but they played it safe here," says Yahoo Music senior editor Billy Johnson Jr. of the couple, who have toured extensively this past year, both solo and with others (Jay Z hit the road with Justin Timberlake last summer). "There aren't a million dates for this stretch," but they could just be doing a "soft run to see how it goes, and then gauge what their next steps will be. It's strategic and smart."
Those are two adjectives regularly applied to the business-savvy pair, whose innovative album releases were hailed as game-changers in the music industry. But others have faltered in trying to replicate their success: Skrillex and Kid Cudi released unannounced albums this spring with middling results (Skrillex's Recess sold 111,000 copies; Cudi's Satellite Flight sold 108,000), and Mariah Carey revealed plans for a surprise album in April, only to go with a traditional release in late May (her Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse has sold 83,000 copies).
"It's a hard thing for almost anyone besides Beyoncé to pull off because there aren't many artists (whose album) you're just going to spend $16 on any more," says Vulture senior editor Amanda Dobbins. "It takes a huge amount of celebrity and success to pull that off."
Pop divas Rihanna and Madonna would have the wattage, but they "pride themselves on being original and trend-setters, so it wouldn't look good to follow Beyoncé," Creekmur says.
If anything, they and other top names are dreaming up their own alternative release strategies so they will not copy Beyoncé and Jay Z.
"They always set the bar really high," Creekmur says. "Even with streaming and pirated music more prevalent than ever, they've still been able to move units, keep people excited about their music and keep that megastar status.
"There's only a few that can do it like Jay Z and Beyoncé."
OK, that's not even close to being the same thing, but it's what we've got to work with, and you know what they say: Never look a gift-Beyoncé in the mouth.
The mega-successful singer has partnered with HBO for Beyoncé: X10, a string of 10 four-minute concert segments filmed during her Mrs. Carter World Tour last year. The first of the installments debuts Sunday, June 29, at 8:55/7:55c and features performances of "Blow/Cherry" and "Drunk in Love." Subsequent Sunday airings will continue at 8:55/7:55c ahead of episodes of True Blood's final season.
Beyoncé's HBO documentary Life Is But a Dream aired on the premium cable network in February 2013 and is the most viewed music-oriented special on HBO since 2003.
Michelle Williams teamed up with her girl group counterparts Beyoncé and rumored mom-to-be Kelly Rowland for her latest single, "Say Yes."
Williams holds her own on the track, hitting her stride as a solo artist, while her Destiny's Child girls – in their first reunion since Beyoncé won the 2013 Super Bowl – take turns on verses.
Inspired by a Nigerian hymn, the gospel-tinged video sticks to its African roots with traditional choreography and drums. And while the gospel tune is a far cry from "Bootylicious," the ladies still managed to flaunt their formidable moves, reminding everyone they've still got it.
The video also shows all three ladies dressed casually as they also dance at the party. Beyoncé flaunted her blonde side braids while Rowland showed off her new short 'do.
Williams told PEOPLE earlier this month that she never really had a genuine female relationship before Destiny's Child and that the three share a "spiritual bond."
It's clear that connection has lived on in the decade since they split to pursue solo careers. Not only do they continue to celebrate milestones together – just check out their smiles and embrace at the video's four-minute mark!
"Say Yes" is the first single from Williams's fourth solo album, Journey to Freedom, due out Sept. 9.
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The music power couple had a date night out on Saturday and caught a performance of the Broadway play A Raisin in the Sun starring Denzel Washington.
Bey was spotted leaving the theater dressed in a pink pantsuit while her rapper hubby trailed behind her moments later.
The following afternoon, on Father's Day, the two were spotted with their daughter Blue Ivy Carter at Kara Walker's "A Subtlety" exhibit at the old Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn.
Bey was seen carrying her adorable toddler while they checked out the massive sculpture and posed for photos with fans.
Bey looked ladylike in a floral midi dress and white pumps while Blue matched in a similar frock.
And it looked like the 2-year-old grew tired during the midday activity as she was also photographed snoozing on her famous mama's shoulders.
Blue's hair was tied up in a high bun with ribbon—which comes on the heels of a ridiculous Change.org petition criticizing Jay and Bey for their baby girl's hairstyle.
A New York woman named Jasmine Tolliver sparked controversy after filing a petition requesting that the two music moguls take better care of Blue's mane.
In the absurd appeal, titled "Comb Her Hair," she writes, "As a woman who understands the importance of hair care. It's disturbing to watch a child suffering from the lack of hair moisture."
Can't please 'em all, can you?
Spotted were Beyoncé and Jay Z, who are prepping to launch their husband- and-wife “On the Run” tour.
Spies said the duo visited Washington and co-star LaTanya Richardson Jackson backstage.
LL Cool J also came, and spies said he posed for pics.
“Women lined the aisles to take pictures with him,” one attendee told us.
"Happy Happy Father's Day," Beyoncé, 32, wrote on Instagram, posting an adorable snapshot of husband Jay Z, 44, with 2-year-old baby Blue Ivy atop his shoulders.
It's just one of many candid glimpses she's recently given fans into her life. Earlier this month, she showed off a black-and-white photo of her little one playing dress-up wearing Mom's stilettos.
No word on how the power couple are celebrating Father's Day on Sunday, but, if we're lucky, we'll see more adorable photos on her Instagram page.
A New York woman named Jasmine Tolliver is sparking controversy for creating a ridiculous Change.org petition requesting that music moguls Beyoncé and Jay Z to take better care of daughter Blue Ivy Carter's hair.
In the absurd appeal, titled "Comb Her Hair," she writes, "As a woman who understands the importance of hair care. It's disturbing to watch a child suffering from the lack of hair moisture. The parents of Blue Ivy. Sean Carter A.K.A Jay-Z and Beyoncé has failed at numerous attempts of doing Blue Ivy Hair. This matter has escalated to the child developing matted dreads and lint balls. Please let's get the word out to properly care for Blue Ivy hair."
Surprisingly, the offensive petition already has over 2,600 signatures, and many haters weren't shy about sharing their nasty opinions on the adorable 2-year-old's hairstyle.
"I hate when a mother looks like a million dollars with their hair all done and the child looks like they haven't seen a comb since they were born," one person wrote.
"Because no child who's mom spends thousands on her hair (monthly) should live life looking like a sheep!" another shared.
But, others responded to the insensitive petition with intense backlash for the shaming of an innocent toddler.
"This is completely unnecessary and whoever devised this petition is a moron, don't do anything Jay Z and Beyonce!" wrote one person.
"Maybe we need to petition for a life for Jasmine Tolliver," said another.
"Despite your PERSONAL views on little BLUE IVY's hair, some people actually use this (WEBSITE) for REAL LIFE situations. This is why OUR world is so F'd up because we WORRY about the wrong things," wrote an opponent of the petition.
Tolliver was accused of racism and bullying on her Facebook page. She responded to the criticism, defending herself and downplaying the situation by saying that it was all a big "joke."
"…if I would've said ‘sign a petition to save LeBron James hairline' that would've took off too! It's a clever joke! Nobody came up with before. These blogs and websites are doing the most. My hair looks like blue ivy right now except its moisturized and detangled. People make nothing out of something. I love being black! I'm proud my bloodline runs from Africa. I'm proud of my own tightly coiled kinks. I'm proud of my big lips and brown skin. People just need to breathe and chill out."
Maybe Tolliver should take her own advice and chill out.
Last month, the famous couple was involved in another Change.org petition, though far less outrageous. Just hours after the couple released a faux movie trailer to promote their upcoming On the Run concert tour, fans took to the website to request that Bey and Jay make a full-length feature film for "Run."
The 74-year-old actress was recently asked by Pride Source what she thought of Beyoncé as a "modern-day feminist." But instead of directing the expected unmitigated praise at Hova's wife, she accused Queen Bey of "selling a lot of sex to teeny-boppers."
Say what now!? "She is a pretty popular woman and she's married to a very powerful man," Lily tried to explain, "but she's still selling sex."
When Pride Source pointed out to the feminist star that Beyoncé's massive fan base (or The Beygency, as Saturday Night Live likes to joke) would be upset with this accusation, Lily softened her stance.
"Oh, s--t," she said. "I like her! I don't dislike her! But I don't pay any attention to that because—I mean, she's fantastically beautiful and dances, but, you know, it's very suggestive. If I was a 10-year-old, I would try to emulate her like most 10-year-olds do."
But Lily, who takes issue with our culture being "so sexualized with girls and women," doesn't really have a specific beef with Bey. She admitted, too, she "shouldn't even talk about Beyonce because...I'm not terribly conversant with Beyonce."
"If you played her songs, I wouldn't necessarily recognize them," she said. "I'm familiar with her image and how incredibly vivacious and sexual she is to watch, so I just chalk it up to the culture."
Fair enough. Just remember, though, who Run the World? Girls—and Queen Bey is the driving force for all those females!
Ten years after announcing they were going to stop touring and recording as a group, the girls are back together on Michelle Williams's new track, "Say Yes."
"I am so excited. It's one of my favorite songs on my album, and it's with my sisters," Williams tells PEOPLE. "And I can't believe it's been 15 years [since we've met]. That's why I was so happy when they did my album and Beyoncé had her braids! It took me back when I first met her and she had those blonde braids. I was like, 'Oh my God, you're taking me back to 'Say My Name'!"
Williams says even though they're no longer constantly together, they have remained close and always show up for the major moments – including Kelly Rowland's recent nuptials.
"We're honored to be there for each other in our happy moments. I've never really had genuine female relationships until I met them," she says. "I don't care what anyone says, we miss each other. We have that spiritual bond with each other where we know when you're really tired, you need your sister with you today or you just need a phone call to let them know you're thinking about them. I call them my soulmates."
And while the singer is aware that she's been the target of online detractors – there are entire sites devoted to dissing her – she says she lets the haters be her motivators.
"They are crazy! They're someone who take time to Google me daily and dedicate their website to me. I try to ignore it. I've been able to say, 'Okay, my name is in your mouth. You're searching for me on Twitter. I don't even know you exist.' "
And while Rowland and Beyoncé are seemingly the most visible of the trio, Williams, who is currently filming the Oxygen TV show Fix My Choir, says she continues to work nonstop.
"A lot of things I do go under the radar, so people do feel that I'm not as successful as the other ones, but I've made Broadway history and my fourth album is coming out. I've been working 15 years straight. I haven't stopped."
Michelle Williams recently enlisted the help of her former bandmates Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland for her latest single and music video "Say Yes." The trio recently filmed the upcoming music video and Destiny's Child fans got so excited that the song leaked early, spoiling the secret of their reunion.
"We heard all this commotion going on while we were filming," Williams told The Hollywood Reporter. "We filmed at somebody's house and they probably got excited and called their cousins and friends and, next thing you know, the whole town was on one street...I woke up to the news of the song being leaked and I just hate when that happens because it was an unmastered version. At the same time, I was overwhelmed by the support. I know things happen for a reason. I don't want anyone to think I'm pissed. I'm not."
Williams says Beyoncé and Rowland loved "Say Yes" so much when they first heard it, it was easy to get them on board for the collaboration.
"They received an advance copy of the album and called saying, 'We love "When Jesus Says Yes"...there has to be a Destiny's Child mix of the song,'" Williams dished. "Kelly did it and Beyoncé got right in the studio and did her part. I kept it a secret because I didn't want anyone to know until it was time."
"It was so much fun," Williams added. "It was like we were little kids again. I have their back and they have mine. They have showed themselves to be loyal to me time after time. They have proven they are my sisters time and time again."
The stunning celeb attended the Chime for Change one-year anniversary event hosted by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini and T Magazine editor-in-chief Deborah Needleman at Gucci Fifth Avenue in New York City, and looked absolutely gorgeous in a white jumpsuit with a plunging neckline that helped flaunt her cleavage.
Bey was joined by her younger sister Solange Knowles, who also gave a peek at her naughty pillows while wearing loose, bright orange blouse that was unbuttoned to her midriff and white pants.
Both of the Knowles sisters seemed to be in good spirits, flashing their big smiles throughout the night. Queen B was photographed chatting it up with Blake Lively, and Solange even hit the deejay booth!
In fact, Bey reportedly donated a hefty amount of cash toward the good cause. "At the Gucci Chime for Change event in NYC, Beyoncé just announced a personal donation of $500,000 to the charity," Women's Wear Daily tweeted.
According to the website, Chime for Change is a global campaign that helps strengthen and unite the voices of women all around the world.
"We focus on using innovative approaches to raise funds and awareness for projects promoting Education, Health and Justice for girls and women. To date, we've rallied support through a global concert event, a series of short documentary films, a range of technology-driven solutions, and by highlighting the stories of girls and women everywhere who want to see change. With your help, we've funded more than 300 projects in nearly 80 countries. And we're just getting started…," the website states.
Beyoncé is a co-founder, along with Giannini and Salma Hayek.
The recently married singer opened up about her Destiny's Child bandmates Beyoncé and Michelle Williams, plus pals LaLa Anthony, Angie Beyince and Solange Knowles, in a recent interview with Hello Beautiful. "I believe in soul mates. I believe soul mates are not just in relationships, but they're in friendships," the R&BA diva said. "I have soul mates through Beyoncé and Michelle and Angie and Solange and LaLa. I have soul mates. I'm so thankful for that too, because I think they understand you."
How so? "If there's something on my heart or my mind, before I can even pick up the phone, one of them is calling me saying, 'What are you doing? Are you OK?'" the "Kisses Down Low" singer explained. "We're connected and I think that's such a beautiful thing. It's the greatest gift you can have."
Friends fight from time to time, but that doesn't mean Rowland wants husband Tim Witherspoon to jump in. What does she think of men who get involved with their significant other's female drama?
"Stay out," she said matter-of-factly. "It's called female drama for a reason unless you have a vagina."
After all, Destiny's Child labeled themselves "Independent Women" for a reason!
The sexy singer covers the latest issue of T, The New York Times Style Magazine, out this weekend and online now, and E! has an exclusive first look at the stylish pics.
In one photo, Jay Z's other half strikes a sultry pose in super-tight black pants and a simple, clean white T-shirt. Bey puts one hand on her hip while gazing fiercely into the camera behind her long blond hair, which is pushed to one side of her gorgeous face.
In another shot, the Grammy-winning "Drunk in Love" crooner strikes a dance-inspired pose while wearing an embellished dress that shows off lots of leg. Bey's high-fashion look is completed with colorful printed sneakers. Beyoncé can't help but smile as she bevels her left foot with her hands up in the air.
As for the mag's cover shot, Beyoncé once again flashes her million-dollar smile while flaunting a good amount of cleavage in a tight black top paired with a multi-colored jewel necklace.
Très chic!
In the accompanying article headlined "The Woman on Top of the World," the mag breaks down Bey's undeniable success and her groundbreaking career that has made almost everyone a fan.
The "Drunk in Love" singer shared several snapshots of her playing with daughter Blue Ivy, including one of her running through a grassy backyard with her adorable little one.
Bey appears to be wearing a backless bathing suit and denim shorts—as well as her new long braids—while baby Blue is seen sporting a printed sundress.
And in another shot, Yoncé strikes a glamorous pose for the camera in the same bathing suit paired with an Erickson Beamon statement necklace while sitting on a lounge chair.
The 32-year-old has been posting several shots of her family in the recent days.
Over the weekend, the superstar singer posted a photo of her daughter Blue Ivy throwing her tiny foot up to the camera with the caption, "The blueprint."
Just 24 hours earlier, Bey also revealed a shot of her two-year-old playing dress up and trying on a pair of her high heels.
The Carters appear to be enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation before things start to pick up for them in the coming weeks.
Jay Z and Bey are kicking off their summer On the Run tour in Miami on June 25, and will be traveling across the country through August.
To promote the tour, the couple released a faux movie trailer with cameos from Blake Lively, Sean Penn, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rashida Jones, Emmy Rossum, Don Cheadle and many more.
The "Drunk in Love" crooner has been rocking the hairstyle for years, sporting everything from cornrows to individual braids to box braids, so it's no surprise she was getting braided up when she was just a kid as well.
Posting a photo on Instagram with the caption "1989," Beyoncé showed off a snap of herself at eight years old getting her hair braided in a salon with a smile on her face.
On Thursday, the happy mom posted a photo of her new “b hearts blue” gold necklace by Jennifer Meyer Jewelry. She also shared a few snapshots from the family’s vacation in the Hamptons during Memorial Day weekend.
One pic shows Blue playing on the tennis court and another shows her trying on her mommy’s heels.
Forbes released its annual list of the World's Most Powerful Women today, which features 100 of the fiercest females ranked by money, media momentum and social impact.
And in addition to powerful CEOs and influential politicians, a number of famous faces have made the cut—many for the second time, including Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie.
The Maleficent star, who serves as special envoy for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nabbed the No. 50 spot on the list, but she was no match for Jay Z's missus, who came in at No. 17, thanks to her Super Bowl performance, the success of her Mrs. Carter Show world tour and the unprecedented release of her self-titled visual album.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Forbes annual list, which has featured Oprah Winfrey (No. 14), Hilary Clinton (No. 6) and Melinda Gates (No. 3), among others, every year since 2004.
As for the other lucky ladies in the entertainment biz?
Ellen DeGeneres (No. 46), Shakira (No. 58) and Lady Gaga (No. 67) all appear on the highly coveted list, as well as newly single Sofía Vergara who nabbed spot No. 32.
As for the No. 1 slot? That title belongs to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has made the list 10 times—nine at No. 1.
First lady Michelle Obama wasn't far behind, taking home the No. 8 spot and barely beating out Facebook COO Sheryl Sandburg, who came in at No. 9.
This year also saw the rise of female entrepreneurs, with names such as Miuccia Prada, Tory Burch and Diane Von Furstenberg making the cut.
What do you think of the lucky list of ladies?
The power couple was a no-show at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's Florence wedding on Saturday, but the "Drunk in Love" singer made sure to send well wishes to the newlyweds via Instagram.
"Wishing you a lifetime of unconditional love. God bless your beautiful family," Bey wrote alongside a picture from Kimye's Vogue photo shoot.
The songstress was seen stepping out of the plane wearing her hair parted to the side with long braids and dressed in a casual white tank top and jeans.
Meanwhile, her rapper hubby opted for an American flag-themed shirt, acid wash jeans and a black sweater over his shoulder.
So how come Bey and Jay didn't make it to their pals' lavish wedding?
E! News has learned that they wanted to avoid any potential drama with designer Rachel Roy after their recent run-in at the Met Gala.
"Jay Z and Beyoncé were invited but didn't come, seemingly to avoid drama from Rachel Roy who was going. In the end, the wedding was full of love and super intimate," a source told us, adding that the "entire wedding felt very normal."
The insider continued, "It might appear like it was something over the top, but it was very much focused on the important things that matter most."
Jay Z's other half took to Instagram today to share a special message for Kimye, who tied the knot Saturday surrounded by friends and family at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy.
"Wishing you a lifetime of unconditional love," Beyoncé wrote today. "God bless your beautiful family." The Grammy winner accompanied her sweet wedding message with a photo of Kim, Kanye and their daughter, North West, that was taken for their Vogue shoot.
So sweet!
Kim and Kanye said "I do" today in front of family a friends. Kim looked gorgeous in a custom-made Givenchy wedding dress designed by their good pal Riccardo Tisci. Kanye and North also wore custom Givenchy outfits. Meanwhile, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed for Kimye and their guests.
Right after the ceremony was complete, mama Kris Jenner told E! News exclusively that she's "beyond bursting with happiness for Kim, Kanye and baby North." "Such a magical, romantic wedding!" she added. "I feel blessed to have my new son and his family as part of ours."
The 32-year-old "Single Ladies" singer posted a duck-faced Instagram photo of herself earlier today at the very same time that Kim was walking down the aisle during her and West's Italian wedding at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence.
In the pic, Bey wears a black tank top while sitting in bed. Jay Z's other half strikes a pouty-lipped pose while showing off a long, braided hairdo.
Rumors have been swirling for weeks regarding whether or not Beyoncé and Jay would be attending Kim and Kanye's May 24 wedding. It's still unclear if the power couple were in attendance at today's nuptials, but Bey's selfie makes it seem like she couldn't make it unfortunately.
Jay has been close friends with Kanye for years. The two rappers recorded their hit album Watch the Throne together. Kim was also spotted hanging with Beyoncé back in 2012 when the two stepped out together to support their significant others who were performing in the U.K.
Meanwhile, family and friends who were in attendance during Kimye's wedding today include Kris Jenner, Bruce Jenner, Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Jonathan Cheban, Simon Huck, Rachel Roy and their adorable 11-month-old daughter, North West.
On Saturday, the couple exchanged vows in front of friends and family at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, sources confirm.
Before walking down the aisle, Kardashian, 33, and West, 36, celebrated their nuptials in Europe, with family flying into Paris from across the globe. Guests received the same A-list treatment as the newlyweds including personal security and a mobile phone on arrival.
Noticeably absent were Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who are reportedly spending their weekend in the Hamptons. Adding insult to injury, Beyoncé posted a photo to Instagram showing off her new hairstyle around the time Kim was walking down the aisle.
Festivities included brunch at iconic designer Valentino Garavani’s château and a private tour of the Palace of Versailles (where the couple was refused permission to marry, according to a spokesman for the World Heritage Site, who said the rapper and reality star were not considered distinguished enough for an official ceremony at the landmark outside Paris).
It is the first marriage for West and the third for Kardashian.
West was previously engaged to designer and stylist, Alexis Phifer, but the pair split before making it to the altar in 2008.
Kardashian was previously married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2003 – 2004, and in 2011, wed professional basketball player, Kris Humphries. Their union lasted just 72 days before Kardashian filed for divorce from Humphries, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Kardashian’s divorce from Humphries played out in court, with him accusing the “Keeping up with the Kardashians” star of faking their relationship for the cameras. It was finalized in early June 2013.
On June 15, 2013, Kardashian and West welcomed daughter, North West.
The couple got engaged in October, when West executed an elaborate proposal at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
First, the “Yeezus” rapper flew Kardashian’s entire family to San Francisco for what they thought was a birthday surprise for the reality star.
With her friends and family waiting in the dugouts, West led a blindfolded Kardashian onto the diamond where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra played Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful.”
Upon removing her blindfold, Kardashian was greeted by a display of fireworks before West dropped to one knee to ask her, “I just want to know if you’ll marry me?”
“Of course,” she answered, as he slipped a jaw-dropping 15-carat Lorraine Schwartz sparkler on her finger.
Much to the chagrin of the high fashion world, the couple landed the cover of Vogue in March.
In the spread, Kardashian wore several wedding inspired looks as she posed with her then-fiancé and baby daughter. The magazine cover lines read, “Kim & Kanye Their Fashionable Life and Surreal Times #WORLDSMOSTTALKEDABOUTCOUPLE” Kardashian took to Twitter to call the cover “a dream come true.”
Bey was snapped in N.Y.C. with husband Jay Z wearing her new ombré hip-length style, which she wore pulled to one side for a waterfall effect. Wondering how long it might take to transform Beyoncé’s hair into these braids? Writer/reporter Jackie Fields (who has tried the style herself) says “Unless she had, oh, I don’t know, 10 people working on it at once, her hair took hours. Mine took five!”
Jackie also suggests that Bey opted for the style because she might have a warm-weather vacation coming up (after all, the last time she rocked these locks was on an anniversary trip with Jay to Cuba — and her sister Solange favors them for beach and boat trips as well). “It’s just so easy breezy,” Jackie explains. “If she’s hopping on a yacht to some hot spot, this is a no brainer.”
Which leads us to wonder: Is Beyoncé getting prepped for a trip to Paris and Florence to witness the nuptials of another celeb power couple? Did Jay promise her a yacht trip around the Mediterranean if she didn’t upstage the bride? Is Kim even letting anyone in the door who doesn’t have regulation Kardashian bombshell waves?
Fans launched a petition Monday on Change.org to support a feature-length version of “Run.” The trailer that debuted Sunday stars the superstar couple as gun-toting outlaws. It features cameos by Sean Penn, Don Cheadle and Blake Lively, among others.
The fake trailer concludes with the words “coming never.”
Beyonce and Jay Z are sharing top billing for their “On the Run” concert tour that’s set to begin next month in Miami.
The couple made news last week for a different video. TMZ posted footage showing a physical altercation between Jay Z and Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles. The trio said in a statement they had “worked through” that incident.
Over the weekend, Beyoncé shared a happy family photo of herself, Jay, Solange and their mother Tina Knowles all posing together, seemingly proving that they've put the family drama behind them after the dramatic Met Gala brawl that occurred earlier this month.
In the cute pic, the foursome flash giant smiles. Jay puts one arm around Bey as Solange and Tina wraps their arms around each other. The happy family snapshot was taken Saturday during a mini reunion in New Orleans, where Solange currently lives with her son.
Over the weekend, Beyoncé also shared a sisters-only pic of her and Solange.
The happy family pics come about two weeks after Solange attacked Jay in an elevator on the night of the 2014 Met Gala because of some apparent flirting that went down with longtime acquaintance and designer Rachel Roy.
This past Thursday, Beyoncé, Solange and Jay released a joint statement on the incident, saying, "As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
In the video, which looks like a trailer for a faux mini movie, Blake Lively, Sean Penn, Scandal's Guillermo Diaz, Don Cheadle, Emmy Rossum, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rashida Jones and her sister Kidada Jones all make appearances, as Bey and Jay race around the city like a new-age Bonny and Clyde.
Robbing banks, shooting guns and taking names, the duo is forced to go on the run when they get into trouble with the likes of Diaz, Rossum (who shoots at Beyoncé in one scene) and Cheadle, among others.
Meanwhile, Lively plays Bey's friend, telling her in one dramatic scene "I can't lose you."
The duo's star-studded video comes nearly a week after they made waves when a leaked video surfaced showing Beyoncé's sister, Solange Knowles, physically attacking Jay Z in an elevator after a Met Gala after party at the Standard Hotel in New York City.
Beyoncé, Jay Z and Solange later released a joint statement, saying, "As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it."
"Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred," the statement continued. "They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
Since then, the trio has been all smiles, with Beyoncé and Jay Z hanging out at a Brooklyn Nets game last week and Beyoncé posting a shot of herself on Instagram posing with her little sister in New Orleans Saturday.
It turns out the family feuding, which was caught on tape and released earlier this week, occurred on the night of Monday, May 5, because Beyoncé's man got a little too close with designer Rachel Roy, who's the ex-wife of his business partner Damon Dash.
"At the gala, Rachel was being flirtatious with Jay," a source exclusively tells E! News. "Once everyone was at the Boom Boom Room for the after-party, her flirtations were elevated."
"Beyoncé approached Rachel to let her know the behavior was disrespectful and she wanted her out of their lives for good," the source goes on. "Solange came over to have her sister's back, and things got heated with her and Rachel. Jay said some disrespectful things to Beyoncé and Solange as the confrontation was going down. That's why all hell broke loose in the elevator and why Beyoncé just stood back and let Solange hit Jay."
The elevator brawl then occurred as the famous fam rode the Standard Hotel's elevator downstairs to leave. The whole shocking brawl was caught by a surveillance camera.
Regarding the aftermath, the source says, "Solange's primary residence is now in New Orleans, not Brooklyn. She is in [New Orleans] getting back to her normal life: being a mom, taking her son to school and trying to get on with it."
As for Bey and Jay, the music industry power couple was spotted just days after the fight enjoying a Brooklyn Nets game together. And this past Sunday, Bey went to a calm Mother's Day brunch with daughter Blue Ivy.
Yesterday, the Standard Hotel announced that the employee who leaked the elevator video had been fired for "breaching the security polices of the hotel and recording the confidential CCTV video."
Roy's camp didn't immediately repond to E! News' request for comment, but her ex Dash did tweet an interesting message after Solange's attack. "I am actually impressed with her independent spirit, she seems like a fighter," he wrote earlier this week.
In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, the three music artists acknowledge the "great deal of speculation" surrounding the cause of the "unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred," the statement reads. "They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
On Monday, TMZ posted an audio-less videotape of a heated physical argument that occurred between Solange, Beyonce's younger sister, and her husband, Jay Z, in the elevator of the Standard Hotel in New York following the Met Gala on Monday, May 5. In the video, Solange is seen hitting and kicking Jay Z as Beyonce watches and a security guard intervenes. "The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false," the statement continued. "At the end of the day, families have problems, and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."
On Wednesday, news broke that the hotel had fired the individual responsible for the leak.
Beyonce and Jay Z have been married since 2008 and are getting ready to go out on tour together for the first time this summer.
Days after the R&B diva deleted all but one Instagram picture that featured her sister Beyoncé, the singer shared a new #ThrowbackThursday picture on the social networking site. The vintage photo shows the Texas-born siblings wearing matching plaid outfits and resting their heads on their hands.
Unfortunately, the "Sandcastle Disco" singer didn't provide any context in the caption. Was it a sign that she's on good terms with Beyoncé after she attacked Jay Z after the Met Gala last week? Or was it her way of saying she misses the good ol' days, before the "Holy Grail" rapper was in their lives?
"IM SO CONFUSED," an Instagram user wrote. Meanwhile, another user argued, "She loves her sister."
Knowles has yet to explain why she removed dozens of pictures of the 17-time Grammy Award winner. Hours before she posted the #TBT photo, Beyoncé shared four pictures of her lil' sis on Instagram.
After surveillance footage of Knowles attacking her brother-in-law was leaked online, The Standard Hotel vowed to take immediate action. On Thursday, the Meatpacking District-based company issued a statement to E! News. "The Standard has identified the individual responsible for breaching the security policies of the hotel and recording the confidential CCTV video released by TMZ," it said. The Standard has already terminated the individual and will now be pursuing all available civil and criminal remedies. The Standard will next be turning over all available information to the criminal authorities."
Reps for Knowles, Beyoncé and Jay Z have declined repeated requests for comment. They have also remained silent via their social media accounts.
Proving not even a public scrape can shake the bond of family, Beyoncé posted loving photos on Instagram Wednesday showing her with sister Solange Knowles.
Captioning one photo with "Good Morning," a smiling Beyoncé and sis are seen goofing it up together for the camera, kicking up their legs in a happy pose.
In another concert pic, the musical sisters embrace onstage.
And in a third, the happy duo pose closely with their well-coiffed heads leaning in close.
The snaps come days after Solange was seen in elevator video captured on May 5 apparently getting into a raucous fight with brother-in-law Jay Z, reaching out to slap and kick her sister's husband as a bodyguard held her back.
The reported attack, before which a source tells PEOPLE Solange was "provoked," occurred as the family trio were leaving a Met Gala afterparty.
Beyoncé also posted a photo of her posing with Rihanna at the Met Gala. The image graces the cover of Vogue's special issue about the event.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyonce
Janelle Monae
Jhené Aiko
K. Michelle
Rihanna
Tamar Braxton
Best Collaboration
August Alsina f/ Trinidad Jame$ -- "I Luv This"
Beyonce f/ Jay Z -- "Drunk In Love "
Drake f/ Majid Jordan -- "Hold On (We're Going Home)"
Jay Z f/ Justin Timberlake -- "Holy Grail"
Robin Thicke f/ T.I. & Pharrell Williams -- "Blurred Lines"
YG f/ Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan -- "My Hitta"
Video of the Year
Beyonce - "Partition"
Beyonce f/ Jay Z -- "Drunk In Love"
Chris Brown -- "Fine China"
Drake -- "Worst Behavior"
Pharrell Williams -- "Happy"
While the world wonders what went wrong after the Met Gala that would cause Beyoncé's sister Solange to apparently attack her husband Jay Z in an elevator, the power couple showed off a united front.
Hours after the shocking video of the fight was posted on TMZ, Beyoncé and Jay Z turned up courtside at their beloved Brooklyn Nets game against the Miami heat at the Barclay's Center in New York City Monday night.
The singer had her hair to the side and was dressed in her favorite color – blue – while Jay wore a white T-shirt and a gold chain. Both were smiling in photos posted by fan sites on Twitter. See below.
Security video footage taken in the early hours of May 6 showed an intense altercation when Solange appeared to attack Jay Z, punching and kicking at him while Beyoncé looked on.
On their way out of the hotel, the Knowles sisters left together in one car and Jay Z jumped into another vehicle.
There hasn't been a comment from reps for any of the parties involved. (Photo)
As they exited The Standard hotel, Solange, 27, looked "mad as hell," the onlooker tells PEOPLE of seeing the trio immediately following the altercation that happened at around 2:30 a.m. on May 6. Solange was surprisingly "not disheveled" as she got into the small sedan.
"They all went up to the same car," the onlooker added. Solange, who was walking a few steps in front of the couple, entered first. But once Jay Z, 44, got to the car, he hesitated getting in and eventually "walked down the block and got in another car." Meanwhile, Beyoncé, 32, quickly stepped into the waiting car that carried her sister.
The reason for the initial confrontation between Solange and Jay Z remains unknown but the emotional toll of the fight on the younger Knowles sister was evident.
"Usually she's all smiles," the onlooker says of Solange. "But she was not feeling it. Her face told it all."
In the video, Beyonce's sister can be seen physically attacking Jay-Z in a Standard Hotel elevator while the group was on their way to a Met Gala after party last Monday. A man who appears to be a bodyguard attempted to hold Solange back, but she continued to throw kicks, while Beyonce looked on from the corner. It's unclear what the argument was about.
But how did the singer herself feel about the hysterical sketch?
Well, look no further than Instagram, where the Grammy winner offered up a simple rave review today, writing, "Haaaaaaaaaaaa," alongside a huge graphic that read "The Beygency" in pink over a black background.
And how could she not love it?
After all, the 3 1/2 minute skit revolves around a group whose sole purpose is to rid the world of folks who have the audacity to say they are not huge fans of everything Beyoncé.
And apparently, the "Drunk in Love" singer wasn't the only famous face to give their stamp of approval.
"Hats off to Andrew Garfield and the whole cast for a great SNL last night. Funny s--t, people. Funny s--t. #Beygency #JT #spideykiss," new mom Olivia Wilde tweeted.
Meanwhile, Amber Riley wrote, "that Beyoncé SNL skit hahahahaa."
Of course, immediately after "The Beygency" aired, it received the ultimate accolade.
Yep, its very own Twitter account.
Rihanna also takes second place, paired with former paramour Chris Brown, eclipsing industry heavyweights Jay Z and Beyoncé, who are teaming for one of summer's most highly anticipated tours.
Tabloid targets Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, expected to quietly wed this week, surface at No. 7.
"It's pretty amazing that music's favorite bad girl, Rihanna has taken the two highest spots on the list, holding off competition from the rest of the Roc Nation family - Jay Z, Kanye West and Rita Ora," Angela Watts, Spotify's vice president of global communications, said in a release. "One Direction also manages to bag themselves two places on the list, which is quite an achievement. They even beat everyone's favorite '90s couple, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake."
The full list:
1. Rihanna and Drake
2. Rihanna and Chris Brown
3. Jay Z and Beyoncé
4. Katy Perry and John Mayer
5. Harry Styles and Taylor Swift
6. Ellie Goulding and Skrillex
7. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
8. Taylor Swift and John Mayer
9. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber
10. Rita Ora and Calvin Harris
11. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
12. Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards
13. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake
14. Usher and Chili (TLC)
15. Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger
16. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline
17. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley
18. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
19. Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
20. Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas
Beyoncé paid tribute to one of her biggest fans, a teen who lost her battle to cancer last week, by sending a bouquet of 90 white roses and handwritten note to the little girl's grieving family.
Chelsea Lee James, who was memorably brought on stage during Bey's concert back in 2009, passed away at the age of 15 on April 21 after a 10-year battle with the disease.
"Donna, love and prayers to you and your family. Chelsea was a beautiful girl and I am so happy I was able to meet her," the card read. "She touched my heart and I will never forget her."
Bey serenaded James in front of more than 20,000 fans during her 2009 concert in Sydney, dedicating her song "Halo" to the young teen from Newcastle.
"Chelsea I can see your halo, I pray it won't fade away," Bey sang as tears filled Chelsea's eyes.
The two then reunited backstage at Bey's Mrs. Carter Show in November after the children's cancer charity Camp Quality organized a meeting.
And of course, Jay Z's missus didn't forget to give a shout out to her biggest fan during the show, dedicating her song "Survivor" to James while shouting "Yeah, Chelsea" from the stage.
It's been a busy and seemingly emotional week for Blue Ivy's mama, who also posted a handwritten poem on Instagram, which may speak volumes about her latest single.
The poem, which is titled "The Invitation" and was penned by Oriah Mountain Dreamer was written out on sheets of white paper by Bey, who clearly emphasized specific words.
She capitalized and underlined the world "pretty" which could be a reference to the behind-the-scenes "Pretty Hurts" music video in which she opens up about the pressure to be perfect in our image-obsessed society.
"Pretty Hurts" is a song that "represents finding that one thing in the world that makes you truly happy," Bey says in the clip.
The ultimate duet partners will hit the road for their tour beginning June 25 with a show in Miami and bowing out Aug. 5 in San Francisco, the TIME 100 cover girl confirmed on her blog after rumors swirled earlier in the month. The singer posted a photo of the poster featuring the couple embracing wearing ski masks under the name of their tour, "On the Run."
For those anxiously awaiting an encore of their steamy Grammys performance of "Drunk in Love," it's the perfect opportunity to break out your surfbort if Blue Ivy's parents are coming to a city near you. (See all of the tour dates here.)
But the singer opens up about society's impossible standards and the pressures she feels to look a certain way in a behind-the-scenes look at her "Pretty Hurts" video.
In one shot from the Melina Matsoukas-directed video, Bey is shown with markings on her face and poses with a plastic surgeon.
"I'm pretending to get a facelift and Botox," she tells the camera. "It represents all the things that people go through to put up with the pressure that society puts on us."
She added, "Some of the things that young women go through are just really heartbreaking for me."
Queen Bey also addressed how a childhood photo of her posing in front of multiple trophies inspired some of the scenes from the dramatic music video.
"I wanted to tap into the world of competition," she explained. "When you get this trophy, and you're looking at it, is it worth it?"
Bey also said that "Pretty Hurts" is a song that "represents finding that one thing in the world that makes you truly happy."
And speaking of focusing on inner beauty rather than superficial standards, model Doutzen Kroes recently revealed in an interview with The New York Post that she doesn't want her daughter to follow in her footsteps.
"Instead of saying, 'You're so beautiful,' I'll say, 'You're smart,' so she'll have different aspirations in life than beauty and modeling," the pregnant 29-year-old said.
"Though I love my job, I'm not changing the world. I'd love for her to study and to have different aspirations. We need to teach girls they can become presidents, and it's not about beauty all the time."
Queen Bey released her new music video for "Pretty Hurts" on Time.com along with the announcement of the Top 100. The song was originally released on Beyonce's visual album. It's pretty clear after listening to the song and watching the video why Beyonce earned Time's title of Most Influential.
In honor of the "Pretty Hurts" video, Beyonce is launching a social media campaign to get people to open up about what "pretty" means to them. "How do you define pretty? Upload a photo or video to Instagram tagged #WhatisPretty that captures what the word means to you," she writes on her website.
Beyoncé takes the prime spot as the cover girl on Time magazine's annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. And she's far from the only entertainer on the list.
Also making the cut were actors Amy Adams, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Redford, Kerry Washington and Robin Wright, along with musicians Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams and Carrie Underwood.
But it's Beyoncé who gets top billing, having proven she can do it all – juggling motherhood with activism while, oh yes, reinventing how music is made, sold and performed.
"Beyoncé doesn't just sit at the table. She builds a better one," Sheryl Sandberg writes of the pop star in the Time 100 issue. "Her secret: hard work, honesty and authenticity. And her answer to the question, What would you do if you weren't afraid? appears to be 'Watch me. I'm about to do it.' Then she adds, 'You can, too.' "
This year's list includes a record 41 women. But "if there is a common theme in many of the tributes," says Time editor Nancy Gibbs, "it's the eagerness to see what some engineer, actor, leader or athlete will do next. As much as this exercise chronicles the achievements of the past year, we also focus on figures whose influence is likely to grow, so we can look around the corner to see what is coming."
Redford, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, are featured on their own individual covers, too, though inside the magazine.
The 38-year-old Aussie singer and songwriter (full name Sia Furler) recently sat down with the New York Times to dish on working with some of the biggest pop stars in the world.
Here are the juiciest revelations from Sia's epic profile.
1. Katy Perry Should Check Her Emails: Beyoncé's song "Pretty Hurts" was actually originally written by Sia for Katy Perry! According to the NYT, "Furler emailed the song to her friend Katy Perry, but Perry didn't see the email. So Furler passed the song along to Rihanna's manager, who held it for eight months, but ultimately did not pay the fee to secure the track." Sia adds, "'When Beyoncé heard it, she slid into home base and just closed the deal.'" Perry later heard the Bey track and texted Sia, "I'm pretty hurt you never sent me this song," to which Sia responded, "Check your email."
2. Sia Is Seriously Speedy: Sia has written countless hit songs, including "Titanium" for David Guetta and "Perfume" for Britney Spears, but she broke a record when she penned the song "Diamonds" for Rihanna. According to the interview, "While at Rihanna's studio, Furler wrote ‘Diamonds' in 14 minutes." Damn!
3. Thanks, Google: Sia has Google to thank for her hit "Titanium." She reveals, "I typed into Google, ‘What is bulletproof?'…I wrote ‘Titanium' in 40 minutes."
4. Lea Michele's Sad Tribute to Cory: Lea Michele wanted to work with Sia on a song that would pay tribute to her late boyfriend, Cory Monteith. During their studio session, "Michele began to sob on the sofa, and Furler eventually wrote 'If You Say So' based on the young star's feelings. 'Maybe it was because I have a dead boyfriend, too,' Furler said later."
5. Sia's Spiritual Buddies With Demi Moore: The NYT article reveals that Sia attends meditation workshops at the home of Demi Moore.
Fans will be pleased to hear that the songstress has come out with yet another track to listen to, memorize, obsess over and then belt out in the car during your drive to work or in the shower or from the rooftop—whichever you please.
Her latest project comes from producer Boots (real name Jordy Asher), who worked a lot on her last album that we are still over the moon about.
Boots' track "Dreams" features Bey's harmonizing vocals before she delivers a sultry verse all on her own (nearly three minutes in).
"I love that the song has me and what I'm doing in my realm and her and what she's doing in hers, and it's so completely opposite but they work incredibly together," Boots told Vogue of their collaboration.
"It's just a really cool testament to our friendship and relationship to do something like this, and as natural as it was for it to exist in the way that it's going to exist. I feel like I've been given my wings to fly. It's the greatest kind of cosign you could get, from someone who truly, truly believes in you. As gifted and as brilliant as she is, and she is, to be able to believe in me in that regard is a really special thing."
Maybe you missed it at first glance (or maybe you couldn't believe your eyes), but those are the "XO" singer's underthings taking up way more territory than her actual shorts!
We see what Queen Bey was trying to do with the tied shirt around the waist thing, but it's not covering much. We still spy a whole lotta sheer black fabric in the shape of underwear and very little white denim in the shape of shorts. The denim Daisy Dukes trend has been hot for a few summers running now, but if the hot months of 2014 are now going to feature front thong shorts, we're all in trouble.
This may be one of those moments where it's best to bow down to the celeb and retire the fashion move immediately. That, or it's time to kick it up ten notches on the inner thigh workouts...
The jet-setting couple and daughter Blue Ivy joined Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, and a few others at the Beverly Hills Hotel's Polo Lounge Sunday around 1 p.m.
Beyoncé wore a casual white shorts ensemble. Jay Z sported pants and a short sleeved shirt. And Blue Ivy looked adorable in a cream taffeta dress with gold stripes and a bunny head band.
The family was all smiles as Blue Ivy was treated to an Easter basket from the hotel and a special egg hunt for children.
And while the famous bunch brought personal security, they were beyond pleasant and polite to fellow diners. Beyoncé even stopped and said hello to another family's baby.
Sources exclusively tell Page Six that hip hop’s royal couple plans to announce a 20-stadium US tour that will start in late June — and that it’s possible the couple could perform in New York on July 4.
The two recently wrapped individual tours that supported their latest albums: Jay closed out 52 dates for his “Magna Carta…Holy Grail” in January, while Bey wrapped her “Mrs. Carter Show” tour in March.
The couple has performed their hit single, “Drunk in Love,” together at a string of high-profile shows, including this year’s Grammy Awards, a DirecTV Super Bowl party and Beyoncé’s O2 Arena gig in London on Feb. 28.
On Sunday the hip-hop husband and wife each popped up onstage individually at the Coachella music festival. Beyoncé appeared with sister Solange Knowles to dance while Solange performed her hit “Losing You.” Jay took the stage with fellow New York rappers Nas and Diddy.
On the bombing's first anniversary, Beyoncé paid tribute to everyone who was affected by the tragedy by posting Boston magazine's cover photo of running shoes formed into the shape of a heart with the caption, "Boston Strong," on Instagram. The same photo was posted on her website and linked to a YouTube video promoting One Fund, Many Stories.
Two days after Beyoncé and Jay Z surprised fans and festivalgoers with separate surprise performances at the Coachella Music Festival on Saturday, the cute couple returned to L.A. where they enjoyed a romantic meal together, just the two of them.
The 32-year-old singer and her 44-year-old hubby were spotted dining at Gjelina restaurant in Venice Beach on Monday. The lovebirds were snapped sharing some food and sipping on drinks (perhaps some yummy mimosas?). The duo seemed to be happy to be alone and enjoying each other's company during the meal.
As for their breakfast attire, Bey looked fashionable in a floral blue button-down shirt and a black baseball cap. She looked gorgeous with barely any makeup on. Meanwhile, Jay wore a black sweatshirt and a black baseball cap.
On Saturday, Beyoncé hopped on stage to join sister Solange Knowles during her performance at Coachella. The singing and dancing duo then performed a rendition of Solange's song "Losing You." As for Jay, he performed "Dead Presidents II" and "Where I'm From" with Nas.
Solange's Gobi Tent performance was bolstered by an appearance from big sister Beyoncé, who hopped onstage and contributed some dance moves to Solange's hit "Losing You," much to the appreciation of the crowd. (Warning – the clip below does contain profanity.)
(Video) Bey's hubby Jay-Z appeared to bury a historical hatchet on Saturday, joining rapper Nas (with whom he had a long-time feud in the '90s and '00s) for "Dead Presidents" and "Where I'm From." (Both rappers hail from N.Y.C.)
Later on, Nas was joined by P. Diddy for a performance of "Hate Me Now."
But Pharrell's set won the evening's cameo contest with sheer volume: He traipsed through a greatest-hits set that was packed with guest appearances from Nelly (performing "Hot in Herre"), Busta Rhymes and Puff Daddy (doing "Pass the Courvoisier"), and Snoop Dogg (who nailed "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "Beautiful").
(Video) Finally, he was joined by Gwen Stefani in her first public appearance since welcoming son Apollo six weeks ago (the two performed "Hollaback Girl" – the clip above does contain profanity).
Those are the latest claims surrounding the superstar after she posted a pic while on vacation in the Dominican Republican with hubby Jay Z.
Queen Bey shared an Instagram shot in which she's playing golf, posing with her body slightly bent over in her red-and-white-striped bikini. Her stance created a space between her legs, commonly referred to as a "thigh gap," which caused many of the singer's Instagram followers to accuse the beauty of Photoshopping a larger space between her enviable gams.
"Love you as you are - real. This s--tty photoshop is sad and disappointing, truly," user @bonjourvieve commented on the pic.
"really @Beyonce? we all love your thick thighs. NO reason to Photoshop a thigh gap in there.." @MariaBee added.
Bey has yet to respond to the debate, although it is possible that the pic is untouched, considering the singer was sporting a much smaller frame at the 2014 Grammys.
Prior to the show, the singer embarked on a 22-day vegan diet, during which she also kept up with her super-strict workouts in order to maintain her bootylicious shape.
Blue Ivy's mother and father are currently celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary with a tropical getaway to the Dominican Republic. Although the pair have kept their romantic trip private, Bey did share a fresh-faced photo of herself rocking a bikini by the water.
Bey recently finished her long-running Mrs. Carter Show world tour. The 32-year-old musician has performed more than 100 concerts, first taking the stage on Apr. 15, 2013, in Belgrade, Serbia, and she couldn't help but get emotional during her final show in Portugal.
"I want a [spotlight]. I want them to see me," she said. "If you all don't know, tonight makes 132 shows. Tonight is the last show of the Mrs. Carter Show. We started a year ago, and I want to say this has been such a journey. In the past year, we've been through so much together. The Super Bowl, shooting the videos, all of these shows. When I first started the tour, my baby was not even walking yet. I just want you to know that I am so lucky."
The power couple celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary with a tropical getway to the Dominican Republic, E! News confirms. Although the pair have kept their romantic trip private, Bey did share a fresh-faced photo of herself rocking a bikini by the water. Blue Ivy's mama flashed her famous smile while her wild curls blew in the wind.
Additionally, spotted at Casa de Compo resort in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. A source tells E! News, "They were sitting at the bar," adding that at one point, Jay Z tapped a man on the back who was "wearing a Brooklyn Nets shirt, and said 'cool shirt man.' " The insider also noted that the couple looked happy and in love, and sharing that Beyoncé "looked beautiful" (as if we would think otherwise).
(Photo) On Sunday, Jay Z was seen enjoying his proud papa duties by pushing baby Blue Ivy on a swing at the playground. So cute!
Bey recently finished her long-running Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. The 32-year-old musician has performed more than 100 concerts, first taking the stage on Apr. 15, 2013 in Belgrade, Serbia, and couldn't help but get emotional during her final show in Portugal.
"I want a [spotlight]. I want them to see me," she said. "If you all don't know, tonight makes 132 shows. Tonight is the last show of the Mrs. Carter Show. We started a year ago and I want to say this has been such a journey. In the past year, we've been through so much together. The Super Bowl, shooting the videos, all of these shows. When I first started the tour, my baby was not even walking yet. I just want you to know that I am so lucky."
She added, "I'm giving y'all an ugly cry."
Not possible.
“I’d like to believe that my music opened up that conversation,” the “Drunk in Love” singer, 32, wrote in a recent email exchange with Out magazine for its May issue. “There is unbelievable power in ownership, and women should own their sexuality. There is a double standard when it comes to sexuality that still persists. Men are free and women are not.”
“The old lessons of submissiveness and fragility made us victims,” the mom to 2-year-old Blue Ivy continued. “Women are so much more than that. You can be a businesswoman, a mother, an artist, and a feminist—whatever you want to be—and still be a sexual being. It’s not mutually exclusive.”
Bey, who has been married to Jay Z since 2008, also weighed in why she feels her self-titled album has received such a warm welcome from the LBGT community.
“Being that I am a woman in a male-dominated society, the feminist mentality rang true to me and became a way to personalize that struggle … But what I’m really referring to, and hoping for, is human rights and equality, not just that between a woman and a man,” she wrote. “So I’m very happy if my words can ever inspire or empower someone who considers themselves an oppressed minority.”
The 32-year-old entertainer graces the cover of Out's Power Issue, wearing a blond wig reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Posing topless and cupping her breasts in the racy photo shoot, the R&B diva opens up about her self-titled visual album, sexuality and more.
The "Drunk in Love" singer has been hailed as a feminist hero in recent years. Beyoncé hopes to inspire other women to behave similarly. "There is unbelievable power in ownership, and women should own their sexuality," she explains. "There is a double standard when it comes to sexuality that still persists. Men are free and women are not. That is crazy. The old lessons of submissiveness and fragility made us victims. Women are so much more than that. You can be a businesswoman, a mother, an artist, and a feminist—whatever you want to be—and still be a sexual being. It's not mutually exclusive."
Her most recent album, released in late 2013, appeals to a wide range of audiences—not just women. According to Beyoncé, her intention was to reach listeners on a human (and perhaps spiritual) level.
"While I am definitely conscious of all the different types of people who listen to my music, I really set out to make the most personal, honest, and best album I could make," she says via e-mail, as she was in the midst of her Mrs. Carter World Tour at the time of the interview. "I needed to free myself from the pressures and expectations of what I thought I should say or be, and just speak from the heart."
"Being that I am a woman in a male-dominated society, the feminist mentality rang true to me and became a way to personalize that struggle...But what I'm really referring to, and hoping for, is human rights and equality, not just that between a woman and a man," Beyoncé tells the LGBTQ publication. "So I'm very happy if my words can ever inspire or empower someone who considers themselves an oppressed minority...We are all the same and we all want the same things: the right to be happy, to be just who we want to be and to love who we want to love."
In regard to her music, Beyoncé admits it was her most ambitious endeavor to date. "I was recording, shooting videos, and performing on the tour every night, all at the same time. At some point I felt like, 'What am I doing? Is this too ambitious?' Even the day the record was to be released I was scared to death," she reveals. "But I also knew if I was that scared, something big was about to happen."
It was a risk that paid off. According to Beyoncé, it's the album's imperfections that make it stand out.
"When I recorded 'XO' I was sick with a bad sinus infection. I recorded it in a few minutes just as a demo and decided to keep the vocals. I lived with most of the songs for a year and never re-recorded the demo vocals. I really loved the imperfections, so I kept the original demos. I spent the time I'd normally spend on backgrounds and vocal production on getting the music perfect. There were days I spend solely on getting the perfect mix of sounds for the snare alone. Discipline, patience, control, truth, risk, and effortlessness were all things I thought about while I was putting this album together."
Lady Bey, in a lime green hat, was accompanied by an assistant as she studied a Fendi fur bag.
“The staff was all very nervous because she is known to have people fired,” alleged my source in the store.
Last year, a young saleswoman in the store’s fine jewelry department was thrilled to meet the wife of Jay Z and posted a photo of the pop star on Twitter.
When Knowles complained to management that her privacy had been violated, the young woman was dismissed, my source claims.
Knowles’ reps at Sony Music didn’t get back to me, and Bergdorf had no comment.
Beyoncé and Jay Z showed their support sitting courtside at the Brooklyn Nets game last night looking perfectly pulled together from head to toe.
While most patrons wear casual jeans and comfortable hoodies to cheer on their favorite team, these stylish stars took their game time looks to a totally different level.
The "Drunk in Love" singer was all smiles next to her main man, looking every bit the fierce fashionista that she is.
Bey stunned in a bold graphic print knit ensemble that showed off her curves and topped it off with a modest black blazer, funky straw hat and two-tone pumps.
We also couldn't help but eye her standout black and white handbag, voluminous curls and bright red lollipop for a sweet touch.
As for Blue Ivy's dad, the rapper turned heads in a cool patterned button down shirt paired with an enormous gold medallion necklace and classic black and red Nike sneakers.
It goes without saying that these two make for a winning pair, no matter the occasion.
Raquel Castellanos and Gabriella Davidson claim they went to the United Center in Chicago last December with general admission tickets and arrived super early so they could get close to the stage.
They were at the front when the doors opened and there was a stampede. According to the lawsuit the 2 women were trampled by a rushing mob and knocked to the ground ... leaving them unconscious with broken bones and other injuries.
The women claim the venue did not set up proper procedure for entering the arena ... so reports the local CBS affiliate in Chicago.
The women were taken to a local hospital and never got to see the show.
As for why they sued Beyonce ... well, she's the queen bee.
Beyoncé gave fans a glimpse at Blue Ivy's adorable outfit in a snap she shared on her Tumblr Sunday, which showed the songstress looking fab as she exited a hotel, with her 2-year-old daughter looking back at her.
In the black and white snap, Blue rocks a top hat, coat and checkered dress, while her mom struts towards her toting a furry purse.
The "Drunk in Love" crooner also posted shots of one of Blue Ivy's mini cars, as well as a shot of the duo looking at giraffes and another of herself holding Blue in a street as rain pours around them.
The mommy-daughter day out came on the heels of the end of her long-running Mrs. Carter tour, which she wrapped up Thursday with an emotional final show in Lisbon, Portugal.
"I want a [spotlight]," she said at the show. "I want them to see me. If you all don't know, tonight makes 132 shows. Tonight is the last show of the Mrs. Carter Show. We started a year ago and I want to say this has been such a journey. In the past year, we've been through so much together. The Super Bowl, shooting the videos, all of these shows. When I first started the tour, my baby was not even walking yet. I just want you to know that I am so lucky."
Tears started streaming down her face as she continued to talk to the audience, telling concertgoers, "I'm giving y'all an ugly cry. Thank y'all again. Thank you for allowing me to have a career. And when I fall, you lift me up. When I'm hungry, you feed me. And I just want to give you my light. I dedicate this song to you."
The tour marked the highest grossing female tour of 2013, pulling in $188.6 million from its first 107 shows.
Spies said that the pair slipped through a main entrance and were escorted to a VIP box, whereas other guests entered through the side of the building and into an old, underground shooting range to get to a special sunken stage in a white cube.
The band has been playing a string of shows at the Armory for just 45 guests per night.
“Hardly anyone noticed [Beyoncé and Jay Z],” said a spy of the couple. “They were so casual.”
The hip-hop pair then skipped an after-party, where guests included Madonna, and had an intimate dinner at La Esquina. Others who’ve seen The xx shows include Björk and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
The mother-daughter duo spent some time playing around in a pool recently and the "Drunk in Love" singer shared several shots of her day off on her website.
Bey is shown wearing a strapless bathing suit in one pic and posing with her little one in another candid shot.
The Grammy winner seemed to be enjoying her downtime as she is in the midst of her grueling yearlong tour.
In fact, the Mrs. Carter World Tour is about to come to an end later this month, which means that the 32-year-old is about to have much more time on her hands to get some much needed rest and relaxation.
Bey also shared a sweet photo of her baby girl wearing a pair of her mama's glasses.
Blue is covering up her face as the picture is taken, but appears to be enjoying playing dress-up in Bey's closet. (And who wouldn't?!)
Just yesterday, Beyoncé posted several other snapshots of her family sightseeing in Europe.
Jay Z and his leading lady each rode separate bikes, while Blue sat in the back of her dad's ride (and sported a bright orange helmet!).
The stunning songstress opted to wear a black BLK DNM jacket with the word "Freedom" written on the back and Wildfox sunnies as she rode alongside her two loved ones.
Even when she's not performing, Bey manages to look downright "Flawless"!!
Beyoncé shared a sweet photo on her Instagram account earlier today that shows her riding bikes with Blue Ivy and Jay Z.
The "Drunk in Love" performers each rode separate bikes, while baby Blue sat in the back of her dad's ride (and wore a bright orange helmet!).
Bey was seen wearing a black jacket with the word "Freedom" written on the back as she rode alongside her two loved ones.
In another snapshot, the Grammy-winning singer wore a T-shirt with the letter C written on it—for Carter, obvs!
The family has been spending tons of time together as they travel around Europe for Queen Bey's Mrs. Carter World Tour.
The 32-year-old songstress recently visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam today, just hours after performing at the city's Ziggo Dome.
She was joined by husband Jay Z and, according to the museum's Facebook page, they spent "more than an hour inside and very impressed by their visit to the hiding place of Anne Frank."
The museum also posted a shot showing Beyoncé writing a message in the guestbook.
She also posted several photos from her visit on her own website, including one of her crouching in front of a series of photographs of Anne Frank.
And in another, Bey is shown standing alongside a wall display that shows a journal entry from Frank.
The inscription reads, "I'll make my voice heard, I'll go out into the world and work for mankind! 11 April 1944."
Who could turn their eyes away when Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls were grinding all up on Bey in coordinating skimpy outfits? Absolutely no one.
Joan chatted with Vanity Fair during a launch party for Nike's collaboration with Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci on Wednesday and spilled about the famous scene where she licks the "Drunk in Love" singer.
"That was my idea," she revealed.
"I just got inspired by the song…I'm like, 'Can we actually see what Yoncé would taste like? Can I lick her?' And they're like, 'Go for it.' I'm like, 'Are you sure?' And I asked her, and she's like, 'Absolutely.'"
Ugh, so jealous. Don't judge us.
But the sexy move did make the model slightly uncomfortable.
"I mean, I do what very few people in this world would ever do," she said with a laugh. "So Jay Z is a very lucky man."
So now the question on everyone's mind is, how does Mrs. Carter taste?!
"Uh, sweet," Smalls said with a smirk.
Aside from having models lick her face, the Grammy winner been a very busy Queen Bey lately.
She's currently winding down her yearlong Mrs. Carter world tour in Europe and will play her final show in Lisbon on March 27.
She was joined by husband Jay Z and, according to the museum's Facebook page, they spent "more than an hour inside and very impressed by their visit to the hiding place of Anne Frank."
The museum also posted a shot showing the 32-year-old songstress writing a message in the guestbook.
Beyoncé took to Instagram to share a couple of pictures as well.
In one, the singer can be seen crouching down in front of photographs of the young diarist.
In another, she stands alongside a picture of Frank seated at a desk. Next to it, a journal entry from Frank is inscribed on the wall, which reads, "I'll make my voice heard, I'll go out into the world and work for mankind! 11 April 1944."
Last year, Justin Bieber faced some backlash when he visited the museum and wrote in the guestbook, "Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber."
The 32-year-old singing sensation rocked the glamorous sequined ensemble at her Mrs. Carter World Show Tour in Cologne, Germany, on Tuesday night and shared some photographs from the concert on her Tumblr account.
The showstopper frock, featuring a 61 for Ford's birth year and the word Molly crossed out, made its debut at the Fall 2014 London Fashion Week show.
Bey showed off her enviable curves in the sizzling orange number, nude fishnet stockings and black lace-up booties. The "XO" crooner wore her long wavy honey locks down and finished the sultry look with a pale pink lip.
Following the performance, the multiple Grammy winner also posted a short Instagram video of herself dancing onstage in the designer duds.
Bey's outfit was inspired by Hov's black and white jersey T-shirt with lyrical references to his smash hit tune. He first wore the shirt during his Magna Carta world tour.
Blue Ivy's mama is currently on the last leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour and she'll light up Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome on Wednesday night. Then it's off to Dublin for four shows, followed by dates in Belgium, Barcelona and Lisbon.
“They stayed for at least an hour while she tried on shoes and browsed [for] jewelry,” says a witness. “They were mixing in with the chaos of everyone else and didn’t even clear a section. A bodyguard stopped someone to ask they not take pictures inside, but that was it for the muscle.”
Beyoncé will play the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on Tuesday as part of the Mrs. Carter World Tour.
Flawless.
Seriously. The YouTube duo Superfruit wrote that they "couldn't decide what Beyonce song to cover" so they just went ahead and covered the entire Beyoncé album, from "Pretty Hurts" all the way to "Blue." So if you have yet to hear Beyoncé's latest album, here's your chance to do a "speed reading" of it. And if you have that album memorized after countless repeated playings, then this is like a montage of all the best parts, akin to a photo slideshow that you play at high school graduation.
Except it has Beyoncé. Which makes it better.
Watch Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying (also members of the a cappella group Pentatonix) kill a Beyoncé medley—or "Bedley" if you will, below: Video.
Solange Knowles celebrated the weekly tradition by tweeting a picture of herself posing alongside Destiny's Child and Bow Wow.
The almost 15-year-old pic shows Beyoncé, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland in matching denim outfits (thanks, Tina Knowles!) with perfectly oiled skin.
"Speaking of which, why didn't no body put the baby oil on my abs?" Solange wrote as a caption to the cute image.
She added, "Oh the year 2000."
Solange is shown wearing a striped tummy-baring ensemble with a large purple hat.
Meanwhile, look at how young Bow Wow was!
The rapper is seen pointing at the camera wearing a Gucci hat and an oversize tan top. Too cute!
Queen Bey has also been known to jump in on the throwback fun.
She took to Instagram to post this precious photo from her days as a wee one in diapers, which she simply captioned, "tbt." In the snapshot, baby Bey shyly smiles at the camera, wearing a light pink dress, white shoes and gold earrings.
She's also posted images from her days as a Destiny's Child singer as well as several shots of her mother as a schoolgirl.
Keep 'em coming, Bey! We love seeing you in all your blast-from-the-past glory!
But on Tuesday, Queen Bey and her mini-me paid a visit to the Dublin Zoo, cuddling up as they checked out the animals.
As you can see from her Instagram pics, Beyoncé, 32, and Blue, 2, were dressed warmly on the cold day, and might have blended right into the crowd were it not for mom's Mrs. Carter World Tour jacket.
The Fox News anchor slammed the "Drunk in Love" singer during an interview with Russell Simmons yesterday, saying that she's a bad role model for young girls.
O'Reilly, who's never been shy about sharing his true feelings, explained that her recent music video for "Partition" was "inexplicable" and "exploitive garbage."
"She puts out a new album with a video that glorifies having sex in the back of a limousine. Teenage girls look up to Beyoncé, particularly girls of color…Why on Earth would this woman do that?"
He added, "Why would she do it when she knows the devastation that unwanted pregnancies…and fractured families—why would Beyoncé do that?"
O'Reilly went on to insist that as a mother, and one that promotes gender equality in every sense, Queen Bey has an "obligation to protect children."
Tell us how you really feel!
But all the criticism didn't seem to stop Bey from doing her thing on her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
The Grammy winner is currently in Dublin with her family, including Jay Z and Blue Ivy, while she performs four sold-out shows at The O2.
The family of three was even spotted checking out the local Dublin Zoo on Monday, and playing in a playground near their hotel.
Earlier today, Bey posted a snapshot on her Tumblr page showing her posing next to an Irish flag that had the words "Dublin loves you like XO" written on it by fans.
Seems like she's having a good time!
Swift proved adept at capturing revenue from every angle this year, earning a whopping $39,699,575.60. Fueled by 2012's "Red," the singer's album sales were eighth among all of Billboard's Money Makers, while on the digital front she sold nearly 10 million downloads, ranking sixth, and fifth in streaming royalties -- tops in country music.
But where Swift is most potent is on the road, performing in packed arena after packed arena. Revenue from six months of touring the United States on the Red Tour tops all fellow money makers with an estimated take of $30 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. The tour also boasted lucrative sponsorships (Keds, Elizabeth Arden, Diet Coke) and a ravaged merch table, which averaged $17 per head.
Swift topped the rich list just two years ago, also on the strength of her touring prowess, raking in $35,719,902.
Back on this year's tally, Swift's closest competition was another country superstar, Kenny Chesney, who made $32,956,240.70 on the strength of his seventh Billboard 200 chart-topper ("Life on a Rock") and his massive No Shoes Nation stadium tour.
Justin Timberlake's whirlwind comeback in 2013, led by "The 20/20 Experience" albums and two tours -- first with Jay Z and later solo -- earned him $31,463,297.03 in the U.S. (Timberlake's Legends of the Summer tourmate ranks at No. 16 this year).
Rock 'n' roll rounds out the top five, with a pair of road legends. Bon Jovi's Because We Can Tour was the top-grossing trek in 2013, according to Billboard's year-end tally, and is the prime reason they're fourth with $29,436,801.04. And if you thought The Rolling Stones were fading as a live act, you'd be dead wrong. Marking the band's 50th anniversary, the sold out 50 & Counting… dates pushed them up to No. 5 on the rich list, with $26,225,121.71.
Beyonce, Maroon 5, Luke Bryan, Pink and Fleetwood Mac complete this year's top ten. Deep in the list you'll find plenty of pop (Justin Bieber, One Direction), hip-hop (Kanye West, Jay Z), country (George Strait, Blake Shelton) and, notably, an appearance from New Kids on the Block, who enjoyed a well-attended tour, a top-ten album and a hit single.
The data used to compile Money Makers was supplied by Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen BDS and Billboard Boxscore. Artists are ranked by U.S. earnings, calculated from touring, recorded- music sales, publishing royalties and revenue from digital music and video streaming. Due to a lack of data, revenue from sponsor- ship, merchandising and synchronization isn’t included. For the full methodology, click here.
The Top 10
Taylor Swift, $39,699,575.60
Kenny Chesney, $32,956,240.70
Justin Timberlake, $31,463,297.03
Bon Jovi, $29,436,801.04
The Rolling Stones, $26,225,121.71
Beyonce, $24,429,176.86
Maroon 5, $22,284,754.07
Luke Bryan, $22,142,235.98
Pink, $20,072,072.32
Fleetwood Mac, $19,123,101.98
While out and about with his wife in Dublin this week, the 44-year-old rapper stepped out wearing a black Mrs. Carter world tour jacket in honor of his other half.
Jay and Bey stepped out together for a dinner date at Mediterranean restaurant Coppinger Row. Upon leaving the eatery, Jay was snapped sporting a jacket with the name "Mrs. Carter" written across the back. On the front of the jacket was his wife's signature "B" logo.
The 32-year-old "Drunk in Love" songstress was also caught wearing one of her tour jackets, which featured a "B" and an American flag on the front of it. Bey completed her look with sunglasses and a black hat.
Beyoncé has a concert show at Dublin's O2 venue on Tuesday and Wednesday night this week before heading to Germany.
Meanwhile, earlier today Billboard released their 2014 Money Makers Rich List, which named Beyoncé among stars like Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Pink and Maroon 5. According to Billboard, Bey raked in $24.4 million dollars in the past year.
"Being labeled something matters," says Jennifer Garner in a new campaign – Ban Bossy – that's encouraging girls to be leaders.
The Girl Scouts of the USA and LeanIn.org have teamed up in partnership with Lifetime television to create a PSA featuring Beyoncé, Jane Lynch, Condoleezza Rice, Diane von Furstenberg, Garner and others that points out that girls are discouraged from taking leadership roles because of labeling and name-calling.
"Girls are less interested in leadership than boys," Beyoncé says, and that's because they worry about being called "bossy" while little boys who step up are called "leaders."
"I think the word 'bossy' is just a squasher," Glee star Lynch says. The campaign seeks to empower girls by encouraging everyone to sign a pledge to ban the five-letter word at banbossy.com.
"We need to recognize the many ways we systematically discourage leadership in girls from a young age – and instead, we need to encourage them," says Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who founded LeanIn.org. "So the next time you have the urge to call your little girl bossy? Take a deep breath and praise her leadership skills instead."
"There are no limits on your horizon," former Secretary of State Rice says in the ad, while designer von Furstenberg encourages girls to "dare to be you."
But possibly the strongest Girl Power message of all comes from Beyoncé. The mother of daughter Blue Ivy, 2, says, "I'm not bossy – I'm the boss."
A video just surfaced of Bey practicing "Drunk in Love" at dress rehearsals when toward the end of the song, Blue Ivy Carter can be heard saying "Hi, Mommy!" over the sound system.
And while the little one's excited voice is enough to make us melt, it was the singer's reaction that stole the show. If you listen closely enough you can also hear Blue say, "Surfboard." In a word? Amazing.
Bey said "Hi, Blue Blue" on her mic back to her daughter and made the most priceless facial expression afterwards.
The 2-year-old's sweet moment wasn't included in the actual performance, but we almost wish it was!
The Carters are currently in Europe where Bey is hitting up city after city on her enormous world tour.
She and Jay Z were spotted enjoying a dinner date together at popular eatery Cecconi's in London Friday night while in London.
The two were also seen hanging out at the elite Arts Club in Mayfair multiple nights earlier this week.
Queen B performed a whopping six nights at the O2 Arena and is now expected to play in Dublin for four shows.
After that, she's heading to Cologne, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona and Lisbon.
When all is said and done, Bey and family will have been globe-trotting for almost an entire year.
That's bound to be a lot of passport stamps for little Blue!
The superstar singer and her husband were spotted enjoying a dinner date together at popular eatery Cecconi's in Friday night while in London. The power couple kept it casual but chic with Bey flaunting her killer curves in a simple mauve dress, which she accessorized with stiletto pumps, circle shades and an olive green beanie.
Meanwhile, Hov rocked dark jeans, black sneakers, a plain black T-shirt and gray hoodie.
Queen B, who was also spotted earlier in the day in a striped number, just finished up the London leg of her Mrs. Carter world tour, and will be taking the stage at The O2 in Dublin March 8-12. After Ireland, Bey will head to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
Jay even recently joined his leading lady onstage while in London. The R&B sensation took to her Tumblr page to post a bunch of stunning snapshots from the superstar couple's performance at the O2 Arena in Greenwich yesterday.
And along with being a stunner and showstopper (as always), Bey look absolutely in love in a few candid photos of her and Jay Z embracing each other during the show.
So sweet!
A very special guest joined Beyoncé during her Mrs. Carter World Show Tour in London: Mr. Carter himself, aka Jay Z.
The R&B sensation took to her Tumblr page to post a bunch of stunning snapshots from the superstar couple's performance at the O2 Arena.
In typical fashion, the 32-year-old did not add any captions to the photographs but they appear to be from her show on Wednesday evening.
The "XO" singer accentuated her curves to perfection in a sequined nude bodysuit with matching heels. She wore her long blond curly locks down and completed the sizzling look with natural glossy lips.
The hip-hop mogul sported a "Tom Ford 61" top, black pants, a beanie and some sunglasses for his cameo.
The "Drunk in Love" pair danced together during the duet and shared a sweet embrace at the end of their performance. Bey can be seen grinning widely as she holds on tight to Hov.
Bow down.
Blue Ivy's mama is currently on the last leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour and she'll light up London's O2 Arena on Thursday night. Then it's off to Dublin for four shows, followed by dates in Germany, Amsterdam, Belgium, Barcelona and Lisbon.
The pop star has set up a philanthropic initiative, #BeyGOOD, to help the homeless, sick children and the unemployed. While she's on her Mrs. Carter world tour, she will stop at six cities — Dublin; Cologne, Germany; Amsterdam; Antwerp, Belgium; Barcelona and Lisbon — where #BeyGOOD teams up with local charities. She hopes her celebrity will help raise funds for the charities, as well as awareness by her fans.
Last month, #BeyGOOD teamed up with the U.K.'s Prince's Trust for 12 concert dates, which included stops in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London.
For her March dates, fans who go to at least one of these six concerts will find donation tables for each charity in the main lobbies of the venues. Concert ticketholders who make a donation will not only get a #BeyGOOD sticker, but a chance to get a seat upgrade to the BeyHive or BeyStage.
Tour dates: March in – 8, 9, 11, 12 Cologne – 15,16 Amsterdam – 18,19 Antwerp – 20, 21 Barcelona – 24 Lisbon – 26, 27.
H&M, you feel like a smart fit. Or maybe Target? People just went nuts for the Peter Pilotto designs, but they'll line up over night for this. And we're happy to settle, for a small portion of profits in exchange for our genius idea.
What makes this design just so perfect? For us it's a combo of the bold colors arranged in a pattern that brilliantly cynches the waist and highlights the boobs. See how the lines tighten Queen Bey's tummy (not that she needs it)? And the length on the booty portion provides excellent coverage, unlike most of the high-cut Baywatch-inspired options currently on the market.
If a clever retailer doesn't step in, we'd like to recommend that Bey and her designer momma go it on their own. They could do one suit per every Mrs. Carter World Tour costume, which, if we're keeping track correctly, would leave them with approximately 150 designs!
Jay Z's wife took the stage at London's O2 arena Tuesday night looking incredibly sexy in a multicolored Emilio Pucci leotard, nude fishnet stockings and thigh-high, lace-up red stiletto boots.
The 32-year-old singer's exciting ensemble accentuated her killer curves perfectly. The leotard's fitted bodice highlighted her tiny waist and ample cleavage, and her toned legs and sculpted arms were also tastefully exposed.
Queen Bey is currently on the last leg of her Mrs. Carter Show world tour. She'll light up London's O2 theater again Wednesday and Thursday night, and then it's off to Dublin for four shows, followed by dates in Germany, Amsterdam, Belgium, Barcelona and Lisbon.
The "XO" singer has been very interactive with fans at her numerous shows. Last week at the Birmingham stop, for example, she stopped her concert after seeing a fan, Shehnaz Khan, in the crowd with a sign announcing it was her birthday.
"You got the sign and everything, what's your name? And how do you spell it?" she asked, before coming down into the crowd, holding Shehnaz's hand and singing a heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday."
Clearly, Queen Bey is the people's performer extraordinaire!
The two are currently in town for Bey's six-night run at the O2 Arena and have been spotted soaking up the sights for the past week.
E! News has learned that the power couple stopped by the White Lyan over the weekend, a hip new bar that serves an assortment of well, let's just say adventurous drinks.
While guests aren't allowed to order anything off-menu—whether or not you're arguably the most famous duo in the world—there are several unique beverages to choose from.
For starters, patrons can enjoy the Bone Dry Martini, which includes Mr. Lyan's special line of vodka and chicken bone. Yum!
And if that doesn't suit your fancy, perhaps the Moby Dick Sazerac is more your style.
The cocktail is painstakingly crafted with Peychaud's bitters, rye, absinthe-soaked rice paper, and ambergris—more commonly known as whale sperm.
How decadent!
But it looks like Bey and Jay sipped on more traditional beverages during their time at the Lyan. A source tells us that they did not enjoy one of the bar's more unusual offerings.
And when she wasn't busy performing or spending quality time with her family, Bey enjoyed some serious retail therapy.
The "Drunk in Love" singer hit up one of her favorite stores, Topshop, during a break in her grueling schedule and picked up some must-haves for spring.
A rep for the retail chain confirmed that Bey shopped at the flagship store, but wouldn't address the rumors that she received her entire VIP shopping spree on the house.
Ah, to be the queen!
Not everyone was a fan of Beyoncé and Jay Z's super-sexy 2014 Grammys performance of "Drunk in Love."
According to documents obtained by the Smoking Gun, Bey and J's awards show opener offended enough viewers that a handful of peeved people filed written complaints to the FCC in regards to their steamy number. So which parts of the chair-dancing, booty-grinding performance did viewers take umbrage with?
One non-fan labeled Beyoncé's "Drunk in Love" performance a "lip-synch soft porn dance on a chair" and called it "grossly inappropriate." "Her spread eagle poses barely covered her vulva and the smoke machine didn't solve the problem," they wrote. "Grinding against her husband ala stripper style is hardly an acceptable way to demonstrate marital love in front of children" (how does this person think children are made?).
Another penned, "This was supposed to be a family show but was anything but trash," (since when are the Grammys on the same level as 7th Heaven?). The added, "As an adult, after that performance was over with I felt like I should be taking antibiotics for something it was that trashy."
"I did not appreciate seeing the opening act of a woman putting her naked butt in the camera lens, spreading her legs in front of the camera, behaving in a pornographic manner, then her husband JayZ comes on, they minus well have had sex with one another on stage," another complained. "Where is the class? I want to ask Beyoncé if it's ok if I stick my butt in her childs face like she did mine?" (somewhere, Blue Ivy is shaking her head).
Finally, one parents with a very mature teenager wrote, "This program aired at 7:00 PM and was filled with obscene dancing and language. My 16 year old daughter was viewing the show with me and she had the good sense to say ‘this is totally inappropriate.'"
Do you agree? Was it too much or just right?
The R&B sensation continued to share a handful of snapshots on her personal Tumblr page from a vacation with hubby Jay Z and daughter Blue Ivy.
While there are no captions accompanying the stunning snapshots, the vacation pics appear to be from the family's getaway to Jamaica.
In one photograph, the "XO" singer is posing in tropical surroundings and flaunting her enviable curves in a red one-piece with ruffle detailing. Her wavy, long blond locks are down and she finishes the sexy look with some gold necklaces and matching red lips.
The Grammy winner is joined by her precious 2-year-old in another snapshot, as the duo pose in coordinated black ensembles.
Bey's abs are on full display, thanks to a perfectly placed cutout in her mid-section. Bey is giving her best kissy face, as she tilts her head to the side. While we can't see Blue's adorable face, we do get a glimpse of her sweet curls and sleeveless top.
The superstar also dons a scoop neck swimsuit, featuring a tiger's face.
Bey is currently on the second leg of her Mrs. Carter World Show tour. Her next performance is Friday at the O2 Arena in London.
The singer stopped her concert at the LG Arena after seeing a fan, Shehnaz Khan, in the crowd hold up a sign saying that it was her birthday.
"You got the sign and everything, what's your name? And how do you spell it?" Bey asked while onstage.
Queen Bey then came down into the crowd and held Shehnaz's hand while singing a soulful rendition of "Happy Birthday."
"I was wearing a birthday badge which she noticed early on in the show, she kind of nodded in acknowledgement. I've been to quite a few of her gigs. But I can't believe she stopped the show for me," the birthday girl, who turned 22 on the day of the concert, told the Birmingham Mail.
"I really wanted her to sing to me, but I can't believe she did it!"
She added, "I was leaning over the barrier holding her hand and not realizing the camera in my other hand was recording, everyone around me was going crazy."
Shehnaz recorded the entire thing on her iPhone and even captured the moment where Bey kissed her hand at the very end of the song. Aww!
According to Shehnaz, Bey's management also upgraded her to sit in the VIP area along with five of her friends.
Now that sounds like a birthday she'll never forget!
The 32-year-old superstar took to her personal Tumblr page today to share a series of photos from her recent vacation, and per usual, she's killing us with cuteness and coolness with a little help from daughter Blue Ivy and hubby Jay Z.
In typical Queen Bey fashion, the singer shared the shots sans any captions, although the vacation pics—which appear to be from her recent trip to Jamaica—certainly speak for themselves.
The proud mama posted one aww-worthy shot of her sweet little girl sitting on the beach while wearing a bright red swimsuit as she plays in the sand.
In another pic, the "Drunk in Love" singer looks all kinds of fierce as she rocks numerous gold body chains and a powder-blue bikini, adding a patterned sarong and a bright red lip for a pop of color.
There's also a mighty fine shot of her rapper hubby basking in the sun while sporting his signature "Tom Ford" jersey, which the famed designer is now reportedly retailing his own "knock-off" for $6,500.
And there's even a shot of the powerhouse couple's his and hers Ray Bans, in which Bey's nickname "Yonce" can clearly be seen in the larger pair's reflection (how sweet is that?!).
But those aren't the only fabulous photos from her life the performer had to share today. She also posted a series of pics from her recent Mrs. Carter Show concert in Manchester.
In the images captured by Robin Harper, Bey is seen shaking her stuff on stage with her fabulous backup dancers while appearing in a state of pure bliss as she relishies in the limelight.
Of course, the singer also posted photos with her adoring fans.
While also reminding us all to bow down. To which we say: Werk, Bey!
According to a police report obtained by E! News, art director Ian Cuttler Sala was the passenger in Sami's 2006 Ford GT when the two were driving in Los Angeles' Bel Air neighborhood.
Ian has worked with many stars in the past, including Beyoncé, and won a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Art Direction for Johnny Cash: The Legend.
He also earned a Grammy nomination for his art direction on Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings.
Bey posted a tribute to him on her Facebook page, writing, "Rest in Peace Ian Cuttler. Ian was a Grammy Award winning art director and photographer who will be greatly missed. His memorable work includes album covers for Destiny Fulfilled and Dangerously in Love."
Sami, 40, lost control of his vehicle as he was headed eastbound on Sunset Boulevard and crossed over into the westbound lanes of traffic.
Ian was pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles Fire Department, while Sami sustained several broken ribs and a laceration to his head.
A 20-year-old driver of a Toyota Tacoma truck that was also involved in the incident suffered a broken foot and complained of overall pain to his body.
Both men were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The police report added that Sami was not arrested in connection with the fatal accident, but was in violation of driving on the wrong side of the roadway possibly due to speed.
An autopsy will be completed today and the case will be presented to the District Attorney's office upon full completion of the investigation.
The 32-year-old singer debuted a few sexy new costumes and performed some hits off of her self-titled album for the first time to a sold-out crowd in Glasgow.
Queen Bey rocked SSE Hydro Thursday night and sang "***Flawless," "Partition," "Yoncé" and several other new tracks.
And while she's definitely been known to toss in a new ensemble depending on which city she's performing in, Bey wowed in several new outfits for last night's big show.
Yoncé dazzled in a sequined bodice during her Crazy Horse-inspired burlesque dance routine in "Partition," and wore a leather and plaid number for her more up-tempo songs later on in the show.
She paired the punk-inspired look with a black baseball cap and a killer pair of chain-strewn Chanel ankle boots—just like she wore in one of her music videos!
Leave it to the queen to be able to drop it low in all her bootylicious glory in a pair of $4,000 shoes.
And what about the now-famous blue jumpsuit that she's been donning for the last several months while on the road?
Well, she changed that, too!
Beyoncé was seen performing "Halo" in a very similar polka-dot one-piece instead.
And if you weren't already suffering from a major case of FOMO, fret not.
The queen herself has been posting several pics from her show (and awesome, behind-the-scenes photos as well) to give fans the chance to see a glimpse of the concert.
Prior to Beyoncé taking the stage to belt out her song "XO" at the 2014 Brit Awards on Wednesday, the rapper gave his wife an affectionate kiss on the forehead, as seen in this sweet snap she posted to her Tumblr.
Bey also shared a shot that shows the dynamic duo taking time out for a little romantic slow dancing.
Drunk in love indeed.
In another pic, we get a glimpse of the singer getting her glam on.
Of course, in all these photos, Beyoncé can be seen wearing the dazzling, form-fitting Vrettos Vrettakos gown that contained no less than 140,000 blue zirgon crystals.
But despite all the bling, her stylist, Ty Hunter, assured E! News, "It's not as heavy as you'd think." He also shared that he had been "holding on to the dress for over a month," waiting for the perfect event. Luckily, last night's show proved to be just that.
In addition to Beyoncé, several other famous faces served up memorable performances, including Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams.
The pop superstar dazzled in a long, form-fitting Vrettos Vrettakos gown that contained—wait for it—140,000 blue zircon crystals (!) during her debut performance of her single "XO," off her latest self-titled album, at the 2014 Brit Awards in London. Bey, and her longer locks, took the stage for the first time in a decade at the event and absolutely stunned as she belted the sweet ballad, giving the audience a memorable show.
There was no extra glitz or glamour (not really necessary with a dress like that) or backup dancers and crazy antics. The singer's main focus were her powerhouse vocals—OK, and a bit of smoke and flashing lights in the background.
"I'd like to dedicate this song to my incredible fans. I love y'all," she first said as the lights went up.
Queen B noticeably opted to leave out the controversial audio clip from the NASA Challenger explosion which normally opens the song. Bey recently found herself in some hot water after some thought the celeb was being "insensitive" for using the disaster audio which claimed seven American lives in 1986.
But the song, written by Ryan Tedder and The Dream, wasn't meant to be disrespectful, Beyoncé explained. "My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," she told ABC News. "The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you."
"The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten," she added.
Watch her performance here (it starts at 1:45).
This dress, however, was extra sparkly thanks to the 140,000 Swarvoski Crystals blue zirgon that comprised the form-fitting number. But despite all the bling, the singer's stylist Ty Hunter assures E! News: "It's not as heavy as you'd think."
He also shares that after falling in love with the gown at first sight he'd been "holding on to the dress for over a month," waiting for the perfect event. Luckily tonight's fete proved to be just that.
So where did Ty first meet Vrettos? Why social media, of course. "I met him on Facebook. He would send me messages on Facebook, before the tour started," Hunter explained. You may recall he also found Beyoncé's Grammy gown designer on Instagram.
After the show Queen Bey switched to sneakers and topped the gown with a jacket emblazoned with the words: Picasso Baby. A clear shout out to her hubby Jay Z's song.
Those two kids, still crazy in love.
The duo teamed up for an even more sexually charged remix of the superstar singer and her hubby Jay Z's original collaboration, which premiered on AngieReview.com Friday.
Beyoncé went on to post snippets of the song (and what looks like part of a music video) on her Instagram page and on YouTube Saturday, simply captioning the shots with "Drunk in Love ft. Kanye West."
According to the site, producer Mike Dean mixed up the beats and drums for the track.
In West's X-rated lyrics at the beginning of the song, he raps about preferring a reverse cowgirl sexual position to the standard missionary, and even makes a reference to his fiancé Kim Kardashian.
"If you ain't on sight, you on Skype, I put you on a bike, you bound girl," he continues, referencing their "Bound 2" music video.
Other than the mix of beats and Kanye's lyrics, the song is essentially the same, with Beyoncé and Jay Z's lyrics afterwards remaining unchanged.
Well, now we've got even more details on the couples' meal plan. E! News recently caught up with Bey's personal trainer and CEO of 22 Days Nutrition, Marco Borges.
Borges says he met Jay Z about seven years ago through Pharrell Williams and has been working with the rapper and his wife since. "She is all about health and wellness," he shared. "She just wants to feel good."
Despite dining out quite a lot while on her vegan binge, Borges says Bey's go-to snack was actually "the 22Days Nutrition bars. Her favorite flavors are Peanut Chocolate-Chip Nirvana, Cherry Chocolate Bliss and Pineapple Chocolate-Chip Wonder."
And if you're wondering what the Grammy winner's current diet is like, Marco shares: "The transition [from vegan] was fairly easy, because [now] she's sticking to a mostly plant-based diet with some fish here and there."
As for her workout, yes, Mrs. Carter does put in quite a bit of work to maintain her bootylicious shape, including "body-weight squats, lunges and pliés, along with plyometric exercises and sprint intervals."
The singer and her hubby don't just diet together, they also hit the gym together. "They're like every other couple, they love spending time together, they'll work out together whenever its possible, whenever their touring schedules allow. They'll absolutely jump in the gym together whenever they can, she'll be running and he'll be on a bike, or she'll be jumping rope and he'll be running."
All together now: Awww!
Okay, so here's the million dollar question: What do two Grammy-winning superstars listen to during a sweat session?
"They listen to everything. Jay really feels that music shouldn't have genres, it's either good or bad. They have great playlists, if they were DJ's they'd get paid millions," says Marco, adding Queen Bey's hit sometimes make the mix too. "If one of her songs comes on she'll sing along."
We do too, Bey!
The 32-year-old R&B superstar shared a handful of fun snapshots on Tumblr from her sister Solange Knowles' MSQFT x SaintHeron New York Fashion Week bash.
Blue Ivy's mama looked radiant as she flaunted her enviable midriff in a copper sleeveless sparkly metallic ensemble and wore her long blond locks in a braided updo. She completed the sizzling look with a chunky gold cuff and pale pink sky-high pumps.
The "Drunk in Love" songbird enjoyed a girls' night out and flashed a huge grin as she danced to the live performances with a cup —as well as a bottle—of Veuve Clicquot.
Solange was also seen grooving next to her sister, sporting a cleavage-baring bubblegum pink top.
Queen Bey also announced on Friday that her global #BeyGood campaign will be teaming up with the United Kingdom youth charity, The Prince's Trust.
According to a statement, the #BeyGood campaign "encourages people to be kind, be charitable and #BeyGood to each other and their communities," and the Prince's Trust aims to help "disadvantaged young people."
"As a young child I was blessed to have the support of my family who encouraged me to reach for my goals," the Grammy winner said in a statement. "So many young people don't have this. I am honored to partner the #BeyGood campaign with The Prince's Trust to help young people beat the odds and create better lives for themselves."
The funds will be raised during Bey's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour UK dates and fans are encouraged to make a £3 text or online donation.
Queen Bey looked all kinds of Sasha Fierce during her sister Solange Knowles' Big Apple bash.
The 32-year-old rocked a metallic ensemble with a braided updo and was seen dancing along to the live performances.
Yoncé rocked out with a few of her closest gal pals and sipped on a drink throughout the night.
Earlier in the day, the "Drunk in Love" singer posted several never-before-seen shots of her vacation with Jay Z and Kelly Rowland's birthday party.
Bey was snapped dressed in a teal bikini as she walked along a beach in the Dominican Republic with her rapper hubby. Beyoncé accessorized with multiple gold necklaces, a bold red lip and a pair of round tortoiseshell sunglasses.
And in the birthday pics, Bey is shown giving her lifelong friend and former Destiny's Child bandmate a piggyback ride.
Solange stood nearby and laughed as the two ladies goofed around in their socks.
The swanky affair was dubbed, "Kelly's Liquid Gold Fondue Party," and featured a massive buffet filled with Rowland's favorite foods like Caribbean Spiced Citrus and coconut curry.
She even had a three-tiered gold birthday cake with an elephant sitting on top. So cool!
Of course, he had a little help in the shopping department. Some guys turn to the Internet for gifting assistance; Jay Z relies on Beyoncé’s stylist Ty Hunter, who picked up Tacori’s new $2,390 Promise Bracelet.
“[Hunter] got the bracelet and took it with him to give to Jay Z,” a source tells PEOPLE — adding that Jay Z couldn’t keep it under wraps until Friday. “He said Jay was waiting for Valentine’s Day to gift her along with a few other presents, but … that Beyoncé is always too eager and you can’t hold any secret from her, so he decided to give it to her earlier.”
The bracelet’s silver and gold intertwined motif is designed to represent the couple uniting, and it can only be unlocked with a special key, which will make it that much harder to misplace the next time she’s on the HMS Beyoncé.
In the latest slew of pictures she updated to her Tumblr page, the "Drunk in Love" singer shared snapshots from her Dominican Republic vacation with Jay Z as well as Kelly Rowland's birthday dinner.
In the first pic, Bey looks all kinds of fierce in a bright teal bikini top and straw fedora.
The 32-year-old accessorized with multiple gold necklaces, a bold red lip and a pair of round tortoiseshell sunglasses.
She also shared an adorable photo of her holding hands with her hubby as they walk on the beach.
The "Holy Grail" rapper is shown looking lovingly at his leading lady—who, we might add, is rocking the heck out of her hot pink high-waisted paints!
And in honor of her former Destiny's Child bandmate, Bey posted a few pics from Rowland's birthday party.
Rowland turned 33 yesterday and had what looked to be a fondue-themed affair!
The two singers embraced in one candid shot, both appearing to be clad in black baggy sweatshirts for the intimate gathering.
A photo showing Rowland getting a piggyback ride from her best friend was also shared on the Tumblr.
Solange Knowles stood nearby and laughed as the two lifelong pals goofed around.
(Side note: Solange, your outfit is kind of everything!)
It looks like both the vacation and the birthday celebration were a blast!
The Olympic luger has a tried and true pre-race ritual: Dancing to Queen Bey's music! The American athlete was caught on camera in Sochi doing her trademark popping and locking before her race, telling NBC Sports listening to Mrs. Carter's music, "Gets me fierce, and I get stoked!"
So does the 21-year-old luger-dancer get pumped up to the sounds of Jay Z's music, too? Nope—sorry, Hov. For Kate, it's "strictly Beyoncé," who she refers to as "my girl Bey!"
"I have good mojo going on, so it's just how I roll," she explained. That seems to be working for the California native, too, who boasts in her Twitter bio, "I know all of Beyonce's chero by heart."
Kate's living by Beyoncé 's rules, too—and she doesn't care who watches! "Honestly I'm in my own world," she said, "and it doesn't matter who's staring, I'm gonna dance!"
And when Beyoncé found out her music helped Kate get ready for Sochi, she was flattered. She posted a link to an SBNation.com story about the luger to her Facebook, adding supportively, "Go Kate!"
See, y'all, it all comes full circle. Who run the world? Girls!
French newspaper Le Figaro is reporting that Beyoncé and President Barack Obama are carrying out a love affair. Yes, you read that correctly.
Pascal Rostain, a French photographer, told the publication that "there is something big that is happening" between the two.
"I can assure you that the world will talk about it," he added.
Gala, which is basically like the People magazine of France, is also reporting that the President of the United States and Michelle Obama are headed for a divorce.
No details have been released as to exactly what kind of information the magazine has to support the outlandish theory, but we'll find out tomorrow.
And while the news is heating up in Europe, it seems as though The Washington Post is going to jump on board with their version of the story.
Kris Coratti, a spokesperson for the paper, says that rumors of a romantic tryst between Bey and Barack are "definitely not true" and that they're planning on running a rebuttal to the speculation.
Things may get a little awkward in the Oval Office this week, as French President François Hollande is scheduled to meet with Obama in just a few days' time.
And speaking of awkward, it turns out that Hollande is currently making headlines for allegedly leaving his girlfriend of seven years for French actress Julie Gayet.
Good times.
Jay Z taped Beyoncé leaping off of a yacht on a vacation recently, and man do we have a serious case of FOMO.
Shortly before jumping, Bey looks a bit nervous, and you can hear Jay in the background shouting, "Team turn up!"
The "Holy Grail" rapper started a countdown for his wife as she nervously danced on the edge of the luxury boat.
Bey donned a black-and-white retro-inspired bikini during her day out on the water (and looked fierce, we might add).
The "Drunk in Love" singer plunged into the water and held up the Roc hand signal (representing Roc-A-Fella, obvs) before fully coming to the surface.
Jay began laughing and shouted, "Nice!" upon seeing his leading lady.
The power couple was most recently spotted at a Brooklyn Nets basketball game together shortly after the Super Bowl.
Bey and Jay, who frequently are spotted courtside at home games, sat next to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson after his big win.
The three were seen laughing together as they watched the Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
Yoncé rocked a matching plaid shirt and jacket with an adorable Eugenia Kim beanie that had mouse ears attached to it.
Meanwhile, Jay dressed down in a gray sweatshirt and T-shirt and sipped on white wine throughout the game.
Gotta love these two!
First of all, we've got Beyoncé in all her lingerie-clad glory.
The "Drunk in Love" singer is shown lounging on a glamorous white chair while wearing a satin robe with a matching bra and underwear.
Queen Bey accessorized her sultry look with a pair of ivory marabou pumps and platinum tousled hair. Gorge!
Secondly, Blue Ivy is standing by and looks like she's about to snap pics of her mama on an iPhone.
Apparently you're never too young to start honing your photography skills.
The 2-year-old looked like she was picking the perfect filter before posting the image on her Instagram account (ugh, we wish!).
Yoncé shared several other pics on her Tumblr page Wednesday morning, including a series of her posing in a sweatshirt with the word "Flawless" written on it (in honor of her hit song, obvs.).
The 32-year-old paired the top with a pair of skinny jeans with leather panels and sky-high ankle boots.
And speaking of flawless, the Grammy-winning songstress also shared a makeup-free selfie late last week.
Bey looked like she was still in bed in the two pictures, which flaunted her perfect complexion and bedhead.
Just ask Zahra Tangorra, owner and chef of NYC's Brucie restaurant, who is rolling out an incredible menu for Valentine's Day, entirely inspired by the star.
Yup, you heard us right.
The Brooklyn-based eatery has created a festive assortment of appetizers, entrees and side dishes to creatively honor Queen Bey herself.
"We really just try to have fun here. It's a big part of what we do. We are always trying to push the envelope in terms of creative cuisine," she told E! News. "We were just thinking about how to do something fun! We have all been so obsessed with the new Beyoncé record and she has always been fabulous but her fabulousness is intensifying more and more. She is a true representative of everything fun, fabulous and sexy."
So what's on this seductive and savory menu?
Dishes are all cleverly named, with nods to the singer's loved ones, lifestyle and hit songs.
From Blue Ivy (smoked blue potatoes with trout roe and watercress) and Surf Board (a deviled bone marrow with root vegetables), to a veggie appetizer called 22 Days Vegan and a tasty entrée called Jay-Ziti, they've truly thought of everything!
Other cute dishes include an angel hair option called Halo, Buga-Bouillabaisse (packed with blood sausage, lobster, clams, squid ink aioli and more) and a veal dish named Breastiny's Child, just to name a few!
Yum!
Tangorra also tells us she plans on playing Beyoncé and Jay Z songs all night while serving up these inventive dishes.
Needless to say, as soon as they unveiled their creative menu, reservations to Brucie started filling up quickly.
And finally, it wouldn't be an evening honoring Bey without a little dancing.
"We expect that once the restaurant clears out it will be a huge dance party. We hope there will be a lot of singles ladies here."
Count us in!
The rap superstar was playing at the Pier 40 venue for a gig organized by DirecTV and halfway through the show he asked the crowd, "Any sexy ladies in New York City tonight?!"
The whooping audience was wowed when the Crazy in Love hitmaker strutted onto the stage in a sexy black dress and the couple performed a rendition of their duet Drunk in Love.
After the track, Jay Z told fans, "All hail to the queen!" as Beyonce departed.
The Super Bowl, where Beyonce performed at half-time last year, will take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night. Bruno Mars will provide the entertainment this year.
A spy reports when an older man began to show his moves on the floor, “all three girls joined in.” We’re told the dance party that kicked off “looked like a scene out of ‘Boogie Nights.’ Beyoncé threw out an imaginary fishing line and pretended to reel people in.”
And just how does Blue Ivy Carters mama pull off a fit while still curvy look like that? It might be thanks in part the 22-day vegan stint she did ahead of Hov's 44th birthday in December. And it certainly seems, from her latest Instagram post, that she's embarking on another 22-day challenge of eating no meat or animal products whatsoever!
On Jan. 29, the 32-year-old "Drunk in Love" singer shared a snap of her healthy snack—a peanut butter and chocolate chip flavored vegan protein bar bar cut up with sliced bananas on top. Bey captioned the shot of her no-gluten, no-soy, no-dairy snack simply, "#22daysvegan." (We're assuming this is vegan stint no. 2 and not a throwback to the first one—that'd be odd, even within the foodie culture of Instagram.)
So why is Beyoncé going vegan for 22 days, as opposed to 21 or 23? Hubby Jay Z explained on his Life + Times blog before challenge no. 1 that "psychologists have said it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. On the 22nd day, you've found the way."
He said at the time switching to a "plant-based" lifestyle "just feels right," calling it "a spiritual and physical cleanse" of sorts.
No word yet on whether Hov is joining Queen Bey in challenge no. 2!
We already can't stop talking about the singer since her smoking hot Grammys performance, but she reminded us all today that she has been capturing hearts for quite some time now.
She took to Instagram to post this aww-inducing photo from her diaper days, which she simply captioned, "tbt." In the pic, baby Bey shyly smiles at the camera, wearing a light pink dress, white shoes and gold earrings.
Even back then, she knew how to command the spotlight!
The diva kept the throwbacks rolling all day. She also posted this shot from 2004 with fellow superstars Britney Spears and Pink. The three ladies look fierce, rocking gladiator garb and wielding spears and swords for a Pepsi commercial that also featured Enrique Iglesias.
Rutgers University is offering a course on Beyoncé at the school's Department of Women's and Gender Studies.
The class, which is called "Feminist Perspectives: Politicizing Beyoncé," is being offered during the Spring semester at the college.
Queen Bey 101 is taught by PhD candidate Kevin Allred, who explained to the Rutgers Today newspaper exactly what students can expect from the class.
"This isn't a course about Beyoncé's political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama's inauguration weekend," he said.
"Rather, the performer's music and career are used as lenses to explore American race, gender and sexual politics."
Allred pairs the lesson plans with the "Drunk in Love" songstress' music videos and lyrics—he's got plenty of material to choose from now!
But it's not all Bey all the time. He also includes writing from artists and pioneers in the black feminist movement like Sojourner Truth and Alice Walker.
And according to Allred, Beyoncé's class will be much more than a glossed-over run-through of her career.
"It's important to shift students away from simply being consumers of media toward thinking more critically about what they're engaging on a regular basis."
And for those diehard fans of Bey's other half, they can enroll in the Georgetown University course dubbed, "The Sociology of Hip-Hop: Jay Z."
Seriously. Just look at how Jay Z simply beams with pride as he gazes at his little one in this photo that Beyoncé just posted to her Tumblr.
While the pic was actually taken at a party celebrating Hova's 44th birthday back in December, it's obviously new to us.
And really, who cares how old a snap is when it's this adorable, right?
Of course, the same can definitely be said for another shot Bey shared, which shows her hubby lovingly lifting his wife up in the air as both happily smile at each other.
Last Sunday, Jay Z acknowledged both ladies in his life when he won a Grammy for "Holy Grail," his collaboration with Justin Timberlake.
After getting onstage and thanking "producers, Justin [and] all the typical things," he pointed to Beyoncé in the audience and said, "I want to thank God, I mean a little for this award, but mostly for that and all the universes for conspiring and putting that beautiful light of a young woman in my life."
Jay Z then followed up with a shout-out to his daughter. "And I want to tell Blue that look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you!"
Drunk in love indeed.
Beyoncé shared a makeup-free selfie on her Instagram on Wednesday, giving further proof that she's absolutely "***Flawless" (as if you didn't already know).
Queen Bey snapped herself just getting out of bed, eyes closed and all.
But despite not having gone through hours of hair and makeup, the "Drunk in Love" singer's mane was perfectly tousled and curled. (Now remember, she's already told us "Don't be jealous.")
She also posted a close-up of her face without a stitch of eye makeup with her hair covering bits of her face.
Earlier in the day, Bey updated her Tumblr page with several snapshots of her family during Jay Z's 44th birthday celebration.
The rapper is shown lifting the pop star up in the air as the two smile at one another.
Another never-before-seen image shows little (or not so little anymore!) Blue Ivy hanging out with her dad during the party and wearing matching black boots! Aww!
Bey also gave fans a glimpse inside of some of her mother-daughter moments with the two-year-old.
One pic shows Blue Ivy playing backstage at Barclays Center in Brooklyn during her dad's concert, while another shows them walking hand-in-hand down a corridor in the arena.
We can't help but notice that Blue has a precious Magna Carta World Tour sweatshirt to support her famous father!
It's always fun to keep up with the Carters.
We all know that Bey looked breathtaking in her sexy, white lace Grammys gown designed by Project Runway alum Michael Costello. But did you know that she accessorized her gorgeous look with over $10 million in jewels by Lorraine Schwartz?
The jeweler outfitted Beyoncé with an incredible pair of 50-carat waterfall diamond earrings that went perfectly with the singer's own Lorraine Schwartz 18-carat emerald-cut diamond wedding ring. And Bey didn't stop there.
She stacked dazzling cocktail rings on top of each other, including a ruby statement ring on her pinky finger to match her nail polish.
When it comes to accessories, forget the simple black clutch and take a cue from Bey: Nothing really pulls a look together like millions of dollars in diamonds!
Bey showed off a perforated, white-hot gown by Project Runway winner Michael Costello, that only covered up the naughtiest bits of her bod. And now, Costello dishes the details on designing the singer's gown for music's biggest night to E! News.
"It was incredible! We didn't have any of her sizes or measurements," Costello tells us. "The dress was just made to fit a sample mannequin. It's smaller than a size 4. She is tiny! That dress is at least a 2/4. She looks amazing. I just love the way it all came together. Ty [Bey's stylist] knew it was going to fit."
He continues, "At first I was a little concerned with the pieces I gave. Maybe it needs to be smaller or bigger? When you send something to Beyoncé, you're just a little concerned, but Ty knew. Ty knew the fit."
In fact, Ty didn't have have the fitting until the day of the show! Talk about pressure. Costello tells us the gown took three days to make and wasn't even finished when Ty came to see how things were going. "The neckline, the back, the hemline was not complete, and we still had to do some of the hand sewing on it," he tells us.
"We put in a good extra day's work. We had a great team. I made four other pieces that night for Beyonce, so that Ty had good options."
As for his inspiration, Costello tells us, "Well, the dress was inspired by New York. The Winter Wonderland in New York. I've been obsessed with New York, the culture, the lifestyle. I love visiting the city when it's covered in snow. I imagined snow falling onto plants, and trees. It was as if snow was falling onto fabric."
He continues, "When I found the fabric and cut out the leaves and flowers. It all came out together magically. I remember sketching out the dress, and I thought this is exactly how I wanted to do the dress."
You'll actually see Bey's Grammy dress on the runway soon, too.
"The dress is a part of our collection called Winter Wonderland for New York Fashion Week. There are more pieces that are being worked on. There's a jacket made out of that fabric that's gorgeous, and a skirt in the same fabric that's sort of a mermaid skirt, which is awesome!"
Costello adds, "You're going to see me play with volume. You don't see me play a lot around with ball gowns. I always do a lot of draping and structure. So there will be some of that. I'm introducing a lot of new colors into my collection, as well as metallic and sparkles. It can't be a Michael Costello collection without the sparkles!"
First, take a moment to pick your jaw off the floor after staring at that insane photo above. The singer’s Lorraine Schwartz diamond rings are stunning (and we love the close-up view of her engagement ring!). Once you move past all that bling, you’ll notice her nails are perfect as well — painted with a custom burgundy hue courtesy of Sephora’s Formula X collection.
“She did make mention she wanted between a red and a purple,” Logan told PEOPLE about the nail process. “I put the ‘Pedal to the Metal‘ on her nails first, and we all agreed how gorgeous it was. Then I swiped the red glitter “Atom + Eve” over it and it deepened to, like, a red-purple. It was beautiful.”
Logan added: “She’s a creative source. So it helps us pull our best and bring her vision to life. It’s a bunch of moving parts and each and every one of us has a part to bring to life what her vision is. I’m not going to walk into a room and say ‘Orange is a new color!’ and push it on her if that’s not what she wants."
And while the singer chose a more classic mani to go with her bold Grammys performance, in her downtime, she loves to experiment with her nails. “She’s totally a fun girl when it comes to her nails,” Logan said. “We haven’t been doing a lot of design lately, but when we did the series of music videos there were a lot of times that we did really cool, fun designs.”
Since dropping her digital album in December, Bey has been even more fearless in the fashion and beauty department. Even her glam squad is taking notice. “I feel she has evolved in every sense of the word. She’s a sexier wife, a more daring sexier mom,” Logan said. “She’s not like, ‘Now I’m wearing nude nails, because I’m a mom.’ She’s a youthful spirit she knows how to have fun and still be tasteful. If she doesn’t have a design on every nail she still chooses a fun color. She has an eye for color and style.”
While there were plenty of highlights from the duo's three-minute set (including a chair dance and a booty grab!) one that cannot be overlooked is the Grammy winner's sexy costume.
Similar to some of her wardrobe for the Mrs. Carter World Tour, the singer flaunted her famous curves in a La Perla collar with Nichole de Carle bodysuit, Saint Laurent tights, Stuart Weitzman heels and a glittery custom-made bra.
You may have also noticed the star's bob is back. This time she sported a sexy wet style, which mirrored the hairstyle she had in the "Drunk in Love" video.
OK, now that you've got all the info on the singer's look and can properly inform other Beyoncé fans on Twitter—let's go back to re-watching that performance over and over and over…
The singer looked fierce in a black sheer bodysuit (which showed off the majorly hard work she’s putting in at the gym). She also sported a bedazzled bra top and some revealing fishnet tights as she sang “Drunk in Love” with her husband. But we couldn’t stop staring at her short, heavily gelled tresses. And she totally owned the hard-to-pull-off hair trend. (#WetHairDontCare?)
Pantene celebrity stylist Kim Kimble gave Beyoncé her look by working the brand’s “Curly No Crunch Curls Whip” into the singer’s wet hair and brushed it through with a paddle brush, then scrunched for definition. The line’s “Keratin Repair KeraGloss Oil Mist” gave it even more shine for the performance.
Is it something we’ll be trying out anytime soon?
The two brought the house down during the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Beyoncé and Jay Z opened the night's festivities and performed their hit track "Drunk in Love."
Nearly everyone inside of Staples Center was on their feet for the couple's song, and for good reason.
The husband and wife—and some might say King and Queen of Everything—easily gave the performance of the night. (And that's saying something considering that they were the first performance!).
Bey got all Yoncé on us and looked positively "***Flawless" dancing in a leotard on a chair. Home girl was grinding all on that surfboard chair. Was that a hint of thong we saw on her? Why yes, yes it was.
Blue Ivy's mama shook her bootyliciousness all up in Jay's face as he rapped the controversial part of the song.
But who could concentrate on the lyrics when you've got solid gold eye candy up on that stage?!
These two set the bar impossibly high for the evening's antics but something tells us that absolutely no one will be able to top that number.
Whew, is it hot in here?
This No. 1 ranking was officially given to Queen Bey and Hov thanks to Billboard's 2014 Power 100 list. Blue Ivy's parents—together—outranked all kinds of label execs and industry people.
"Leveraging their star power to release new albums in unprecedented ways—Jay Z through Samsung and Beyoncé through iTunes—they instantly changed how the industry and fans thought about interacting with music," Billboard says of Bey and Jay. "He gave his album away; she charged a premium price for hers. But they both used the element of surprise to restore the excitement that used to accompany a new release, before that impact was dulled by the endless thunder of carefully plotted promotion."
Of course, Jay Z's status as a hip-hop mogul and Bey's chart-topping amazingness in general were also taken into consideration.
As for other high rankers on Billboard's Power 100 list? Brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams came in at No. 50, while Simon Cowell landed himself at a cool No. 58. (Given that he's the force behind One Direction, you'd think he'd be higher up!)
Mr. Ryan Seacrest came in at No. 62, Dr. Luke at No. 63 and Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels at No. 88.
Congratulations to all the powerful people—and yes, especially to Bey and Jay!
The star teamed with film director Jake Nava to create the sexy new campaign image above. In the photo, Bey gives one of her signature powerhouse stares as her hair blows wildly around her. The overall golden theme matches the sleek bottle. And her sultry smoky eye and nude lip combo is worth trying at home.
“The spirit of Rise encourages women to be all that we are,” Beyoncé says of her latest perfume, which features notes of apricot, iced basil sorbet (seriously) and orchid.
Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge and Red Light Management founder Coran Capshaw follow the performers on the annual list of most influential people in the music industry.
Grainge and Capshaw placed first and second last year, respectively.
Billboard editors compiled the list after analyzing market share, revenue and other data.
Jay Z and Beyonce each founded their own companies, Roc Nation and Parkwood Entertainment.
Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun; music producer Dr. Luke; Spotify CEO Daniel Ek; recording executive Jimmy Iovine; and Ryan Seacrest also made the list.
Bang Radio, a British radio station, has announced this week that they will only air an edited version of the pop song.
The CEO of the company, Jennifer Ogole, has stated that a line from Jay Z's verse has been removed because the rap displays "promotion of domestic violence against women."
The lyric in question is when the rapper says, "Now eat the cake, Anna Mae / I said eat the cake, Anna Mae."
Beyoncé's husband was referencing a line from the film What's Love Got to Do With It, about Tina Turner and Ike Turner's volatile relationship.
During one scene, Angela Bassett (who plays the famous singer) is shown being forced to eat by her husband.
"The lyrics controversially imitate a scene of severe domestic violence," Ogole explained.
"We believe in the unity of women and music and in no way condone violence, domestic or otherwise, especially not through the power of music."
The statement added, "Therefore, the decision has been made to wipe the stated lyrics from the song ... Respectful of what our audience [wants] to hear on Bang Radio, we feel this is the right action to take in regards to the controversial lyrics of the song and we will continue to serve in social equality for people through music and content on our station."
It was recently revealed that the famous couple is set to perform at this year's Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26. No word yet on whether or not they'll sing the controversial track.
The superstars are among dozens of wealthy celebs who show up in the dizzying “unclaimed funds” database kept by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office, which catalogues more than 30 million accounts just waiting to be paid out.
“30 Rock” star/creator Fey has had uncollected funds sitting there since 2005, and Sean “Diddy” Combs has unclaimed funds dating back to at least 1991, in the form of insurance payouts, dividends, uncashed checks and even a bank account set up by his late dad, Melvin, records show.
Carey has unclaimed payouts dating back to 2002.
Angelina Jolie has uncashed checks dating back to 2004, Glenn Close has an Exxon cash dividend from 1994, and Tina Fey has funds uncollected since 2005.
Comedian and “Rescue Me” star Denis Leary has several unclaimed payouts, as does “Raging Bull” Robert De Niro and TV news host Paula Zahn.
Woody Allen has unclaimed dividend money from 2012, and Yoko Ono has an unclaimed payout from Sprint that same year, according to the records.
The state’s database, at osc.state.ny.us, doesn’t specify how much money a particular recipient is owed, but 50 percent of claims amount to less than $100, according to the Comptroller’s Office.
Still, it’s not all chump change.
One lucky New Yorker has a staggering $1.7 million waiting to be claimed, all of it from a single account.
Beyoncé and record mogul Tommy Mottola have money waiting for unredeemed Bergdorf Goodman gift cards.
Steven Spielberg and Al Pacino have unredeemed Giorgio Armani gift cards.
Several politicians also have money waiting to be picked up, including Hilary Clinton, Eliot Spitzer, George Pataki and Anthony Wiener.
Meanwhile, deadbeat hip-hop impresario Damon Dash and cash-strapped celeb mom Dina Lohan might want to check the list, because both have money waiting to be claimed.
The singer, 32, posted a series of pictures from the intimate gathering via her Tumblr blog the next day. They show the "Partition" singer posing in a sequined gold mini-dress and nude heels, as well as petting one of the First Family's dogs. Beyoncé has a longstanding relationship with the Obama family. She serenaded the political power couple during the president's first inaugural ball in 2009, and she performed at his swearing-in ceremony in 2013. First Daughters Sasha and Malia are also big fans.
In addition to Beyoncé, John Legend also performed at the White House party. Famous attendees includied Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson, Gayle King, Gladys Knight, Michael Kors, Rachael Ray, Smokey Robinson, Al Roker, Sheryl Sandberg and Stevie Wonder.
"I am looking forward to saying happy birthday to her, being able to celebrate this great milestone in her life," The Avengers' Jackson said on his way into the star-studded soiree.
President Barack Obama was mum about the party details in a previously published People interview, telling the magazine that "not even the NSA" knew what to expect. The United States' commander-in-chief was just as vague with other reporters, saying, "It's going to be a rolling birthday weekend."
Michelle is said to have worn a red and black ensemble, and her daughters invited friends to the bash.
The leaked invitation promised "Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert" and asked guests to refrain from taking photos inside the event. Attendees were also encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, as the entire state floor—including the gilded east room, the formal parlors and the state dining room—was transformed into a dance floor. At one point, POTUS, 52, taught guests how to do "The Dougie!"
For some, however, the president's remarks about his wife of 21 years were the highlight of the night. "It was really beautiful and really touching," musician Herbie Hancock said. "He said something—his voice almost cracked like he was crying. It was just beautiful, a husband speaking about his wife."
The Obamas' family and friends departed the gathering about 2 a.m.
Beyoncé and Jay Z's daughter turned 2 on Jan. 7, and she can celebrate her birthday with a choice of two toy cars: a pink Cadillac or a blue Ferrari personalized with the words "Blue Ivy Baby Slab" on the windshield and "Baby Slab" on the seat.
Beyoncé posted a photo of the cars to her Tumblr account on Friday, a few days after sharing snapshots from Blue Ivy's sparkly, tiara-bedecked birthday party.
But Blue Ivy isn't the only celebrity baby with a chic set of mini wheels. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's daughter, North West, has a black toy Lamborghini to match her dad's, and Kardashian recently posted an Instagram photo of the small and large versions parked side by side with the caption, "Like father like daughter."
Perhaps a baby car derby is in order?
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Carters were out and about tending to business in New York City. Queen Bey and her mini-me were bundled up and snuggled close, but Hov and Jake had a bit more distance between them.
It's tough to tell whether the rapper and the Prisoners star had just finished meeting one another or simply happened to be leaving the same office at the same time. Jay, 44, appeared to be laughing with another pal, while Jake, 33, trailed a few steps behind.
Afterward, Jay surely made his way home to Bey, 32. Jake, on the other hand, recently split with his model girlfriend Alyssa Miller after six months of dating. "They fizzled out," a source close to the former couple told Us Weekly earlier this month. "It happened a while ago—before the holidays. He's back on the scene."
You know what that means—NYC ladies, time to hit the town! If Jake Gyllenhaal is on the scene, then now's the time to be seen!
For this week's Throwback Thursday, Destiny's Child members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland both shared TBT pics of them posing with late singer Aaliyah in honor of what would have been Aaliyah's 35th birthday. The only difference is Beyoncé cropped Rowland out of the nostalgic snapshot (LOL!).
"#weloveyouAaliyah #tbt," Rowland wrote on Instagram yesterday along with the photo of the trio posing at an event from years ago. All three girls flash smiles while Aaliyah stands between the Destiny's Child BFFs.
Jay Z's other half also took to Instagram to share a black-and-white version of the photo that had Rowland cropped out, featuring just Bey and Aaliyah. "God bless baby girl," Beyoncé captioned the close-up shot.
We're sure Bey didn't mean anything by the photo editing.
Beyoncé posted a second photo of her and Aaliyah blowing kisses together from a 2000 awards show, writing, "We miss you MTV awards 2000."
Blue Ivy's mama also shared a TBT photo of herself from the movie Dreamgirls. The pic features her character Deena Jones for the Oscar-nominated flick. "Dream Girls 2006," she wrote with the shot.
Jay Z's wife recently shared new pictures on Tumblr of herself and her 2-year-old mini-me playing together at a local park and enjoying some quality mommy-daughter time on a gorgeous sunny day.
Doting mama Bey, 32, wears a white T-shirt, cutoff jean shorts and tan heels, while baby Blue looks absolutely adorable in a flower-printed white dress, little white leggings and tiny sandals. The pretty photos show Mrs. Carter kneeling down in the grass to play with her stunning daughter and also standing back to give Blue a moment to take in the scenery surrounding her.
The park isn't your typical one consisting of a swingset and a slide, but rather, it's a combination of nature and colorful murals and artwork all around. Blue looks right at home in the idyllic setting, and as you can see, she's got her mama's independent spirit and looks eager to explore!
Blue's been a busy little lady lately, too. She turned 2 on Jan. 7, and to celebrate, mom and dad, 44, rented out Jungle Island in Miami! There, the Carter family—along with a few close friends—had the park pretty much all to themselves, so the birthday girl had plenty of space to play.
It goes without saying that pretty much everyone ever would like to be Blue Ivy Carter!
The "Grown Woman" singer just posted several candid snapshots on her Tumblr page of Blue Ivy, Jay Z and much, much more. Queen Bey revealed a few personal pictures from her New Year's Eve bash at the Versace mansion in Miami.
Dressed in a stunning black and yellow ensemble, the 32-year-old posed in "2014" black sunglasses and held her daughter close as the clock struck midnight.
The family of three spent some time checking out the local fireworks display before the tiny two-year-old went to bed.
Bey also posted an image of her riding on the backseat of Jay's motorcycle as the two sped off after the party. Both looked as happy as ever in the glamorous pic.
But that wasn't the only special day the Carters celebrated at the beginning of the year. Baby Blue turned two less than two weeks later!
The couple rented out a party room at the Miami Zoo and invited several close family and friends to join in on the festivities.
In fact, a Destiny's Child reunion even went down in honor of Blue! Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland all posed for the camera with Bey—and all three sported similar butterfly face paint, too!
Blue's ornate baby pink cake was displayed on the Tumblr, as well as an adorable mother-daughter moment between Mrs. and Miss Carter.
The toddler rocked a "Birthday Girl" sparkly tiara throughout her bash and rode around on her favorite Minnie Mouse toy car.
And once the party was through, the famous musicians went back to their pad to spend some quality quiet time with their daughter. Bey caught Jay and Blue checking out the Miami skyline in one of the images—too cute for words!
The third and final big bash of 2014 thus far was none other than Tina Knowles' birthday extravaganza in New Orleans.
Tina and daughters were shown getting pedicures before the fancy affair and even sipped champagne as their received spa treatments. How nice!
Solange and Beyoncé sported custom masks during the masquerade ball and toasted to their mother turning 60.
It's definitely been a busy, fun-filled month for the Carters!
The 32-year-old singer wrote a powerful essay for The Shriver Report, a multi-platform nonprofit media initiative led by Maria Shriver. Bey penned the piece for the 2014 special report called "A Woman's Nation Pushes Back From the Brink."
The R&B superstar doesn't shy away from the issue at hand, stating that we need to "stop buying into the myth about gender equality."
"It isn't a reality yet," the Grammy winner explains. "Today, women make up half of the U.S. workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 percent of what the average working man makes. But unless women and men both say this is unacceptable, things will not change. Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters earn more—commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect."
Bey goes on to say that society still has "a lot of work to do" before equality becomes a reality.
"Women are more than 50 percent of the population and more than 50 percent of voters," Blue Ivy's mama explains. "We must demand that we all receive 100 percent of the opportunities."
Hillary Clinton, Eva Longoria and Jada Pinkett Smith also added their views to the report.
What do you think about Bey's essay?
A marching band led the way as Solange and Tina showed up to tons of fanfare outside the masquerade bash on elaborate horse-drawn carriages.
Lost of celebs showed ... including Kelly Rowland, Monica, Jennifer Hudson and of course Jay Z. The shindig was thrown at Muriel's Jackson Square ... which cost Bey and Solange $100k minimum.
Beyonce was even elusive inside, but we got this pic of Kris Jenner posing with her ... of course.
It's a black tie masquerade-themed event, and Beyonce and Solange are hosting it at the pricey Muriel's Jackson Square in the Big Easy (we hear the turtle soup is beyond).
And under the category "Charity begins at home" -- Beyonce allowed Solange to get TOP BILLING!
Savor it.
Blue Ivy celebrated turning the big 2 at Jungle Island in Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
And the little one pretty much had the place to herself. After all, her parents, Beyoncé and Jay Z, rented out the popular wildlife park and botanical garden for their princess and a group of friends.
The famous family was snapped arriving for the fun-filled day, with the guest of honor stylishly wearing a gold necklace that read "Flawless."
Mom was seen sporting a "Surfboard" sweatshirt (no doubt in honor of her latest song, "Drunk in Love") and a knit cap, while Dad was decked out in a gray sweatshirt.
After the outing, they decided to grab a bite to eat at Joey's Italian Café.
Hmm, it looks as though Beyoncé and Jay Z have found their new favorite spot in Miami considering that the two have been to the local pizza place twice in the last week.
According to a source, the couple chowed down on two pizzas and two salads and were in great spirits.
Can't wait to see what's in store for Blue when her third birthday rolls around!
Meanwhile, Beyoncé recently took to her blog to post a couple of shots of herself and her man out and about Miami.
Beyoncé and Jay Z brought their daughter to Joey's Italian Café after rending out Jungle Island, the bird sanctuary inside the Miami Zoo, for her special day on Wednesday.
The couple, along with a group of friends, spent the first half of the day seeing the wildlife habitat and botanical garden before deciding to grab a bite to eat at the local pizza joint.
And it looks as though Bey and Jay may have just found their new favorite spot in Miami, especially considering that the two have been there twice in the last week!
According to a source, the couple chowed down on two pizzas and two salads and was in great spirits.
Queen Bey didn't miss a beat with her fashionable ensemble. The songstress wore a "Surfboard" sweatshirt (in honor of her latest song "Drunk in Love," obviously) and had her hair pulled back into a knit cap.
Little birthday girl Blue rocked a gold necklace with her name on it—which may or may not be the same necklace that her famous mama was spotted wearing shortly after her birth.
Either way, that's some serious bling for a toddler!
On Thursday, Beyoncé posted a happy birthday message to her daughter on her Tumblr page.
She also linked to another page that showed tons of her fans sending well wishes and virtual birthday cards to the singer's little bundle of joy.
Happy birthday, Blue!
Outstanding Female Artist
• Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
• India.Arie (Motown Records)
• Janelle Monáe (Bad Boy/Atlantic)
• Ledisi (Verve Records)
• Mary J Blige (Verve Records/Interscope)
Outstanding Documentary – (Television)
• “Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream” (HBO)
• “Dark Girls” (OWN)
• “Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic ” (Showtime)
• “Venus Vs.” (ESPN)
• “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley” (HBO)
Blue Ivy spent the day Tuesday with lemurs, orangutans, kangaroos and penguins at Jungle Island -- a wildlife park and botanical garden in Miami.
Park officials are keeping the cost under wraps ... but it's gotta be pricey to close the entire park. Put it this way ... a VIP safari tour for just one person costs $240.
Check out the pics ... and Blue Ivy's bling.
You're enjoying your girls' night out, getting a little rowdy, harmonizing some of your favorite tunes and offering up a side order of interpretive dance moves to your favorite Beyoncé song, when the queen herself walks into the room.
It's the stuff dreams are made of, but the above scenario actually happened to three girls at Sing Sing Karaoke in Miami Tuesday evening.
The girls were doing their best rendition of Bey's "Party" when the Grammy-winning singer waltzed into the private karaoke room alongside Kelly Rowland.
It turns out that the former Destiny's Child members were in the room next door—with Jay Z, Michelle Williams and several of their pals—and overheard the song being played.
Blue Ivy's mama stormed in, hugged the fans (who were practically platzing over) and sang along.
The South Beach bar shared details about the surprise fan run-in and originally posted pics showing Bey and Kelly posing side-by-side with the girls.
The "Grown Woman" singer appeared to be wearing a black hat and sweatshirt during her outing, while Kelly opted for a knit beanie and fur vest.
We're pretty sure that the two songstresses made those ladies' nights (or lives, whichever).
So what was the real highlight of the evening? According to Sing Sing's Facebook, "Jay Z is a fantastic hugger!" Seriously?!
Words can't adequately express how much FOMO we're having right now.
The pair brought baby Blue Ivy to brunch on New Year’s Day at Soho Beach House and also were spotted dining at MC Kitchen the next day.
They also shared a romantic dinner for two at Zuma and at Casa Tua, where they sang karaoke for gobsmacked guests. Our spy reports that Jay Z then paid with Beyoncé’s credit card.
After celebrating the new year together, the singer and husband Jay-Z stepped out for some fun in the sun Thursday with daughter Blue Ivy – she turns 2 next week — in coordinated gold-accented outfits in Miami.
Beyoncé paired sky blue cat-eye sunglasses with a cut-off white tee, stonewashed denim shorts, DSquared2‘s Bauletto black handbag ($1,295) and Nike Air Max 1 Liquid Metal sneakers ($140), while the rapper wore a long custom chain with a baseball cap, white T-shirt, jeans and white hi-tops.
But it was baby Blue’s sequin vest and matching bloomers that really upped the cute factor.
The last album to have sold 300,000 in each of its first three weeks was Susan Boyle's 2009 hit album I Dreamed a Dream. If Beyoncé can keep up the pace for another four weeks, she'll tie Taylor Swift, whose album Red hunkered down in the No. 1 spot for seven non-consecutive weeks.
One Direction follows suit with Midnight Memories moving to No. 2 with 142,000, making it the group's third album to sell a million copies. Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP 2 jumps three spots to No. 3 with 122,000.
The Frozen soundtrack continues to heat up, moving to No. 4 with 106,000. The last animated film soundtrack from Disney to pull in those numbers was Pocahontas in 1995. At No. 5, Katy Perry's Prism takes a tiny step up with 99,000, less than a 1% increase.
Garth Brooks' Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences tumbles from No. 2 to No. 6 with 90,000, a 55% drop, and Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped in Red falls to No. 10 with 62,000, a 50% drop.
The "XO" singer, who opted for a sequined, pantsless ensemble, and her handsome hubby, who looked handsome in a bow tie, blue blazer and black pants, danced the night away at Diddy's New Year 2014 party at a private Miami estate.
Queen Bey, 32, and Hova, 44, rubbed elbows with Destiny's Child members Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland as well as Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee. Other guests included Robin Thicke, Drake (who hopped on the DJ tables for about an hour!), Jeremy Piven, Rick Ross, Jonathan Cheban and French Montana.
At the end of the night, Beyoncé and Jay took a ride on a scooter. Hov took control of the wheel while his love held on tightly to him, but it appeared the always fashionable pair was missing the most important accessory: Their helmets! (To be fair, they might've just taken a little joy ride around the parking lot, but those brilliant brains of theirs need prime protection at all times!)
Diddy did his part as party host to ensure his guests--and people celebrating across the country--got home safely. He partnered with Uber to provide $1 million of safe rides home on New Year's Eve.
The hip-hop mogul is looking out for us! He's also, of course, looking out for his own kids! He told E! News exclusively that his 2014 New Years Resolution is "to be the best father I can be."
He's off to a great start!
Beyoncé and Jay Z, Sean Combs and Drake were all spotted club-hopping Monday night in golf carts.
Bey and Jay partied at Delano club FDR where Beyoncé sang along to her tunes “Drunk in Love” and “Flawless” as a DJ played them.
The two left in a golf cart in the wee hours while a security team followed in SUVs.
Later, Combs and Drake cruised to club Mansion in a black cart that they parked at a back door before sitting at a VIP table to share Moët and watch Fabolous perform.
The space agency issued the statement late Tuesday after the pop star began to receive criticism from Challenger families and others for using the short sample that includes the words "major malfunction" as an allusion to a failed relationship.
"The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized," said the statement from Lauren B. Worley, NASA's press secretary. "NASA works every day to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe."
NASA's response came after Beyonce explained the use of the short snippet in a statement to ABC News Tuesday that stopped short of an apology. The sample appears at the beginning of her song "XO" from her new self-titled album.
Among those critical of the sample was June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Challenger commander Dick Scobee. She told ABC in a statement that she was disappointed and described the use of the sample as "emotionally difficult."
"My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," Beyonce's statement said. "The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you. The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."
Beyonce released her new self-titled "visual album" earlier this month that included 14 songs and 17 videos. Much of the initial discussion about the album had to do with its surprise release and platinum sales until the reaction to the Challenger sample began to circulate.
"XO" is about a failing relationship and taking the time to appreciate what one has in the moment because life changes.
Beyonce's publicist did not return messages left Tuesday by The Associated Press.
The rapper and music mogul announced Dec. 3, on his 44th birthday, that he and wife Beyoncé were embarking on a vegan diet for 22 days. On Sunday, the couple seemed to celebrate by eating some seriously non-vegan treats at Miami hot spot Seasalt and Pepper.
Spies told Page Six that the restaurant’s chef Alfredo Alvarez arrived at the power couple’s table to specifically ask them what they’d prefer to eat, and the pair then noshed on pappardelle, lobster risotto and seafood casserole.
Afterward, Jay and Bey ran into singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, and the couples snapped a photo together, which Gloria posted on Twitter.
The singing diva was very active on Instagram throughout the day, posting numerous photos of herself in Miami and hinting that she may be creating something new to share with fans in the recent future.
But one specific photo of hers captured more attention than the others. In the picture, Bey, dressed in a bright green skirt and light pink bustier, sits on a countertop while looking off to the side in the middle of a group of people at a table, imitating Leonardo DaVinci's famous religious painting The Last Supper.
The celeb didn't write a caption with the picture, so the reasoning behind the photograph remains a mystery. For now, anyway.
Her Instagram post came shortly after Bey was under some hot water for using an audio clip from the NASA Challenger explosion which claimed seven American lives in 1986 in her track "XO."
Some individuals close to the situation called the singer "insensitive" for sampling audio from the tragedy, but the singer herself responded Dec. 30, telling ABC News the controversial clip was included "in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."
"My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," she told ABC News. "The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you."
"The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten," she added.
Her new song "XO" features an audio clip from the NASA Challenger explosion which claimed seven American lives in 1986. Some individuals close to the situation called Bey "insensitive" for sampling audio from the tragedy, but the singer herself responded Dec. 30, telling ABC News the controversial clip was included "in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."
When Challenger exploded and footage of the wreckage falling to the ocean was broadcast on live TV, NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt told viewers, "Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation" and that "Obviously a major malfunction had occurred." Nearly 28 years later, Nesbitt's voice is heard at the beginning of "XO," something one NASA employee told ABC News was "inappropriate in the extreme."
But the song, written by Ryan Tedder and The Dream, wasn't meant to be disrespectful, Beyoncé explained. "My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," she told ABC News. "The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you."
"The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten," she added.
This isn't the first time Bey and NASA have crossed paths. In 2011, she recorded a wake-up greeting for the Atlantis crew in outer space, telling the astronauts, "You inspire all of us to dare to live our dreams, to know that we're smart enough and strong enough to achieve them."
The singer defended her decision to show off her body and feature several explicit songs in part four of her self-titled documentary called Liberation.
"The day I got engaged was my husband's birthday and I took him to Crazy Horse and I remember thinking, ‘Damn, these girls are fly.' And I just thought it was the ultimate sexy show. I wish I was up there, I wish I could perform that for my man…so that's what I did for my video," Bey said about her track "Partition."
The burlesque-themed video shows Jay Z's other half dancing in a series of provocative ensembles, including a thong at one point.
"I was very aware of the fact that I was showing my body. I was 195 pounds when I gave birth, I lost 65 pounds, I worked crazily to get my body back. I wanted to show my body," she said.
"I wanted to show that you can have a child and you can work hard and you can get your body back. I know finding my sensuality, getting back into my body, being proud of growing up, it was important to me that I expressed that in my music because there are so many women that feel the same thing after they give birth."
The "Grown Woman" singer also added that she wants to inspire new mothers everywhere to not be ashamed of their sexuality.
"You can have your child and still have fun and still be sexy and still have dreams and still have yourself," she shared. "I don't at all have any shame in being sexual and I'm not embarrassed about it…I don't feel like I have to protect that side of me because I do believe that sexuality is a power that we all have."
And there you have it, from the Queen herself!
Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members.
The song “XO,” about a troubled relationship, features the voice of now-retired NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt, commentating as the shuttle was seen breaking apart on live television.
“Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction,” Nesbitt is heard saying. The brief audio clip runs for six seconds.
“XO” was written and produced by Ryan Tedder and Terius Nash, who goes by the stage name The Dream.
Beyonce issued a statement: “My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster. The song ‘XO’ was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you.
“The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten.”
Former and current astronauts, NASA employees and Challenger family members see it differently. June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee and a founder of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, expressed her disappointment in the singer’s decision.
Keith Cowing, a former NASA employee who now runs the NASAWatch.com website, said, “This choice of historic and solemn audio is inappropriate in the extreme. The choice is little different than taking Walter Cronkite’s words to viewers announcing the death of President Kennedy or 911 calls from the World Trade Center attack and using them for shock value in a pop tune.”
Cowing would like to see the clip removed and an apology issued to the families of the Challenger crew.
Retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson told ABC News, “For the words to be used in the video is simply insensitive, at the very least.”
"When I started picking the songs that I gravitated towards, because I recorded about 80 songs, it was the songs that were more effortless for me that stuck around that I still love that I loved a year ago when I recorded them," she said on the third informational video for her album called, "Part 3 Run 'N Gun."
She went on to talk about how she recorded "Drunk in Love" and had a party with her hubby Jay Z when they recorded the song together with producers Timbaland and Details, drinking a little Dusse while they were at it.
"I kind of freestyled the verse, and Jay went in and he started flowing out his verse…we just kinda had a party," the songstress said. "It was so great, because it wasn't about any ego, we weren't trying to make a hit record…we were just having fun…and I think you can hear that in the record."
Beyoncé went on to give fans an inside look at their video shoot for "Drunk in Love" calling it the "most organic shoot I've ever done."
"I wanted to carry this idea of being in the moment and embracing mistakes and effortlessness into the videos," she went on with a giggle. "I wish every video was like 'Drunk.'"
The Grammy-winner said she tried to "rebel against perfection" when making all of the videos for the album, saying "we've been deciding what we're going to do as we're there, and it's something about that freedom that's different for me, because I usually plan things…it's fun because you never know what's going to happen.
Beyoncé and Jay Z are still celebrating the success of her latest hit album (and his tour).
The duo was spotted partying in Atlanta after Hov's "Magna Carter" concert at Reign Friday night, dancing to their song "Drunk in Love" at a private table.
So, who was the most charitable celebrity of 2013?
For the second year in a row, the title of top celebrity do-gooder goes to Taylor Swift!
"The country pop star turned her 24th birthday into a gift for others, quietly donating $100,000 of her own money to The Nashville Symphony," the website said of the 24-year-old singer. "Swift also made global headlines when she joined Prince William and Bon Jovi on stage for an impromptu performance of "Livin' On a Prayer" at the Winter White Gala in London to help homeless youth."
One Direction made their debut taking the No.2 spot on the list thanks to their volunteer trip to Ghana as part of their efforts with the U.K. charity Comic Relief. Harry Styles and Liam Payne's also worked with a London-based nonprofit called Prizeo for Trekstock.
Beyoncé took the No.3 spot, followed by Paul Walker and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
Sandra Bullock, Kerry Washington, Ian Somerhalder, Ryan Seacrest and Carrie Underwood rounded out the top 10.
Jay Z took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd on Friday, Dec. 27 in Atlanta and Beyoncé was in attendance, a concert eyewitness reveals to E! News.
The rapper was picking out fans in the crowd and expressing his gratitude. "I don't care how many number one albums I make its cause I have people like you," the hip-hop mogul said.
After a bunch of girls screamed at the stage that they loved him, Hova smoothly replied "sorry ladies, my girl is here tonight."
The R&B superstar was sitting in the VIP section, looking casual chic in a black sequined printed shirt and burgundy pants with matching knee-high boots. Bey wore her long blond locks in a bun and finished the look with a plum lip.
After the concert, the powerhouse pair headed over to the hot spot Reign around 1 a.m. to celebrate at the afterparty.
The VIP crowd, including the affectionate duo, sipped on Ace of Spades champagne and danced to Bey's new album. Bey and Hov, who was sporting a T-shirt that had "Pervert" written on the back, were spotted dancing and singing to the new hit "Drunk in Love," captured in this amateur YouTube clip.
"They looked very happy," the eyewitness revealed.
The lovebirds left the club around 2:30 a.m.
Yonce and HOVA hit up Club Reign in Atlanta on Friday -- and our club sources say the duo dropped ALMOST 100K on bottles of Dusse and Ace of Spades for their section.
Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow partied with the power couple as well ... and they were joined by Dream and Trey Songz.
Best part -- Bey and Jay dancing to their own song.
The R&B superstar shared a delightful pic with her little girl on her Instagram account on Friday, Dec. 26.
The black-and-white snapshot features the mother-daughter duo sitting on a porch, Blue clad in a sleeveless white dress while Bey is wearing a lacy top. The 32-year-old singer is gazing off to the side, while the 1-year-old seems more interested in holding and playing with her petite foot.
Oh, the wonders of being young.
Bey appears to be au natural for the photo shoot, sporting little makeup and keeping her long wavy locks down. While we can't see Blue's sweet face, she has a flower in her curly hair.
Jay Z's wife didn't add a caption to the delightful snapshot, but the girl's outfits bear a striking resemblance to the looks featured in Bey's "Blue" preview music video.
Fresh off her fifth studio album release—and may we add in an unprecedented manner—Queen B took time out of her Christmas celebrations earlier this week to show her appreciation for her fans on Instagram.
The first photo is a sincere handwritten message that reads: "Thank you to all the fans who contributed to making my dreams come true. I wish you a healthy and happy holiday."
The pop icon also shared her holiday card, in which she is striking a very fierce pose against a gray backdrop in a high-fashion tuxedo-like ensemble with a white blouse. Her blond hair is styled to one side and she completes the formal look with bright red lips.
The singing sensation added two holiday-themed snapshots to her Instagram account on Wednesday, Dec. 25.
The first photo is a sincere handwritten message by the 32-year-old that reads: "Thank you to all the fans who contributed to making my dreams come true. I wish you a healthy and happy holiday."
Blue Ivy's mama also shared her holiday card, in which she is striking a very fierce pose against a gray backdrop in a high-fashion tuxedo-like ensemble with a white blouse. The Grammy winner's long blond curly locks are styled to one side and she completes the formal look with bright red lips.
Happy holidays indeed, Bey!
The pop icon recently opted to drop her fifth studio album in an unprecedented manner, skipping out on the months of promotion and much to everyone's surprise, released her record exclusively on iTunes without dropping any hints.
The album features collaborations with big name artists such as hubby Jay Z, gal-pals Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and her baby girl, to name a few.
The release at the time was described as an "unguarded artistic statement," and labeled as "a visual album" that is "exclusively available on iTunes...The complementary videos unfold amid an international backdrop of New York, Paris, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro."
Bey revealed at the release party and directors' screening what she would like her fans to take away from the album.
"Own your imperfections and all the things that make you interesting," she said.
Just weeks after taking time out to sing a heartwarming duet with a 13-year-old blind fan during a concert in Perth, Australia, Beyoncé is once again bringing us to tears.
On Christmas Eve, a video was posted on the singer's YouTube page of the pop star making a young girl's wish come true.
In the clip, we meet Taylon as she attends a Beyoncé show earlier this month in Las Vegas, thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"They found an inoperable tumor on her brain, and her dying wish was to dance with Beyoncé," Ivy McGregor of Philanthropy Program Partnerships says in the video.
Sure enough, that's exactly what happened when Queen B made her way over to Taylon, crouched down and gave her a hug as she sat in her wheelchair.
Soon, a crying Taylon was on her feet dancing as she and Beyoncé sang the Destiny's Child hit "Survivor" together.
"Here's a little girl literally fighting for her life," says McGregor. "'Tomorrow's not promised, next week's not promised, but right now I'm here,' and her thought that will forever stay with me is, 'Since I'm here, I might as well live.'"
If you weren't already jealous of Bey's killer curves, you will be after watching this sexy video. The singer released the entire music video for her single "Yoncé," which also features some eye candy from Victoria's Secret models Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls, and Jourdan Dunn.
The video, directed by Ricky Saiz, praises the female body—from flaunting some booty cheeks to displaying a generous amount of underboob.
And, per usual, Queen B owned the video, rocking a Tom Ford for YSL bodysuit with pierced nipples and showing off her booty poppin' and hip swervin' skills.
"I wanted to do something sexy and provocative, but not so overt," Saiz told The Cut. "I feel like the Mileys and the Rihannas have that covered and this was more sophisticated. There are a lot of references to nineties eroticism and Madonna videos."
"I think, Beyoncé wanted to push that angle — that was her request and concept initially. I think any time you can promote a sense of community and unity and that is natural, you should," he also mentioned in reference to bringing the models into the shoot.
"All the girls are friends and it was so friendly and there was no ego on set. Everyone was so happy to be there. The girls were incredible. What a great cast. It was spontaneous and not at all contrived."
"Yoncé" serves as the intro to "Partition" on the self-titled album, which is available now.
Mrs. Carter continued her victory lap this weekend, stopping by New York's School for Visual Arts for a screening of videos from her chart-topping visual album on Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.
"I've never done anything so brave in my life," Queen Bey told the crowd. "The amount of personal growth from this project is unlike anything I've ever done. I took all of my insecurities, all of my doubts, all of my fears, and everything I've learned, (and) I applied it into this project."
The pop diva goes on to talk about owning her imperfections, why she's proud to be a woman, and how motherhood has changed her perspective on life. She also answered a few questions from fans, submitted to her via Instagram videos.
"I really, really wanted to surprise people and for them to really just hear the art in it, not be about the hype and the promotion," Beyoncé said of her decision to surprise release the self-titled album on iTunes on Dec. 13. "We actually did it, and it says so much about my team."
She also name-dropped a few of her fellow superstars, saying how she wanted to follow in the "footsteps of Madonna" by choosing to manage herself and create her "own empire." In the studio, she recalls Justin Timberlake beating on buckets, which reminded her of "being in middle school during the lunch breaks when you just start freestyling."
Watch the full Q&A on Beyoncé's Facebook page right here.
"I was terrified. I was so scared. I already envisioned like the worst things that could happen," Beyonce said Saturday at a screening for her new music videos. "I was really nervous because this was a huge risk."
The singer's fifth album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts this week after it was released without the public knowing. "Beyonce" sold 617,000 units in the U.S. in a week; it has sold more than 1 million albums worldwide.
The album includes 14 songs and 17 videos, which fans were able to see during the screening at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Beyonce answered fans' questions via Instagram, including one about her opening up personally on the new album.
"I'm very private and I'm very respectful, and I think it just took me no longer being someone's child — once I became a mother, I felt like I could tear those fourth walls and I just felt like it was time," she said. "I completely feel liberated."
The album features collaborations with her husband Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Drake and her daughter, Blue Ivy. "Beyonce" is the follow-up to 2011's "4," the first album the singer released on her production company, Parkwood Entertainment, after parting ways professionally with her father-manager, Mathew Knowles.
"I felt like I wanted follow in the footsteps of Madonna and be a powerhouse and have my own empire," she said to cheers from the crowd. "And (to) show other women when you get to this point in your career, you don't have to go sign with someone else and share your money and your success, you can do it yourself."
The album's unconventional release became one of the year's top pop culture and social media moments. Beyonce, 32, said she became bored in the music industry after her last release, and the new album is a reflection of experimentation and growth.
"Honestly I was at a point where I felt like, you know, everything feels the same ... that's how I felt and if I could not challenge that, then maybe it's time for me to do something else or develop more artists, which is something I want to do," she said. "I just hope that I continue to move forward and challenge myself, and I think now that I've become a mother, I just want my legacy to inspire people."
She added that the goal of the new album was not to produce No. 1 hits, but to showcase her evolution and create her own lane.
"I took all of my insecurities, all of my doubts, all of my fears and everything I've learned over the 17 years and I applied it into this project," she said. "But more than the music — I'm proud of myself as a woman ... the biggest message is owning your imperfections and all the things that make you interesting, because I refuse to allow someone to put me in anyone's box."
Not only does the worldwide superstar drop an album with absolutely zero marketing tricks and still manage to top Billboard charts, but Bey also knows how to throw shade in the classiest of ways—while also helping out people!
Queen B was photographed visiting a Walmart earlier this evening, and reportedly bought all the customers present a $50 gift card!
"Beyonce just hit up wal mart and purchased everyone in the store $50 gift cards. Beyonce for president," an Instagram user wrote with the photo.
The specific store location is not revealed, but the singer was in New York last night for her big album release party in Times Square, so the lucky retailer was probably located somewhere near the Big Apple, possibly one of the stores in New Jersey.
Her grand gesture comes a few days after Walmart's competitor, Target, released a statement saying they wouldn't carry Bey's new album in stores.
"At Target we focus on offering our guests a wide assortment of physical CDs, and when a new album is available digitally before it is available physically, it impacts demand and sales projections," Target spokesperson Erica Julkowski said in a statement to E! News.
She continued, "While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyonce in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats. At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyonce's new self-titled album 'Beyonce.'"
Walmart, however, said they would still be carrying her album in stores.
And clearly, their shoppers have benefited from that in more ways than one.
The singer is releasing her third fragrance, called Rise. While the news was announced this year, the perfume won't hit shelves until February 2014. Which is smart, considering a lot of her fans will be glued to their computer screens obsessing over her 17 new videos for at least the next month or so.
Like most things Beyoncé, this scent is about girl power. Or as Marsha Brooks, vice president of global marketing for fragrances in the Coty Beauty division of Coty Inc. more accurately explains: "The fragrance concept is a about female empowerment and finding the inner strength that makes women so beautiful."
While the perfume—which is said to an "intoxicating, addictive luminous floral"—is meant to capture Beyonce's true self, it also coincidentally describes what her fragrance sales.
According to Women's Wear Daily, she has sold $400 million in fragrances with her first two scents Pulse and Heat. Mind you, this is the same woman whose latest album has sold over a million copies in just five days.
They don't call her Queen B for nothing!
?The Material Girl shared the sweet moment via Instagram after the show. "Mercy James gets a big fat one from the Queen. B!" Madonna, 55, wrote in the accompanying caption. "Mrs. Carter crushes the BK with her bad ass show! Girls run the world!"
Beyoncé—still riding high from the success of her secret self-titled visual album—has plenty of famous young fans. In fact, in the Dec. 30 issue of People, First Lady Michelle Obama revealed that her daughters, 15-year-old Malia and 12-year-old Sasha, "love Beyoncé" and her husband, Jay Z.
"They've gotten to know Beyoncé, and she has always been very sweet to them," President Barack Obama added. "So they're people that they think highly of."
Beyoncé next performs at Boston's TD Garden on Friday, Dec. 20, before wrapping things up in Brooklyn on Sunday, Dec. 22. After taking a well-deserved two-month break, the "Grown Woman" singer's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour will resume Feb. 20, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Soon after her show ended, the "XO" singer made her way over to none other than Dave & Buster's in Times Square to celebrate the success of her new self-titled album.
Hey, who doesn't love arcade games, right?
The gal, who posted quite a few pics from the event on Instagram, was joined by several fans and friends, including Drake, who collaborated with Beyoncé on the track "Mine."
At one point, Drake grabbed a mic and told the crowd, "I just came out tonight to let you know congratulations to each and every one of you that worked on this s--t, for real. And of course to the queen, the utmost congratulations."
Congratulations indeed.
After all, the album has already gone platinum since Beyoncé secretly released it last week exclusively on iTunes.
In addition to Drake, the album also includes collaborations with husband Jay Z, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake.
As to why she opted to go a different release route, Beyoncé explained that she wanted to change the way music is received. In a clip on her Facebook page, posted after the album dropped, she told fans, "I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it.
"I am bored with that. I feel like I'm able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't want anybody to give that message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready from me to my fans."
Unless Elvis Presley really is still alive, then Beyonce has arguably pulled the biggest music heist in history. The album made its debut at No. 1 with 617,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That means Beyonce is the first woman to reach No. 1 with her first five studio albums. What makes that number even more impressive is that it's based solely on download sales. The physical distribution of Beyonce hasn't even begun. Yesterday, Target announced that it won't be selling her CD because its digital success could undercut physical sales.
Garth Brooks' album, Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences, which is not available digitally and is exclusive to Walmart, holds the No. 2 spot. While both his and Beyonce's album are exclusive to one retailer, his sales are purely physical, while Beyonce's are digital.
Mother-to-be Kelly Clarkson's holiday album, Wrapped in Red, ties up the No. 3 spot. Her NBC special Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale drew 5.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
R. Kelly's Black Panties were revealed as lucky No. 4, with 133,000 sold. One Direction's Midnight Memories sinks to No. 5 with 123,000.
Childish Gambino's Because of the Internet opened to No. 7 with 96,000. A Great Big World scores another big win with the Christina Aguilera duet of the duo's single Say Something retaking the No. 1 spot on the digital songs chart with 233,000.
Overall album sales this past week were 8.7 million, up 22% from last year. Year-to-date sales are down 8%, with 269.4 million sales.
Beyonce released her self-titled album in surprise form last week. Ryan Tedder produced the single "XO," and he learned about the release not long before it went public.
"I knew 90 minutes before it dropped. Ninety minutes. And I said nothing because I love Beyonce and I don't want her to hate me," Tedder said in an interview Tuesday.
"I heard a rumor and then I didn't say anything. I told my wife, 'I think Beyonce's album is dropping in 90 minutes,' and then I knew that 'XO' was on the album," he said. "I knew it was a single. I didn't know if it was first or second. I didn't know anything, and then today I found out that it was the lead."
The OneRepublic frontman made the comments at the season finale of the NBC singing competition "The Voice," where his band performed.
In just three days, "Beyonce" sold more than 617,000 units on the U.S. iTunes Store, where it was released exclusively. The album also features collaborations with Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Miguel, Timbaland, Pharrell and Frank Ocean. Tedder previously produced Beyonce's Grammy-winning hit "Halo."
The 34-year-old Tedder, who has also produced for Adele and Maroon 5, said he's not surprised by the R&B star's success — especially after seeing her live show.
"Me and my whole band, who are just complete skeptics and like, you know, a bit snobby, we just sat there going ..." said Tedder, dropping his jaw. "Like somehow we have to step our game up and be more like Beyonce."
Along with Bey being an absolutely gorgeous and extremely talented superstar, she's also real and honest. The celeb is always offering insight and wisdom that helps spread positivity to the Beyhive. And her latest video is the perfect example of that.
In a video posted earlier today on YouTube titled "'Self-Titled' Part 2 . Imperfection," Bey explains the life lesson she was taught at a young age, and encourages her fans to find the beauty in their imperfections.
"I feel like something about the aggression of 'Bow Down' and the attitude of 'Flawless'—the reality is, sometimes you lose. And you're never too good to lose, you're never too big to lose, you're never too smart to lose, it happens. And it happens when it needs to happen. And you have to embrace those things," she said.
"My message behind this album was finding the beauty in imperfection," Queen B continued. "I had this image of a trophy and me accepting these awards, and kinda training myself to be this champion and at the end of the day when you go through all of these things, is it worth it?
"You get this trophy, and you're like, 'I basically starved. I have neglected all of the people I love, I conformed to what everybody else thinks I should be. And I have this trophy. What does that mean?' The trophy represents all of the sacrifices that I made as a kid. All of the time that I lost being on the road and in the studios as a child and I just wanna blow that shit up."
Beyoncé admits that although she's grateful for her success and the statues that represent that, they don't come close to the actual moments in life that she finds most rewarding.
"I have a lot of awards and I have a lot of these things that are amazing and I worked my ass off. I worked harder than probably anyone I know to get those things. But nothing feels like my child saying, 'Mommy!' Nothing feels like when I look my husband [Jay Z] in the eyes.
"Nothing feels like I'm respected, when I get on the stage and see I'm changing people's lives. Those are the things that matter, and at this point in my life, that's what I'm striving for. Growth. Love. Happiness. Fun. Enjoy your life, it's short. That's the message."
Bey's success with her latest self-titled visual album continues to grow.
Less than a week after it's secret release, her creative masterpiece shot to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making her the first woman to hit No. 1 with her first five studio albums. It follows the chart-topping Dangerously In Love (2003), B'Day (2006), I Am…Sasha Fierce (2008) and 4 (2011). All five of her albums also debuted at No. 1.
Congratulations, B!
Apple announced Tuesday that the diva's self-titled album is only behind Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience." Beyonce's fifth album sold more than 617,000 units in three days.
Albums from Imagine Dragons, Jay Z and Drake round out the top 5.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have the top-selling song with "Thrift Shop." Their hit, "Can't Hold Us," placed fifth. Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," ''Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons and Pink's "Just Give Me a Reason" ranked second, third and fourth, respectively.
"Skyfall" is the year's top-selling movie and "Breaking Bad" is the leading TV show.
Target has released a statement revealing that they will not be carrying Bey's new self-titled album on their shelves. Why would they do such a thing?! Well, because she opted to release her mega-hit album exclusively online first.
"At Target we focus on offering our guests a wide assortment of physical CDs, and when a new album is available digitally before it is available physically, it impacts demand and sales projections," Target spokesperson Erica Julkowski tells Billboard.
She continued, "While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyonce in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats. At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyonce's new self-titled album 'Beyonce.'"
Queen B proved just how much star power she had by secretly releasing the 14-track and 17-video visual album exclusively on iTunes at approximately midnight on Friday, and completely went against the way music is usually released. Jay Z's wife squashed traditional new music procedures, going without any hype, social media presence or promotions for the new body of work entirely.
Regardless, her latest creation is a huge success. B sold an astounding 80,000 copies in the first three hours alone and has already reached the 500,000 mark.
As to why she opted to go a different route, Beyoncé explained that she wanted to change the way music is received. In a clip on her Facebook page, released after the album dropped, she told fans, "I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it."
"I am bored with that. I feel like I'm able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't want anybody to give that message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready from me to my fans."
She added, "I wanted everyone to see the whole picture and see how personal everything is for me. I would make my best art and just put it out."
Beyonce's self-titled album was released early Friday morning exclusively on iTunes unbeknownst to the public. Apple said Monday that the album sold 617,213 in its U.S. iTunes Store. It sold 828,773 internationally.
"You have to be innovative. The Internet has changed the game. You've got to look at how to address the fact that most artists' albums leak before their release plans," said Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, the general manager of Beyonce's production company Parkwood Entertainment, who released the album alongside Columbia Records.
"Look at where your opportunities can lie and that's kind of how we approached it," she continued in an interview Monday. "We had a multitude of things we were trying to accomplish, some things we were trying to avoid, and this turned out to be the right perfect plan for us."
Beyonce surprised fans with the release of the album, which features 14 songs and 17 videos, and social media website exploded with mentions of the singer and her new music. In three hours, it sold 80,000 units, and the build-up continued over the weekend.
"It really wasn't about making a hit record or chasing what sounds like today's music for singles," explained Callahan-Longo, who has worked with Beyonce for seven years
"Beyonce" features collaborations with Jay Z, Drake, Frank Ocean and Justin Timberlake, who co-wrote two songs. The album is being sold by iTunes exclusively for a week at $15.99. It will be sold in retailers and others websites this week.
"It wasn't easy and we were really careful," Callahan-Longo said of keeping the album a secret. "It started with a very small core group of people and only grew when necessary in order to make something happen. It got a little dicey there and concerning as we got closer and closer as the circle had to widen."
"Beyonce" broke the first-week digital sales record for an album in the United States. It also marks the singer's best first-week numbers. It will debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart this week.
Callahan-Longo said the Jay Z-featured "Drunk In Love" and "XO," co-produced by Ryan Tedder, will be launched as singles. She said Beyonce came up with the idea to launch a "visual album."
"She said to me one day, 'I really want to do a visual album. I want to do all the videos and I want to put them out.' I looked at her and I said, 'Whoa, wow, oh my God,'" she recalled. "We all said to her, 'Wow, you're crazy, but OK, let's think about that.' And we really kind of sat down and figured out how could this actually happen."
A band called Skeleton Crew -- which beat Bey's group Girls Tyme in '93 -- was blown away after finding out she included them in her new song/video "Flawless."
S.C. says they're releasing new music this year and the appearance couldn't have helped more ... since it would have been impossible for them to get this kind of international exposure.
The band is hoping Beyonce might ask them to make a live appearance for "Flawless" ... knowing it's a long shot: "A band can dream, right?"
Don't hold your breath.
The self-titled, 14-track album was only available on iTunes at approximately midnight and completely went against the way music is usually released.
Bey squashed traditional new music procedures, going without any hype, social media presence or promotions for the new body of work entirely.
But it doesn't look like any of that mattered…Queen B sold an astounding 80,000 copies in the first three hours alone and has already reached the 500,000 mark. Go, girl!
So why did she keep such a shroud of secrecy around her latest project?
According to multiple reports, only a handful of lucky people knew about Bey's plans to drop the album last week. In fact, only a dozen executives at her music label were privy to the info.
And aside from preventing often times inevitable leaks, the "Grown Woman" singer wanted to make sure her fans received the new material directly from her.
Beyoncé has been pretty clear about her intentions to change the way music is received. In a clip on her Facebook page, released after the album dropped, she told fans, "I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it."
"I am bored with that. I feel like I'm able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't want anybody to give that message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready from me to my fans."
She added, "I wanted everyone to see the whole picture and see how personal everything is for me. I would make my best art and just put it out."
And boy, did she do just that. Take a glimpse at her bikini-clad dance moves in the video for "Drunk in Love" (featuring Jay Z, of course).
What's your fave track on the album?
When we caught a glimpse of her "Heaven" video, we couldn't help but notice her fierce collar necklace that added just the perfect mix of edge to her glamorous persona.
Turns out the star was proudly rocking the Sierra collar necklace by Auden, which is handmade in New York City with woven leather and a plated gunmetal finish.
So hot!
Given that the singer has her pick of any number of high-end designer accessories, it speaks volumes that she would choose to wear a funky piece from an emerging line, and we think she definitely made the right choice with this one!
Bey, you can do no wrong.
What do you think of her choker necklace?
And with that, on Friday, the superstar broke all the music molds and dropped her bombshell Beyonce "visual album," releasing 14 new tracks and 17 new videos all at once on iTunes in the dead of night and surprising everybody — inside and outside the music industry.
"It's funny," says Billboard's Bill Werde. "I was excited, to be honest with you," even though he says the album was expected throughout the year.
"Typically a big artist will release this when she does a big tour or a Super Bowl halftime show or a Pepsi deal. Those are the normal times that a star will seize to release a new album. So just when everyone decides it's not coming, Beyonce not only drops it, but it's a) amazing and b) this fully, elaborately conceived package with videos."
Traditionally, new albums arrive on Tuesdays. Typically, there's a single to whet the appetite. Usually, there's the drumbeat on Twitter and the lengthy magazine take-outs.
Not Beyonce.
"I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it," the star explains in a release that arrived in our InBox at 1:34 a.m. ET. "I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready and from me to my fans."
She cut out all middle men. She kept a massive work a complete secret. She allowed no leaks.
"I think very few people could pull it off to this degree," says Chris Mooney, senior director of artist promotions at TuneCore music distributors. It's a credit to her team and her "star power," he says.
"Honestly I can't believe she kept this secret. We live in a world where it's impossible to keep anything secret, especially when you're a celebrity," says Ryan Aynes, co-founder of Edge Collective music marketers. "There are always members of the team who are leaking. I find it really, really difficult to believe that they kept it a secret, but they did."
Werde, editorial director for Billboard, says he got tipped that something was coming about 11 p.m. ET on Thursday, but didn't know exactly what.
"To me, one of the most shocking things is she was able to keep this a secret," he says.
The list of contributors on the project includes Timbaland, Pharrell, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Miguel, Sia, Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Ryan Tedder and Hit-Boy. And that's not even taking into account the videographers, editors, gophers, grips and others needed to complete the finished product.
"The number of people involved is staggering." Werde says it is "an incredible testament to her NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) or the power of the friendships and loyalty to her. I think her team is incredibly careful." He guesses security had to be extremely tight around the music and the videos in progress.
Once Beyonce arrived, he says, it was clear that it wasn't a rush job. "One of the things I love is there's all this online chatter about how she's struggling," says Werde, "and she just took a giant three-ton hammer to all that and squashed that noise. It's that good."
Music marketers point to how the release proves the business is evolving.
"It's a big move for iTunes to get back into the limelight and it helps their revenue," says Aynes. "This is a dual play from the artist and the partner."
And in some ways, Beyonce is taking a page from hubby Jay-Z's playbook and his 1 million Magna Carta Holy Grail album download release through Samsung in July.
It raises the bar all around, says Aynes. "Someone like Rihanna might up their game a little bit next time and do something cool and exciting." And he says, artists will now be asking, "How can I leverage my following with platforms to help them out and help me out as well?"
Releasing the album all at once and only on iTunes signifies that we are in a completely "digital, social age now," says Werde.
"Yes, we'll have radio and traditional media," he says, but, he adds, "It's becoming more and more about this direct relationship between artist and fan. This is the shot heard around the world."
Friday's surprise iTunes release of the 32-year-old diva's self-titled "visual album" -- 14 songs, accompanied by 17 videos shot in Houston, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, among other locales -- marks the latest step in an evolution that has been at once full of stunning turns and remarkably consistent.
No other pop artist has shown a greater mastery of image control; for all her gifts as a performer, in fact, it is Beyonce's knack for sharing what she wants to share -- precisely as, and when, she wishes to share it -- that is her defining genius.
Thus on Beyonce, we see the superstar who for years refused to discuss her personal life -- cannily dodging all discussion of her long-term relationship with Jay Z -- reveling in the joys it has brought her. In the sultry black-and-white clip for Drunk In Love, she and her husband romp and caress on a beach, recalling a night of connubial bliss that lasted into morning.
Jay-Z playfully raps, "Your breasts is my breakfast." (Other notable guests and contributors include Drake, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder, Sia, Timbaland, Frank Ocean and Miguel.)
On the rapturous Blue, it is the couple's daughter, Blue Ivy, in Beyonce's arms. Towards the end of the video, we see and hear the toddler giddily responding; that segues to the lithely exuberant Grown Woman, in which we glimpse clips of the star in her younger years, then witness her living the dream as a mature, glamorous grownup.
In none of these songs or visual sequences does Beyonce coarsely exploit her celebrity. Rather, in keeping with her penchant for discretion, she reveals herself, and her loved ones, in controlled doses. The sensuality is distinctly, intentionally gritty, but never crass.
There are more darkly reflective moments as well. In the opening Pretty Hurts, Beyonce is cast as a beauty contestant, enduring the tedious, exhausting and ultimately dehumanizing process of trying to achieve physical perfection. The parallels to the singer's chosen profession are lost on no one: "What you can't see is the soul needs surgery," Beyonce croons.
In Haunted and Jealous, she again embodies success and privilege on the surface, but there is a sense that her contentment is fragile. The latter video ends with her running to a man we see only from the back of his hooded coat, tears of relief flooding her eyes.
Throughout Beyonce, the music, movement and visuals combine the exotic with the familiar, wholesomeness with sly eroticism, happiness with ambivalence. In the bittersweet, nostalgically soulful Mine, featuring Drake, she is at first an image of purity, surrounded by dancers in flowing light hues; then the imagery and choreography become more frantic and provocative. The clip ends with fire, but not, evidently, destruction.
Desire is a complicated matter, Beyonce is clearly learning, and life an unpredictable journey. If she's inviting us along for the ride, there's no question who's in the driver's seat.
In typical Beyoncé fashion, the pop icon opted to drop her fifth studio album in an unprecedented manner, skipping out on the months of promotion in which many artists often participate, and simply released her record exclusively on iTunes without dropping any hints of her album's stealth debut.
And it worked.
According to Billboard, which cites "industry sources," Beyoncé reportedly sold over 80,000 copies in just three hours after the closing sales window ended Friday at midnight PT.
While it's still too early to judge how the entire album—which includes a whopping 31 tracks, 14 of which are new songs—will perform over the full three days left in the sales tracking week, Bey is well on her way to approaching the prior projected leader Garth Brooks, who's ninth studio album hit No. 1 and sold 146,000 copies in its first week.
So how did Beyoncé manage to keep her album release a secret at a time when countless artists are struggling to save their records from leaking early online?
Billboard reports that only a handful of members from Bey's Sony Records family were aware of the unexpected iTunes set, which also features an impressive 17 videos.
And we can only imagine the lengths that Camp B went to in order to keep the media completely clueless, as the album features collaborations with big name artists such as hubby Jay Z, gal-pals Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and her baby girl Blue Ivy, to name a few.
The surprise release is described as an "unguarded artistic statement," and labeled as "a visual album" that is "exclusively available on iTunes...The complementary videos unfold amid an international backdrop of New York, Paris, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro."
"I see music as more than just what I hear," Bey said in a Facebook video, uploaded after the album dropped. "When I'm connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies and they're all connected to the music. And I think that's one of the reasons why I wanted to do a visual album."
According to the latest Twitter stats, Bey's album release generated over 1.2 million tweets in 12 hours, with a tweets per minute spike of 5,300 (that's more than tweets than Syfy's record-setting Sharknado airing generated).
But we think Queen B's sister Solange sums it up best:
"So my sister is a f--king G," she posted last night. "Beyoncé , the visual album out now."
Bow down, indeed.
And who did she invite along to promote that sentiment in the "‘Yonce" video? Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls and Jourdan Dunn—only three of the biggest supermodels in the world. And yes, it's worth noting that they are all women of color, something the video's director Ricky Saiz said was important to Jay Z's wife:
"I think, Beyoncé wanted to push that angle — that was her request and concept initially. I think any time you can promote a sense of community and unity and that is natural, you should," he told The Cut. "All the girls are friends and it was so friendly and there was no ego on set. Everyone was so happy to be there. The girls were incredible. What a great cast. It was spontaneous and not at all contrived."
The girls' excitement continued long after the final take. When the surprise album dropped last night Chanel and Jourdan began posting behind-the-scenes pictures on their Instagram accounts. No doubt they've been bursting to share their involvement in the project for months.
In their photos and the 30 second preview, it's quite clear the video—which features the singer in a Tom Ford for YSL bodysuit with pierced nipples—is H-O-T with a side of sexy. Or as Saiz summed it up:
"I wanted to do something sexy and provocative, but not so overt. I feel like the Mileys and the Rihannas have that covered and this was more sophisticated. There are a lot of references to nineties eroticism and Madonna videos."
"I see music," Beyoncé says of her decision to create a visual album. "It's more than just what I hear. When I'm connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they're all connected to the music."
She continues, "I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it. I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn't want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready and from me to my fans."
The double disc CD/DVD will be available at retail in time for the holidays. Beyoncé began recording new music in the summer of 2012 in New Yorks The Hamptons. She worked with a wide range of singers, lyricists, producers, stylists, photographers and directors to bring her vision to life. Some of them include Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Hit Boy, Ammo, Boots, Detail, Jake Nava, Hype Williams, Terry Richardson and Jonas Åkerlund.
Beyoncé used places like New York City, Houston, Paris, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro as backdrops for her music videos. "I just want to give my album to the people I love and respect and hope that they feel the same thing I felt when I made the music," she says.
"Pretty Hurts" | Directed by Melina Matsoukas
"Ghost" | Directed by Pierre Debusschere
"Haunted" | Directed by Jonas Akerlund
"Drunk in Love (feat. Jay Z)" | Directed by Hype Williams
"Blow" | Directed by Hype Williams
"No Angel" | Directed by @lilinternet
"Yoncé" | Directed by Ricky Saiz
"Partition" | Directed by Jake Nava
"Jealous" | Directed by Beyoncé, Francesco Carrozzini and Todd Tourso
"Rocket" | Directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke and Bill Kirstein
"Mine (feat. Drake)" | Directed by Pierre Debusschere
"XO" | Directed by Terry Richardson
"***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)" | Directed by Jake Nava
"Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean)" | Directed by Jonas Åkerlund
"Heaven" | Directed by Beyoncé & Todd Tourso
"Blue (feat. Blue Ivy)" | Directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke and Bill Kirstein
"Grown Woman" | Directed by Jake Nava
It was posted to iTunes early Friday morning with no advertising and an explanation on her Facebook page.
With 14 brand new tracks and 17 videos, it's a fully baked album, no filler remixes and re-released greatest hits. And sidestepping a promotional blitz and gimmicks, this album, titled BEYONCÉ, could be her most personal yet.
On Ghost, she seems surprisingly in touch with the 9-to-5 grind, echoing her own career frustrations, and most notably, her boredom with record labels.
Other tracks like Drunk in Love (featuring husband, Jay Z) take a darker turn from their most famous collaboration, Crazy in Love. Beyonce lowers her voice to a growl, singing about getting drunk with angry abandon.
Pretty Hurts also shows a darker side of the singer. Beyonce may be the biggest pop star in the world and her life of glitz and glamour is well documented, but she does not often leave her thoughts vulnerable for the public. In the track, she voices the pressure of beauty and of relentless performing.
Beyonce features Drake and Frank Ocean on a couple of tracks, but the most famous guest on the album is baby Blue Ivy. Her daughter is the subject of the aptly named tracks Blue and Blue Heaven, which are sweet ballads that peek into her family life.
In each of the song's corresponding videos, both produced to look like they'd been shot with a handheld camera, Beyonce is not a scantily clad, cold and removed pop star; she's a smiling, relaxed mother. Awash in soft light and with scenes of her and Blue Ivy, the songs and videos stand in stark contrast with the harder tracks on the album.
BEYONCÉ is a feast for the eyes and the ears, and it's a revealing look at Beyonce, from Beyonce's point of view.
Lovato was one of the first to tweet her excitement. "I'm literally FUH-REAKING OUT over this new #BEYONCE... The music vids?!!?! I CANT HANDLE THIS MUCH FIERENESS.... #NOJOKE #DYING," the X Factor judge raved. "Sexiest woman ON THE PLANET... and WHO DIRECTED THESE VIDEOS?!!? #OBSESSED #BEYONCE #imightbeobsessedwithher #IWANTTOBEHER," she continued.
The "Let It Go" singer then asked, "HOW IS ANYONE NOT TWEETING ABOUT #BEYONCE RIGHT NOW?!!?!?" Of course, it wasn't long before other stars took notice. "Queen B brought that dirt," Phillippe tweeted. "Into it."
Roberts subtly referenced her hit FX series, American Horror Story: Coven, in her critique. "Beyonce. Are you kidding me with this?! #Supreme #love #everything," the TV star raved.
Twitter's most popular user, Katy Perry, was equally effusive. Early Friday morning, she told her 48 million followers, "B done broke the internet. #stanning." She later added, "Don't talk to me today unless it's about @Beyonce THANX."
Abigail Breslin's assessment was short and sweet: "The new Beyonce album is so perfect wow." Snoop Dogg, meanwhile, tweeted that "my girl @beyonce just changed d game!!"
Actress Leslie Grossman couldn't contain her glee, telling her fans, "Just booked a double sesh with my shrink to talk about the surprise Beyoncé album." The TV star added, "I am serious that random fireworks just went off in my neighborhood and I genuinely believe it is Beyoncé related."
Grossman then asked her followers for some advice. "I need guidance: do I wake my kid up to tell her about Beyoncé? It seems super important and in the future she will appreciate it right?" (The resounding response was "yes," if you were wondering.)
Beyoncé's younger sibling, Solange Knowles, seemed the most moved. "I'm sitting here watching THE most artful and perfect project ever....@Beyonce," she wrote. "Just layed me out. #proudsister."
While many artists usually spend months promoting their upcoming releases in hopes that album sales skyrocket, Queen B decided to go against the grain and just drop her fifth studio album exclusively on iTunes without anyone having the slightest idea that it was coming.
The self-titled album features a whopping 31 tracks, 14 of which are new songs, including collaborations with big name artists like hubby Jay Z, gal-pals Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and her baby girl Blue Ivy—just to name a few.
As for the other 17 tracks...In an effort to make this event an even more OMG-worthy moment, Bey decided to also release 17 videos. Boom.
The surprise release is described as an "unguarded artistic statement," and labeled as "a visual album" that is "exclusively available on iTunes...The complementary videos unfold amid an international backdrop of New York, Paris, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro."
Bey posted a video on Instagram with snippets of what we can assume are pieces of the videos, and also released a video on Facebook.
"I see music as more than just what I hear," she says in the clip. "When I'm connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies and they're all connected to the music. And I think that's one of the reasons why I wanted to do a visual album."
Now would be the perfect time to bow down. (Get you Copy here)
In fact, Madge beat out Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift as the highest-paid woman in music this year.
According to Forbes, the 55-year-old earned an astounding $125 million over the last twelve months. Not too shabby!
She's sitting on top of her fortune no thanks to the tail end of her MDNA tour and a large cut of her Material Girl clothing line with Macy's.
Gaga followed closely behind in the No. 2 spot.
Mother Monster raked in a cool $80 million with the help of her ARTPOP album as well as her most recent world tour (despite the fact that it was cut short due to a hip injury).
T. Swift landed in third place with a respectable $55 million while Jay Z's leading lady earned $53 million.
It turns out that Queen Bey makes over $2 million for every single show she plays and considering she's slated to perform 123 shows for her Mrs. Carter World Tour, well, you do the math.
But aside from the larger-than-life performances, Beyoncé is also collecting some serious cash from her H&M and Pepsi deals.
And rounding out the top five picks is none other than Jennifer Lopez.
The American Idol judge added a nice $45 million to her bank this year partially due to her salary on the popular singing reality show.
She also credits a successful world tour and starring role in Q'Viva, a Latin song competition show for Fox.
Rihanna, Katy Perry, Pink, Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey closed out the top ten, respectively.
Congrats, ladies!
The 32-year-old "Grown Woman" singer shared an adorable pic of her almost 2-year-old daughter on Instagram yesterday.
In the family photo, Jay Z's other half sits on he ground behind Blue Ivy while holding a tan cowboy hat on her little head. The tot looks adorable in blue skinny jeans and a jersey. Bey also sports a matching jersey.
Beyoncé also shared a shot of what is presumably her Christmas tree. The ornaments hanging from the tree's branches are (what else?) blue!
Yesterday, Bey shared some wild photos of herself wearing a giraffe hood with built-in paws. She also gave a nod to her home state by wearing a Texas jersey.
Beyoncé sure has been busy on Instagram recently. Last week, she shared a bunch of photos of different meals she enjoyed while she and her hubby are eating only vegan food this month ahead of Christmas.
Yep, they might soon be replacing leopards and zebras as prints in the fashion world now that Queen Bey stuck her neck out for them! Blue Ivy's mama paired her adorable giraffe hood (with built-in paws!) with bikini bottoms and a Texas jersey—looking sweet and sexy at the same time!
Jay Z's love showed off her wild ensemble in a series of pictures posted to her tumblr page. In one cute shot, the 32-year-old singer playfully places her "paws" on her boobs, making a surprised face as she does so!
In another shot, Beyoncé wows in a floor-length black-and-yellow dress, pairing the patterned frock with a chic bowler hat.
She also gives us a look at how Jay sees her in a picture showing her bikini-clad reflection in Hov's sunglasses.
Now, these looks are great and all, but they can't quite measure up to the most amazing head-to-toe pizza outfit Bey wore earlier this month! She paired a cheesy (as in pizza patterned!) crop top with leggings of the same print. Naturally, though, she wore nude leather Christian Louboutin pumps with her delicious look.
Word to the wise, though: Beyoncé can pull off looks like these, but it's a tad bit more difficult for us non-Carters.
Power Trip, J. Cole featuring Miguel
Part II (On the Run), Jay Z featuring Beyoncé
Holy Grail, Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake
Now or Never, Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J. Blige
Remember You, Wiz Khalifa featuring The Weeknd
The 56th annual Grammy Awards will air Jan. 26 on CBS.
The gorgeous star is not only plunging into a brand new vegan lifestyle for the next few weeks, dining at plant-based eateries all over town with Jay Z, but she's also letting food influence her fashion choices, too.
She curiously wore a Christopher Kane coat with a real fur collar and suede boots while noshing on animal-free fare this week; and then stepped out in a two-piece ensemble covered in pepperoni pizza yesterday.
Yep, you heard us. A pizza outfit.
The singer paired a cheeky crop top emblazoned with cheesy pies with matching high-waisted patterned leggings featuring a digital print of greasy pepperoni and gooey cheese, and knocked it out of the park with her killer confidence and designer accessories.
Blush nude leather Christian Louboutin pumps and a playful choker necklace finished off her foodie style statement perfectly.
Yum!
Pepperoni is obviously off limits when eating vegan, but it looks like Bey has come up with alternative ways to show her affection for the banned food groups for the time being!
What do you think of Beyoncé's pizza outfit?
The 32-year-old R&B diva joined Jay Z for lunch at the hotspot, where they ordered a vegan meal that included Portobello mushrooms, grilled corn and mac 'n' cheese. Beyoncé was so impressed with the cuisine that she took pictures of it with her phone and created an Instagram collage.
During their meal, the spouses of five years also noshed on marinated kale salad, Indian curried lentils and corn tacos with chipotle butternut squash. For dessert, the "Crazy in Love" couple enjoyed chocolate truffles. Mmm! Blue Ivy, 23 months, was not present for the lunchtime outing.
The musicians will maintain plant-based diets until at least Christmas. "It just feels right!" Jay-Z, 44, explained in a Life + Times blog post. "You can call it a spiritual and physical cleanse."
This isn't the first time Beyoncé has modified her diet. To prep for her role in 2006's Dreamgirls, she went on the Master Cleanse for two weeks. That meant giving up solid foods in favor of a purified water, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and maple syrup concoction.
"I was very hungry, therefore I was evil!" she joked during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that year. "The first thing I did after the movie, I ate a whole dozen Krispy Kremes."
The lovey-dovey duo popped into organic vegan West Hollywood hotspot Real Food Daily at 2 p.m. Tuesday, the same day the family patriarch announced the couple's plans to kick off their new extra healthy lifestyle.
"The two walked in with one bodyguard," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "The restaurant was packed, and Jay was following Beyoncé as cute as a puppy dog as she walked in and said hi to some friends she knew. They then made their way to a table in the back, where they sat with two guys and two girls."
The observer didn't catch what the couple munched on, but the pop starlet did Instagram an array of mouthwatering vegan dishes the same day she was spotted out.
That's certainly the impression the comedian gave while watching the singer perform at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
As seen in several photos Beyoncé posted on Tumblr, as well as in a YouTube video, Hart simply couldn't contain his excitement as he stood in the front row alongside Christina Milian.
After the show, Hart continued to express his joy in a series of tweets including "Beyonce is Pound 4 Pound the best performer in the business, she put on a phenomenal show last night! She threw me a towel and I fainted."
Meanwhile, near the end of the concert, Beyoncé took a moment to acknowledge the passing of actor Paul Walker.
"I dedicate this song to Paul Walker," she said, before belting out "I Will Always Love You."
She followed that up with her hit ballad, "Halo."
Several fans later tweeted about the dedication, including one who wrote, "When @Beyonce sang Whitney Houston I will always love you and dedicated it to Paul walker...I cried. That woman sings like no other." (Video)
Jay Z's missus took to her Tumblr page to share a slew of new photos from a recent vacation with her rapper hubby, who's celebrating his 44th birthday today, posting a series of bikini-clad pics in which she's showing off her enviable figure in colorful swimwear while looking gorgeous as ever.
In one sexy shot, Blue Ivy's mama poses in a metallic blue two piece, tilting her head back and letting her long blond hair flow down while putting her supertoned legs on full display. In typical Queen Bey fashion, the pic doesn't come with a caption, although her abtastic bod certainly speaks for itself (clearly, the performer didn't overindulge over Thanksgiving).
In another precious pic, the 32-year-old beauty poses with the birthday boy in a sweet black-and-white shot, where Bey beams from ear to ear as she wraps her arm around her man. Jay sports a simple tee in the photo, while the "Love on Top" singer looks adorable in a large floppy hat and casual sundress.
There's also a stunning shot of the superstar sitting with her legs crossed while sipping on a tropical drink in a retro bikini, tilting her head to the side as she flashing a subtle smile, wearing minimal makeup and coral lips.
And there's the ultimate R&R shot where Bey's basking in the cool blue ocean, smiling as the sun shines down on her gorgeous face.
The superstar, who performed last night at the Los Angeles' Staples Center also took to Instagram to share an adorable photo with her sister, Solange, in which the twosome are riding together in the back of a truck as Bey rests her head on her sister's shoulder, closing her eyes and looking more peaceful than ever.
And last, but certainly not least, she posted yet another fab bikini pic on the beach, posing against a gorgeous backdrop while proving she's undoubtedly one of Hollywood's hottest mamas.
Jay and Bey most recently revealed that they are going vegan for 22 days in honor of the "Holy Grail" rapper's 44th birthday in order to embark on a "a spiritual and physical cleanse."
Safe to say B's body is only bound to get better. Can't wait for more bikini pics!
"On December 3, one day before my 44th birthday, I will embark on a 22 Days challenge to go completely vegan, or as I prefer to call it, plant-based!" the music mogul wrote on his Life + Times website. "This all began a few months back when a good friend and vegan challenged me to embrace a 'plant-based breakfast' every day. It was surprisingly easier on me than I thought."
He cited the numerical serendipity of his eating quest and noted he was supported on his journey by a vegan pal, Marc Borges, founder of the 22 Days nutrition program, which touts "optimum wellness through conscious nutrition."
Borges wrote on his company's website that he was "honored to be a partner" in their journey.
"There's something spiritual to me about it being my 44th birthday and the serendipity behind the number of days in this challenge; 22 (2+2=4) coupled with the fact that the challenge ends on Christmas day," the rap star and musical impresario wrote.
"Psychologists have said it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. On the 22nd day, you've found the way," he wrote optimistically, noting that his famously fit wife is all in. "PS: B is also joining me."
So, what's on the menu? Day 1 of the diet includes the following: a breakfast of vanilla chia pudding with 1 cup fresh berries; crunchy red cabbage and green apple sesame slaw with 1 cup steamed, cubed sweet potato for lunch; the afternoon snack is 1/4 cup hemp hummus with fresh vegetables and dinner is black bean and quinoa salad with cumin dressing. For dessert, Jay-Z and Beyoncé can have dark chocolate.
Their decision to do the challenge was met by support from fellow vegan Alicia Silverstone, who Tweeted N.Y.C. restaurant suggestions for the health-conscious pair.
"Anything you want, I'd be honored to help," she wrote.
Fortunately, Beyoncé and Jay Z's 23-month-old daughter was able to sneak in an, on-the-go, mid-travel nap in her mama's arms! The adorable mother-daughter arrived in L.A. on Sunday, Dec. 1, via private plane, and Queen Bey let Blue continue her snoozefest as she sweetly carried her to an awaiting car.
The hands-on mama, 32, went with a comfy yet chic ensemble, pairing a white and leopard print T-shirt with quilted black pants and sky-high ankle booties. She snuggled Blue, who wore a gray cotton outfit and tiny red shoes, in a multicolored baby blanket.
Beyoncé surely enjoyed some downtime with baby Blue on Sunday. She performed in Vancouver Saturday as part of her Mrs. Carter World Tour and has a San Jose, Calif., show Monday and a concert at L.A.'s Staples Center on Tuesday!
Blue will most likely be accompanying her famous mom to all of these upcoming dates. She is, as Beyoncé told Vogue in her March 2013 cover issue, her mama's "road dog."
"She's my homey," she gushed, "My best friend."
Aww! Blue is, also, clearly, already a little superstar in her own right!
The 33-year-old E! star has been outranked by Beyoncé, who edged Kardashian out of the top spot. In the past 12 months, the R&B diva caused controversy when she sang over a prerecorded track on Inauguration Day. She also headlined the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show (where she briefly reunited with Destiny's Child) and starred in her own HBO documentary, Life Is But a Dream.
Beyoncé and Jay Z came under fire when they traveled to Cuba for their fifth wedding anniversary in April; the trip was later deemed an officially licensed "cultural exchange." That same month, the "Grown Woman" singer kicked off her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, which ends Dec. 22. in Brooklyn.
The chart topper—who appeared in ads for H&M and L'Oreal—also voiced Queen Tara in the animated film Epic, which hit theaters on May 2. As if that weren't enough, Beyoncé is currently working on her still-untitled fifth studio album.
Trailing behind Beyoncé and Kardashian is Rihanna, who comes in at No. 3. The rest of the list includes Taylor Swift (No. 4), Madonna (No. 5), Justin Bieber (No. 6), Nicki Minaj (No. 7), Amanda Bynes (No. 8), Miley Cyrus (No. 9) and Barack Obama (No. 10).
In a recent interview with the Independent, Zahi Hawass, a controversial archaeologist and the former Egyptian Minister of State for Antiquities, recalled a dramatic encounter he had with the 32-year-old pop star back in 2009 that apparently resulted in Jay Z's other half being kicked out of the famed tourist site.
"Most people I take on tours are very nice and we become friends. But this lady..." Hawass recently said of Bey. "She said she would come at 3 p.m. but she came late. I said, 'You have to say I'm sorry I'm late.' But she didn't open her mouth."
"I brought a photographer and she also had a photographer and a guard," he continued. "When my photographer started to shoot, he said 'No, Stop! I am the one who says yes or no, not you.' I said, 'In that case since you almost hit my photographer and you are not polite, out! I am not giving you the privilege of having you on my tour.' I said Beyoncé was stupid and I left."
However, Beyoncé's rep exclusively tells E! News nothing of the sort happened during her visit to the site. "This never happened," her rep tells us. "The last time she was in Egypt was on tour in 2009. Nothing like this happened. Lies and more lies."
Back in 2009 around the time of her visit to Egypt, local reports did surface claiming that Beyoncé and Hawass did indeed have a bad encounter at the pyramids.
Journalist Summer al-Gamal was quoted regarding the encounter, saying that Hawass "stopped being diplomatic and said in anger, 'She's a stupid person and she doesn't understand a thing and she doesn't want to understand.'"
Drama aside, Bey and Hawass did pose for a lovely photo op together in front of the breathtaking desert scenery during her visit to the site.
Songs by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Beyonce, U2 and Bruno Mars are among the 39 donated to "Songs for the Philippines," available for purchase Monday at iTunes and for streaming on iTunes Radio.
The artists, record companies and music publishers have agreed to donate the proceeds to the Philippines Red Cross.
Thousands were killed, injured and displaced by Typhoon Haiyan earlier this month and officials have struggled to keep up with humanitarian aid demands.
The compilation album has a little of everything, from the disturbing images of a live version of Eminem's "Stan" to the calming effect of The Beatles' "Let It Be."
We already knew that the bob was officially gone—the singer showed off longer locks while filming her latest music video in New York City—but what we couldn't see in those nighttime photos was the Grammy winner had lightened her hair color. A lot.
Gone is her signature golden honey hue and in its place is platinum tint that would make Gwen Stefani proud. The "Bow Down" singer debuted her new color at a NBA game in Oklahoma City with husband Jay Z just hours after she showed support for her hubby by modeling items from his special Barneys collection on Instagram.
Making the blond appear that much brighter was the fact that she rocked a contrasting dark plum lipstick—similar to the shade she was spotted in just two days earlier. Calling this overall look grungy doesn't feel quite right, but it definitely has a bit of a '90s feel to it.
What do you think of Beyoncé's new platinum hair?
But Beyoncé, who clearly doesn't need to worry about making rent each month, wanted to help her hubby promote his expensive menswear collection for Barneys New York, so she tried on a few items and posted a pic to Instagram. Like her look? Well, it'll cost you.
Queen Bey is wearing the Moncler leather sleeve puffer varsity jacket, which retails for a cool $2,295. She also appears to have on the $875 Just Don Mixed Exotics Brooklyn cap and $675 Cutler & Gross sunglasses.
In another Instagram shot, Blue Ivy's mama models the Elder Statesman Cashmere Ski Mask, which retails for $695. Perhaps she's even wearing a $33,900 gold watch or $12,900 New York ring from the line in the pic, just out of frame.
We can't snark too hard on these prices, though, because 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, which offers scholarships to students in need. And on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Barneys donated 10 percent of all proceeds throughout the store to the cause as well.
Hey, Jay might have expensive taste, but you gotta love Hov for putting that money to good use!
Of course, most pedestrians would gape at anyone who was strutting around New York City in a red leather trench coat but when the "Love on Top" singer is the one wearing the sexy getup (and silver pumps!) the wow factor goes way up.
The Grammy winner completed her look with a matching mulberry lipstick and her famous blond curls hung loose over her shoulders—so yes, it looks like the bob is officially gone.
Jay Z's wife is believed to be filming a new music video—most likely the same one in which she went incognito in a L.V. mask just weeks ago. If it is indeed for the star's "Bow Down" track, we're already on our knees.
The singer was spotted wearing a black Louis Vuitton ski mask in Los Angeles despite her attempts to go unnoticed.
But between the puffy checkered jacket, and her surrounding entourage, the accessory did little to camouflage Queen Bey.
The "Grown Woman" singer was seen walking into a trailer on a closed set, but no word yet exactly what project she's currently working on—though some fan sites are suggesting she's filming her "Bow Down" video.
It looks like face masks are all the rage lately (trend alert?!), as previously mentioned there have been a few other famous faces that have sported the look in public.
Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian's fiancé bundled up in a red knit cover-up while grabbing a bite to eat with friends in Paris.
The bold color, and fairly unusual sight, was certainly a statement piece.
Meanwhile, months later the Biebs donned an over-the-top Chanel version of a similar covering as he entered his hotel in Stockholm.
The chic bank robber look was nothing new for the teen heartthrob—he had posted an Instagram shot wearing the same thing just a few days prior.
Fashion aside, Blue Ivy's mama appears to have returned to the States since spending almost a month in Australia for her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
Her next stop is in Vancouver on Nov. 30, where she begins the first of 15 concerts for her second trip around North American this year.
The latter accurately describes Rebecca Harrington, a diehard Beyoncé fan, and writer for.
The journalist decided to embark on a 10-day journey to drop a few pounds by following a mix of some of Queen Bey's past diets.
"One think I have always enjoyed about Beyoncé is that she's very open about how hard it is to eat like she does," Harrington wrote.
"I will endure the Master Cleanse that Beyoncé endured when she lost weight for Dreamgirls," she added. "I will attempt the herculean diet Beyoncé used to lose weight after birthing Blue Ivy."
She documents in great detail her experiences with both diets and even shares the pitfalls of one cheat day—because, after all, even the powerhouse singer has one every week where she indulges in "pizza and wine."
After breezing through the first few days of her all-liquid diet, the writer admitted that the low-carb high protein phase wasn't as bad as she anticipated.
"I have to say, the actual food on this diet was not terrible. It was sparse, yes, but flavorful," she revealed.
And between the oat cakes, cayenne lemon water, yellow sashimi and hours upon hours in the gym, Harrington's results were staggering, to say the least.
It turns out that she managed to drop 10 pounds after just 10 days of following in her idol's footsteps. It should be noted that she's also tried out Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna's diets for the same amount of time, with not nearly as much success.
So what was the toughest part for Harrington throughout the program?
"The real hardship of this particular regimen was the exercise. Beyoncé worked out for two hours a day to get rid of the baby weight and it is hard for a working woman with a busy schedule," she confessed.
"It was Beyoncé's music that got me through it," she said of her two-hour daily workouts.
On Sunday, Nov. 10, at a sold-out Mrs. Carter world tour show in Perth, Australia, Queen Bey made a dream come true for Sophie Kotkis, a 13-year-old legally blind fan with hearing and muscle difficulty. Jay Z's love dedicated "Irreplaceable" to Sophie—and enlisted her help in singing it!
"I have a very special young lady here," said Beyoncé, extending the mic to Sophie. "Tell everybody your name, beautiful!"
"Sophie!" she said excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.
"Everybody say, 'Hello, Sophie!'" said Beyoncé. The crowd, of course, did just that, then erupted into cheers and applause. "Sophie, I think I need you to help me sing this song! You think you can sing, 'To the left?'"
Sophie nodded enthusiastically, and at Bey's encouragement, sang the lyric. Blue Ivy's mama asked Sophie to help again with the lyric, cheering her on as she obliged.
As you can see in the heartwarming clip, Beyoncé stayed at the edge of the stage right by Sophie as she continued on with "Irreplaceable," stroking her face and even playing with her hair.
Sophie's older sister Ellie Kotkis, who helped arrange the unforgettable encounter, told Perth Now the whole thing was "amazing."
"She had no idea that she was going to sing with her," Ellie gushed. "It was so important for me because there's been a lot of things in life that Sophie hasn't been able to do, but she loves music, loves to dance and loves to sing and this was just something for me to show the world how amazing she is."
Sophie, who will always treasure those moments, excitedly exclaimed, "I told my mum that I got a kiss from Beyoncé."
“William Shatner always needed fresh sushi, Kiefer Sutherland needed a cigarette and In-N-Out Burger,” she told us. “Rosie O’Donnell needed chicken of some sort. Elaine Stritch, she had to have hard-boiled eggs and skimmed cappuccino. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, one of them were vegan or macrobiotic. It was unique.”
Rudin says casting voices for “The Princess and the Frog” was especially tough.
“Beyoncé expected an offer, but wouldn’t audition and so she didn’t get one,” she tells us. “Tyra Banks, Jennifer Hudson wanted it. Alicia Keys auditioned three times .?.?. They had to sing, so we made it clear they needed sheet music. Tyra came in with a CD, but it didn’t matter because she was so pretty and nice. It went to Anika Noni Rose, who was the most qualified.”
Biggest tip? “You want to work with nice people.”
While singing her hit tune "Irreplaceable" in Adelaide, Australia, Blue Ivy's mama stepped down to an intimate stage to interact with some of her biggest fans, shaking their hands and causing mayhem in the crowd before she spotted one fan face timing with a friend during her performance.
"This is a first," the 32-year-old beauty admits while wearing her bedazzled blue bodysuit before grabbing the cell phone.
"He's doing face time right now," she tells the crowd. "Nice to meet you," she adds before belting out, "irreplaceable" without missing a beat.
Oh, Bey!
The impromptu fan interaction is hardly a first for Jay-Z's missus, who has made no secret of her love for her adoring fans.
Less than two weeks ago, the "Love on Top" singer photobombed a fan who thought she was snapping a selfie in the midst of the performer's concert at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.
The teen shared the picture via Tumblr days later and explained what happened in a series of blog posts:
"OMG OMG OMG I CANT BELIEVE IT HAPPENED TO ME," she wrote, adding, "i dont even know it was such a blur i just remember her bending down to me and my friend and i just turned for the photo and wowoowow it was the best moment ever like she posed its crazy i wasnt even expecting her to look at my phone or notice me in the crowd."
One thing's for sure: Queen Bey knows how to make a fan's moment.
Beyoncé posted a sweet Instagram photo on Halloween of herself dressed as an angel while holding daughter Blue Ivy, who appeared to be channeling her inner bumblebee.
Of course, we can't help but wonder if there's more where this came from.
After all, the singer's mother, Tina Knowles, told E! News exclusively at the Angel Ball in New York City that "Beyoncé has about five outfits picked out for her and she has yet to make a decision."
In fact, she revealed that the entire family is getting into the holiday spirit.
"They are all very excited to dress up this year," Knowles added.
Of course, Bey is no stranger to sharing shots of herself with little Blue. She recently posted several personal photos on Tumblr, including one of mother and daughter playing peekaboo in a hammock.
Don't worry, baby Blue Ivy is in the exact same situation!
As trick-or-treaters across the country make the final touches to their memorable costumes, we've learned proud parents Beyoncé and Jay Z are still trying to decide on the perfect look for their daughter.
"Beyoncé has about five outfits picked out for her and she has yet to make a decision," Tina Knowles told E! News exclusively at the Angel Ball in New York City.
And if that wasn't exciting enough, we've found out the entire family is getting decked out for the spooky holiday.
"They are very excited all to dress up this year," Knowles shared at the event supporting the Gabrielle Angel Foundation.
Although the proud grandma is keeping quiet on any of the potential looks, we can't help but speculate as to what the A-list family could wear.
Perhaps Beyoncé is staying on trend and rocking a Miley Cyrus look. Maybe Jay Z will grow a beard in honor of Duck Dynasty? What if Blue Ivy goes as a Minion from Despicable Me 2?
Knowing this family, we can count on a whole lot of creativity and cuteness. Can't wait to see the finished product!
A 15-year-old Australian girl thought she was snapping a selfie in the midst of the singer's concert at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park on Friday, Oct. 25. What the young dancer didn't anticipate, however, was that Queen Bey would end up photobombing her.
The teen shared the picture via Tumblr days later and explained what happened in a series of blog posts. "OMG OMG OMG I CANT BELIEVE IT HAPPENED TO ME," she wrote on Monday, Oct. 28. "i dont even know it was such a blur i just remember her bending down to me and my friend and i just turned for the photo and wowoowow it was the best moment ever like she posed its crazy i wasnt even expecting her to look at my phone or notice me in the crowd."
The brunette fan added that it was a "perfect night" and called Beyoncé "amazing."
Beyoncé is in the midst of her Mrs. Carter World Tour. She next performs at Australia's Brisbane Entertainment Centre before heading to North America in late November.
The 32-year-old superstar showed off her adventurous side, sharing some photos on her Instagram account on Friday, Oct. 18 of a recent exhilarating experience: freefall jumping in Auckland, New Zealand!
She later posted a video on Friday, Oct. 25, documenting her recent exciting activity.
Before her jump, she cannot help but say "oh my God" as she nears the edge. Once she is in the air, freefalling, she is screaming and laughing.
"This is awesome!" she squeals.
And how did she feel once she touched down?
"That is so fun!" Bey enthusiastically exclaims.
The first yellow-tinted snapshot features the "Love on Top" singer posing at the city's sky tower with her instructor in a purple and yellow jumpsuit, white wedge sneakers and strapped in her harness. Bey is resting one hand on the side of the railing, while holding up some of her long blonde hair with the other. She doesn't appear nervous (or maybe she is hiding it well!) and is giving a little smirk for the camera.
"Freefall in New Zealand!" she captioned the pic.
The second photo shows the R&B singer about to take the plunge against the gorgeous skyline. She is leaning forward with her arms stretched out, like she is ready to fly.
And then, she's freefalling!
Bey is currently in New Zealand for her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. She performs in Auckland tonight before going into the Australian leg of the tour—which will last for almost a month.
What other exciting activities will Bey try during her tour? We will have to wait and see!
Beyoncé definitely channeled her alter ego following her final show in Auckland, New Zealand, last week by playfully participating in a traditional Haka.
After her Oct. 19 concert, the 32-year-old superstar was greeted backstage by her local crew with the traditional war dance that is often used to honor a distinguished guest.
It is also performed by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team prior to international matches to intimidate the opponent.
In the video, Beyoncé can be seen coming face-to-face with several men chanting, slapping their legs, bulging their eyes out and sticking out their tongues.
Without hesitation, the "Love on Top" singer proceeds to mimic their every move.
And, not surprising, she's a natural!
Beyoncé, who is in the middle of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, had a good run in Auckland.
According to the New Zealand Herald, she set a new record for the highest audience attendance at Vector Arena for a solo artist.
The "Grown Woman" singer shared a behind-the-scenes clip from the making of her 2014 calendar.
Showing off a number of wardrobe changes, Queen Bey looks sexier than ever as she poses for the camera.
Betty Harris' "Nearer to You" is overheard playing in the background as the pop star works her best angles for photographers Herring & Herring.
And between thigh-high latex boots and cleavage-baring blazers, the 32-year-old seems to be channeling her Sasha Fierce for the photo shoot.
In case you're not super privy to all things Bey, this marks the award-winning singer's first calendar…ever!
According to Bey's website, the calendar is here just in time for the holidays! "The new year is coming soon, it's time to get prepared with the first ever official Beyoncé calendar. Let Beyoncé help you schedule your day to day activities with her new 2014 calendar. Each month has a unique beautiful photo of Beyoncé and make a fantastic gift for family and friends."
And speaking of her website, hours before she revealed the making of her calendar video she posted a sweet backstage moment of herself with hubby Jay Z.
The two appear are snapped walking down a corridor while holding matching glasses of bubbly and dazing into one another's eyes.
Awww, we love these two.
The pop singer seductively posed for Herring & Herring in a series of revealing ensembles.
Some of the images from the set are said to be featured in her forthcoming calendar for 2014.
In one sizzling pic, Queen Bey is seen wearing a petticoat with a pair of latex thigh-high boots. Yup, that's right.
In another shot, the "Grown Woman" singer looks smokin'-hot while posing with a lit cigar.
Bey bares tons of cleavage as she's shown wearing nothing but a blazer, fedora and her favorite John Lennon-inspired shades.
But Blue Ivy's mama didn't stop there.
One picture captures the stunning songstress in a long brunette wig, sitting on a gold velvet couch and wearing another pair of crazy-high boots.
In a significantly more conservative snapshot, the 32-year-old poses in an all-white gown and blazer.
Last up in the group, but certainly not least, the former Destiny's Child member is seen wearing a stunning diamond necklace and dramatic eye makeup.
The photo is proof positive that Bey only needs to give one of her killer glares into the camera lens to knock your socks off.
Let's hope all these images make it on the soon-to-be released calendar!
According to Bey's website, the calendar is here just in time for the holidays! "The new year is coming soon, it's time to get prepared with the first ever official Beyoncé calendar. Let Beyoncé help you schedule your day to day activities with her new 2014 calendar. Each month has a unique beautiful photo of Beyoncé and make a fantastic gift for family and friends."
The $15 calendar measures 12 by 12 inches and has 14 different shots of the "Love on Top" crooner.
Beyoncé year-round? Sign us up.
Beyoncé was photographed arriving at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena carrying daughter Blue Ivy in her arms ahead of Tuesday night's kick off of the Australian leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
And boy does the R&B songstress look to be in great shape, rocking a crème de la crème sweatshirt, black sneakers, and denim shorties showing off sexy legs which, thanks to all that dancing, have not an ounce of fat on them.
While the 21-month-old toddler has her mom's fashion sense, sporting a black and white polka dot top, black pants and slip on shoes.
According to Melbourne's Herald Sun, Beyoncé had the entire venue out of their seats and booty-shaking to such hits as "Crazy in Love," "Baby Boy," and "Irreplaceable," along with "Survivor" from her Destiny's Child days, and cuts from her most recent album, 2011's 4.
The Grammy winner will play three more dates in Melbourne, after which the trek heads to Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide before ending in Perth on Nov. 9.
Blue Ivy will then accompany Beyoncé back to the States for a second jaunt around North America, starting with a gig in Vancouver on Nov. 30 and wrapping up with a hometown concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Dec. 22.
The 32-year-old singer shared a photo of herself—topless!—on her Tumblr page. In the sexy shot, Queen Bey (and her girls!) appear breezy and laidback as she lounges in a white hammock.
But Mrs. Carter, as you can see, didn't go full Miley Cyrus with her racy pic. On one side of Bey's chest, her curly blond locks cascade down over her breast, and on the other, she pulls the hammock's fabric towards her to strategically avoid any sort of nip slip.
Jay Z's love is a full-force fashionista, thanks in part to the fact that she knows to pick clothes that emphasize her best assets! "I [try to] accentuate my waist," she told Cosmopolitan. "I know things that are too loose underneath my hips are not good because I look really boxy. Plunging necks look good on me. My arms are full, and certain cuts make [them] look even fuller. My legs are really curved and look longer in straight leg jeans. Tops either have to be really short to show off the top of my midriff, or long. I can't do in between."
And when it comes to following the latest trends or sticking to what's tried and true to work best for you? Beyoncé had some sage advice, explaining, "It's [about] finding the balance. Most women don't want to take the time to figure out their style. It's okay to experiment a little bit, but [don't] get too far from what looks good on you. With accessories, shoes, and bags, you can be as trendy as you like. But certain cuts for your body and colors that look great on you, those things are forever."
But the best beauty advice Beyoncé's ever been given has nothing to do with the actual clothes you put on your body—it's all about what you put into your body! "My mom [Tina Knowles] has always told me that beauty fades but inner beauty is forever. There's nothing more beautiful than a woman [who] takes care of [herself]," she said. "When you drink water, take care of your skin, work out, and work on your mind, body and spirit—you are going to be beautiful, regardless."
Amen, sister!
The 32-year-old superstar showed off her adventurous side, sharing some photos on her Instagram account on Friday, Oct. 18 of a recent exhilarating experience: freefall jumping in Auckland, New Zealand!
The first yellow-tinted snapshot features the "Love on Top" singer posing at the city's sky tower with her instructor in a purple and yellow jumpsuit, white wedge sneakers and strapped in her harness. Bey is resting one hand on the side of the railing, while holding up some of her long blonde hair with the other. She doesn't appear nervous (or maybe she is hiding well!) and is giving a little smirk for the camera.
"Freefall in New Zealand!" she captioned the pic.
The second photo shows the R&B singer about to take the plunge against the gorgeous skyline. She is leaning forward with her arms stretched out, like she is ready to fly.
And then, she's freefalling!
Bey is currently in New Zealand for her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. She performs in Auckland tonight before going into the Australian leg of the tour—which will last for almost a month.
What other exciting activities will Bey try during her tour? We will have to wait and see!
The pop star recently shared several personal snapshots of herself on Tumblr, including some of her spending quality time with daughter Blue Ivy.
One of the cutest pictures from the set is of Bey and Blue playing peekaboo in a hammock.
And in another snapshot, the "Grown Woman" singer is shown relaxing on the same hammock with her baby girl sitting up on her stomach.
The candid and calm picture perfectly captures the mom's bond with her adorable little one.
Bey appeared to be wearing an ivory sweater while her daughter wore a sundress.
But the thing that's absolutely too perfect for words about the photo? Blue's accessory.
The only child of Bey and Jay Z is snapped holding up her mama's iPhone and looks to be enjoying trying her hand at the latest mobile technology.
Who knows, maybe Blue is the mastermind behind all of Bey's Instagrams?! (Hey—weirder things have happened.)
The two also played with bubbles in their bathing suits during the day. And of course, Blue is wearing a little blue swimsuit!
And while little Blue was away, mommy got in some play time of her own.
Beyoncé also shared a few sexy pics of herself posing in a string bikini during her down time.
Dressed in a yellow jersey shirt and a matching floral bikini bottom, the sultry singer flaunted her enviable washboard abs.
Can you say, dangerous curves ahead?!
The 32-year-old is currently in New Zealand for her Mrs. Carter Show world tour. She performs in Auckland for four nights before going into the Australian leg of the tour—which lasts for almost a month.
Baby Blue has got quite the passport considering she's not even 2 years old yet!
In Touch Weekly got a hold of Beyoncé’s rider from a recent video shoot and the “demands” were, well, surprisingly normal.
“Beyoncé asked that her dressing room not only be completely baby-proofed [for daughter Blue Ivy, 21 months] but that it be furnished in all white,” a source told the gossip magazine.
The all-white dressing room also needed to be large enough to comfortably sit eight people and be set to 72 degrees to create a “sitting room” atmosphere. Crazy stuff, right?
In addition, the “Single Ladies” singer also demanded a well-lit second room, outfitted with giant vanity, specifically for the purpose of getting her makeup done. And because that wasn’t tyrannical enough, she also requested that her food and drinks be served on a “crisp white tablecloth,” according to the source.
But still, there were some requests that even the gossip magazine’s source thought were reasonable, mainly Queen B’s requirement of a “clean & sanitized bathroom” and a no-camera policy.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, the power couple had a romantic dinner date at La Petite Maison de Nicole, an upscale French restaurant. Jay and Bey even coordinated their outfits for the occasion—both working a tasteful combination of denim and black (but not blue jeans, obviously).
Just one day before Hov and his wife's chic date night, the rapper—along with Chris Martin and Timbaland—rode the tube (aka public transportation!) to his sold-out Magna Carter Holy Grail Tour show at London's O2 Arena.
This wasn't even the first time Mr. Carter's said "no thanks" to a chauffeur. Back in October 2012, he took the subway to his performance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. And, adorably, he even made a friend on the ride!
New York resident Ellen Grossman, 67, didn't recognize the hip-hop royal sitting beside her, but she did notice people were taking his picture. She asked Jay, 43, if he was famous, but classy gent he is, he played down his superstar status. "I make music," he answered humbly, telling her he was on his way to his show. Ms. Grossman, who later realized she'd heard of Jay and was indeed a fan, told him she was proud of him.
Safe to say we're all pretty proud of the whole Carter fam.
Beyoncé took to her Instagram account on Wednesday to post the selfie to end all selfies.
The stunning singer already has a track record for sharing some pretty attention-grabbing self-shot Instagrams; there was the makeup-free pic that showed us another side to the usually stage-ready star, and the headline-making selfie in which she debuted her pretty pixie cut.
But Bey's latest snapshot is as clever as it is gorgeous, and definitely made us smile!
In it, Jay Z's ladylove does her best impression of an Instagram selfie by holding up the app's familiar frame—complete with her user-name, location and a whopping 150,000 likes—up to her face, and then posting it as a—you guessed it!—selfie on her account.
Can you say Insta-love?
And the best part is that Bey's witty shot is the perfect option for those still looking for a Halloween costume.
Not only is it budget-friendly (a cardboard frame doesn't exactly break the bank, people), but aside from the prop, you already have all the material you need—namely, yourself.
Of course, you could always dress up as the snazzy singer and have fun with the hashtags. Tag yourself #SingleLady if you're looking, or perhaps #BowDown if you're feeling particularly confident on All Hallow's Eve.
And of course, snap as many Instagrams as you can! We're betting this is one selfie that will get a lot of likes!
The singer's website released a new video of the super star's time in Latin America, showing the exciting moments from the Mrs. Carter World Tour and also giving fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Bey and her team working toward spreading a positive message to children in the area.
"The whole idea of #beyGOOD is to create long-term ties with organizations here that are making a real difference in the lives of kids. Beyonce never forgets these young people and in every city she always reaches out," a voice in the video says.
"I just encourage you to find your passion and to stay focused and positive," Blue Ivy's mama tells a group of kids, and then was brought to tears after the group said a prayer for her.
"Thank you guys for coming. I'm so proud of you. You inspire me and so many other people. Hopefully people will see that you work so hard and are so positive and will wanna do the same thing," she said.
Much like her previous video, the superstar interacts with a variety of her fans of different race, shapes, sizes and gender, promoting a message of dedication and positivity while her hit song "Halo" plays in the background.
It seems like these clips will continue throughout her tour, with her time Down Under being the next location for "Bey Good."
The cover for the 32-year-old Grammy winner's new calendar has been posted on the singer's official site and you can bet it's fierce.
In the sexy photo, Jay Z's other half strikes a sultry pose while showing her midriff in a sparkly two-piece outfit with matching gloves and hat. Beyoncé looks red hot with her right arm on the top of her head and her long blond hair framing her face.
In a second black and white shot, Bey peeks out from behind a door while sticking out her bootylicious bum in skin-tight bottoms.
According to Bey's website, the calendar is here just in time for the holidays! "The new year is coming soon, it's time to get prepared with the first ever official Beyoncé calendar. Let Beyoncé help you schedule your day to day activities with her new 2014 calendar. Each month has a unique beautiful photo of Beyoncé and make a fantastic gift for family and friends."
The $15 calendar measures 12 by 12 inches and has 14 different shots of the "Love on Top" songstress.
Yes, Jay Z's love looks amazing (as always) on the cover of Marie Claire Australia's November 2013 issue. Wearing a Jonathan Saunders crop top and sequined pencil skirt, the 32-year-old singer looks like she means business with one hand placed firmly on her hip. But is anyone else getting a sense of déjà vu?
It might be because Vogue U.K. used the same stock image of Queen Bey (just Photoshopped to look slightly different) on the cover of their May 2013 issue. Our friends at Marie Claire Down Under also recycled bits of Beyoncé's interview with Vogue's U.S. March 2013 issue.
This, you will recall, was when Mrs. Carter gave some encouragement to all the ladies in the workforce. "Equality is a myth, and for some reason everyone accepts the fact that women don't make as much money as men do," she said. The solution? "Power's not given to you. You have to take it."
Good advice from Baddie Bey!
The pop star just Instagrammed a close-up of her newest manicure—a sparkling hot-pink hue that is in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, which kicks off today, Oct. 1.
Now here's a real reason to bow down to the diva: Her new paint job benefits BCA twofold.
Not only will $1 of each bottle sold go toward the Breast Cancer Campaign but if you copy the Grammy winner and post about the dazzling tint on Instagram or Twitter, 16 more cents will be donated to the same charity.
So what's the exact shade you want? Nails Inc Nail Polish in Pinkie Pink.
And remember this is probably one of the only times you won't feel guilty about splurging on some Queen B style—so don't pass it up!
But according to Jay Z, he's brought out her bad side! In a candid interview with Vanity Fair's November issue, the rapper is asked if Bey is still a good girl. He replies, laughingly, "Nah. She's gangsta now."
Jay, 43, also confirms the Magna Carta lyric, "She was a good girl, 'til she knew me" is about his wife, 32. But, to be fair, it was Beyoncé's sweet, kind and genuine personality that initially drew him to her—and Jay had to earn her affection!
The superstar couple were both featured on the cover of Vanity Fair's 2001 Music Issue, when, as Jay puts it, "we were just beginning to try to date each other."
"Well, you know, you've got to try first," he explains of courtship. "You got to dazzle…wine and dine." (Gentlemen, take note!)
When asked if Beyoncé would've been interested in him were he not a rap mogul but a gas-station attendant, he replies, "If I'm as cool as I am, yes. But she's a charming Southern girl, you know, she's not impressed…But I would have definitely had to be this cool."
Ah, yes, Hov is indisputably cool. He's also, though, a great father to 18-month-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter. "She's my biggest fan," he gushes. "If no one bought the Magna Carta, the fact that she loves it so much, it gives me the greatest joy. And that's not like a cliché. I'm really serious. Just to see her—'Daddy song, more, Daddy.' She's genuine, she's honest, because she doesn't know it makes me happy. She just wants to hear it."
Preciousness. As for why Jay and Bey tried to trademark Blue Ivy's name? They didn't want it to be exploited! "People wanted to make products based on our child's name," he says, "and you don't want anybody trying to benefit off your baby's name. It wasn't for us to do anything; as you see, we haven't done anything."
That's some good, protective parenting.
The latest snapshot, added to the singer's Instagram account on Wednesday, Sept. 25, shows Bey sitting cross-legged in a chair (or should we say, throne) in the shade surrounded by plants. The R&B superstar looks stunning in the natural surrounding, wearing a gold bikini with bright red lips. Her long wavy golden locks are back, after she was seen with elongated hair over the weekend.
She is staring straight into the camera with a serious expression.
All hail Queen Bey!
The 32-year-old performer didn't add a caption to the picture so it's unclear when and where she captured the moment, but the singer had a show in Monterrey, Mexico yesterday and is scheduled to take the stage in Mexico City tomorrow.
Bey has been documenting her travels and recently added lots of photos during her Brazilian leg of her tour. Some highlights include standing barefoot on a rocky beach flaunting her banging bod in a leopard shirt and posing with the country's flag.
The "Love On Top" singer also shared a sweet photo with her daughter Blue Ivy and their matching feet, and toes!
Keep the fierce pics coming, Bey.
Not if you're Beyoncé!
The singer made headlines in August when she debuted a super-short blond pixie cut, but just a few weeks later she surprised us yet again when she added length to her locks with a chin-grazing bob, which she styled in both a sleek straight style and loose waves.
But now it seems Bey's bored with the bob too, because we've spotted the singer rocking long hair on several occasions now.
The singer took to her Tumblr account to share a few shots of herself holding up a heart-shaped Brazilian flag, and climbing up a staircase in a sheer white skirt, but we were too distracted by her long blond locks to pay too much attention to anything else!
And just this Sunday, we spotted her elongated hair yet again, as she was boarding a plane with Blue Ivy in Puerto Rico.
Sporting a casual ensemble of Topshop sweatpants, a gray tee, and socks without shoes (we told you it was casual!), the singer nonchalantly tied back her hair, which now extends mid-back. She's still rocking the blond hue, and kept her strands fuss-free, opting for a tousled style that screams low maintenance.
The singer is currently on the Latin American leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, so perhaps she wanted to shake things up for a few of her upcoming shows?
As long as she doesn't get her newly long hair stuck in a fan, we're sure she'll give her Latin American fans one caliente performance!
Do you prefer Beyoncé with long or short hair?
Beyoncé posted an adorable photo of her foot, next to daughter Blue Ivy's tiny toes, to her Instagram account on Friday, Sept. 20.
While there is a size difference between the two ladies (obviously), both mom and daughter seem to be giving a "big toe up" in the snapshot.
Kind of looks like a thumbs up, right?
The 32-year-old performer didn't add a caption to the picture so it's unclear when and where she captured this cute moment, but Queen Bey is still in South America for her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
The superstar has a busy weekend with performances in Caracas, Venezuela on Friday and Medellin, Colombia on Sunday.
Bey has been documenting her travels and recently added lots of photos during her Brazilian leg of her tour. Some highlights include standing barefoot on a rocky beach flaunting her banging bod in a leopard shirt and posing with the country's flag.
Beyoncé and Jay Z!
The hip-hop and business savvy couple made nearly $95 million last year, according to Forbes.
The pair's high-earnings were duein large part to tours, album sales and business deals. Jay Z's platinum album, Watch the Throne, and world tour grossed nearly $1.4 million per night in the U.S. Bey, who took a brief hiatus after their daughter Blue Ivy was born, roared back with the Mrs. Carter Show world tour, which has raked in an average of $2 million per night.
Not too shabby!
The couple also have big business investments that fueled their high-earnings. Jay Z started his own sports agency, Roc Nation Sports, representing star athletes including Robinson Cano and Victor Cruz. He was a part-owner of the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Nets play; he sold his stake in the team and will dump his share in the arena as well. Knowles continues to make her mark in the fashion and beauty world, with her clothing line the House of Deron and fragrance collection.
And their daughter could soon join in on the family business fun. The tot has already made a cameo on one of her Dad's song and her famous parents have petitioned to trademark her name "for the right to use it on anything from baby clothes to toys."
According to Forbes, this research was completed during a specific time period—this list was compiled from June 2012 through June 2013. Forbes speaks to "managers, agents, producers and other in-the-know folks" when creating the list.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen took the No. 2 spot on the list, earning an estimated $80 million—approximately $15 million less than Jay and Knowles.
Bündchen earned about $4 million more than her NFL player hubby, thanks in part to being the highest-paid model in the world and her line of line of flip-flops from Brazilian footwear company, Grenden. Brady's new contract with the New England Patriots, including a signing bonus of $30 million, helped contribute to the couple's earnings. Brady also has lucrative endorsement deals, including Uggs and Under Armor.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie came in at No. 3, earning an estimated $50 million. Unlike the other couples on this Forbes list, most of the their paychecks come from making movies. Although there was one exception: Pitt did earn a $7 million for his Chanel No. 5 commercial.
Congrats to all of the couples!
The 32-year-old performer—who is currently on the Brazilian leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour—posted a slew of new shots from her time in South America, and clearly, Blue Ivy's mama is enjoying the cuisine, culture and beautiful scenery in the Latin American country.
In true Queen Bey fashion, Jay Z's missus didn't provide any commentary for the stunning photos, which include silly shots of Bey, pics of the beach in Brazil and even an appearance by mom Tina Knowles.
In one photo, Bey is seemingly wearing minimal clothing as she proudly poses with a giant heart adorned with the country's flag, covering herself up while making a kissy face for the camera.
In another gorgeous shot, the "Love On Top" singer flaunts her bangin' bod while barefoot on a rocky beach, sporting a fitted leopard print shirt, super short denim shorts and a gold choker, wearing her sassy bob pulled back.
The singer also struts her stuff on a sandy beach, beer in hand, and she even shared a shot of a special message she wrote in the sand for fans.
A source told E! News that Queen Bey is staying in a mansion by the beach in Trancoso, Bahia, a fishing village which is renowned for sightings of the local rich and famous.
According to E! News Brazil, the trendy getaway town has attracted the likes of Naomi Campbell, Bar Refaeli, Matthew McConaughey and Miranda Kerr in the past.
The legendary performer brought her own entourage to Brazil and is said to be cooking and taking care of the home herself with a little help from her staff as well as her mom Tina.
According to the source, she rented the scenic pad for $65,000 for a 10-day stay and is traveling to her shows in Rio, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte by way of a private plane.
The insider also added that the locals love Beyoncé and that the superstar has been feeling at home doing "local" activities, like riding a bike on the beach and enjoying the country's native cuisine, which is now well-documented on her Tumblr page.
Beyoncé has posted snaps of various tasty dishes in addition to stunning glamour shots.
And she's even jumping for joy in one ultra-cool black and white pic.
We're officially convinced, Bey. Can we please borrow your life for a day?!
The superstar—who is currently on the Brazilian leg of her Mrs. Carter Show world tour—has been in Brazil since last week, and E! News has all the scoop on how the 32-year-old performer is spending her time in South America when she's not busy belting out her hit tunes onstage.
A source tells E! News that Queen Bey is staying in a mansion by the beach in Trancoso, Bahia, a fishing village which is renowned for sightings of the local rich and famous.
According to E! News Brazil, the trendy getaway town has attracted the likes of Naomi Campbell, Bar Refaeli, Matthew McConaughey and Miranda Kerr in the past.
E! News has also learned that Jay Z's missus is renting the house of the Georgina Brandolini (grandmother of Bianca Brandolini), a residence that can accommodate 18 people.
And in true Queen Bey fashion, the legendary performer brought her own entourage and is said to be cooking and taking care of the home herself with a little help from her staff as well as mom Tina Knowles.
So what's the price tag for the fancy pad?
The source tells E! News that the "Love on Top" singer rented the mansion for $65,000 for a 10-day stay, traveling to her shows in Rio, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte by way of a private plane.
The insider also adds that the locals love Beyoncé (who doesn't?!) and that Blue Ivy's mama has been feeling at home doing "local" activities, like riding a bike on the beach and enjoying the country's native cuisine.
Indeed, Bey has posted pics from her time in Brazil on her Instagram account, showing her love for the culture while looking stunning in a sexy bra top and skirt ensemble.
In one shot, the mother of one is all smiles as she stands in the middle of a circle of fans, as her admirers play drums and snap pics of the performer.
In another pic, she strikes a seductive pose in a white crochet skirt and a bra top with beaded detailing and turquise stones, which she paired with giant matching earrings and a straw fedora hat to shield her face from the hot sun.
Today, Bey was busy playing soccer with local children, kicking the ball around barefoot while sporting the official shirt of Brazil's soccer team. According to the local source, she arrived at the school in full attire, but changed into casual wear to play with the children.
Too cute. Of course, Queen Bey is the talk of the town!
"Beyoncé's great. She's got her alter ego [Sasha Fierce], but Beyoncé the girl, the woman, is very sweet and nice and polite," raved Nicks, 65. "She's a good role model. She's not skanky. I'm glad we have her."
Nicks met the R&B diva in 2001 when she appeared in Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" music video; the popular song samples her own 1981 hit, "Edge of Seventeen."
During her Telegraph interview, Nicks also touched upon her relationship with the Glee cast. When Fleetwood Mac's music was featured in the 2011 episode "Rumours," Nicks visited the set and became close with many of the actors. After series star Cory Monteith died of a heroin overdose in July 2013, she reached out to the late actor's colleagues.
"I said, 'Forgive me if I'm stepping into your personal space. I lost my godson to an overdose last year—he died at a fraternity party—so I do understand how shocking that is," recalled Nicks, who battled a cocaine addiction in the ‘70s and ‘80s. "When what happened to Cory happened, I just was sick for days. Honestly, just sick. It's just so prevalent. It's everywhere. It's worse than when we were young."
Given what happened to Monteith, Nicks doesn't take her recovery for granted. "I think that I'm stronger than a lot of people," she said. "And I knew then, as I know now, that I still have so much to do."
And get this: it involves Beyoncé, not her husband, John Legend!
"I know I love beyonce but I didn't realize how much I loved beyonce until the dj played 'love on top' and I cry danced," the 27-year-old model tweeted after their nuptials on Sunday. Too cute.
Teigen and Legend tied the knot on Saturday in an intimate ceremony at an estate on Italy's posh Lake Como.
Teigen wore three different Vera Wang dresses for the big day, which she showed off on Twitter over the weekend. "Every time I went in [to Vera Wang] for a fitting, I couldn't stop getting one," Teigen told E! News prior to saying "I do." "It's just too pretty."
Earlier today, Teigen shared a gorgeous photo of the lovebirds during their wedding day with the caption, "my cherie amour."
Teigen and Legend began dating back in 2007.
The pop star was performing her The Mrs. Carter Show tour concert at the Estadio do Morumbi venue in Sao Paulo when she began singing her track Irreplaceable, a part of the event when she interacts with revellers at the front of the stage.
She bent down to sing to her fans when a topless man grabbed her and hauled her off the stage, prompting her security personnel to leap into action and pull her back to safety.
Beyonce carried on singing as two burly guards hunted for the man in a bid to remove him from the show, until Beyonce spotted them and told them to let the gig-goer stay.
She said, "It's alright, it's alright", before offering out her hand to greet the man before asking his name and carrying on with her show.
The super star singer posted two serene Instagram pictures today, where she's enjoying the sunset while sippin' on a drink and frolicking near the waves, wearing an Isabel Marant Kiliann cardigan, beach hat and white blouse.
And it's a given that Bey looks absolutely flawless, despite the wind and her new wavy bob shielding her face (c'mon, no one needs to actually see her mug to know she's looking beautiful).
There's no word as to Bey's exact location in this photos (because we obviously want to go wherever it looks like that), but we know she is currently in Brazil continuing her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
The celeb was due to perform at Belo Horizonte on yesterday followed by the Rock In Rio Festival in Rio De Janeiro on Friday and a stadium gig in São Paulo on Sunday. After this weekend, Beyoncé's trek will take her to Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico before wrapping up Latin/South American leg in Puerto Rico on Sept. 28.
Let's hope she continues to share the beautiful scenery along the way.
Well, your burning inquiry has been answered by The Hollywood Reporter, as the mag just released the salaries of 23 of your favorite A-list stars. Unsurprisingly, all of the celebs listed are sitting pretty.
According to THR, Angelina Jolie, who won her first Academy Award 14 years ago for her role in Girl, Interrupted and whose star power only seems to rise, will make an estimated $20 million if she stars in Salt 2, cementing her status as one of the top-earners in Tinsel Town.
But not far behind is Angie's partner Brad Pitt who, according to the mag, recently signed a $3 million deal with Cadillac to advertise in China only in addition to reportedly received a cool $7 million for his ad campaign with Chanel's No. 5 fragrance
Of course, Beyoncé is also at the top of the list, thanks to her $50 million deal with Pepsi. The music legend, who is currently on her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, is also preparing for the release of her fifth studio album, which will surely bring Queen Bey some extra earnings.
As for Robert Downey Jr.?
The Iron Man star remains Hollywood's highest-paid actor, netting an estimated $50 million for his role as Tony Stark in the third franchise film. He also reportedly received more than $12 million from HTC after inking a two-year deal as the face of the mobile company's most recent campaign.
Additional actors in the $20 million salary club include Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Daniel Radcliffe, who earned $20 million for the final Harry Potter film, as well as Skyfall star Daniel Craig.
Former lovebirds Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart also earned $20 million for the last Twilight flick, and R.Pattz continues to bring in cash from his $12 million dollar three-year deal with Dior Homme fragrance.
As for stars whose salary might surprise you?
Cameron Diaz scored a whopping $42 million for her role in the raunchy comedy Bad Teacher (but only because she reportedly agreed to a small $1 million upfront fee), and George Clooney has earned an estimated $40 million for his Nespresso endorsement.
Jennifer Aniston can nab $5 million for a comedy role, as well as Rachel McAdams, who also earns $5 million for her appearance in heartfelt romantic films like The Vow.
The singer posted a gorgeous selfie to her Instagram account on Wednesday, Sept. 11 without wearing a lick of makeup. And she looks as glam as ever.
In the photo, she stares straight into the camera, her mouth opened slightly to reveal a little smile and her new wavy blond bob is flowing.
And if you look closely, you can see some dark curls in the right corner of the photo. So, who might be joining the star in this photo? Possibly her daughter, Blue Ivy!
The snapshot was taken in Brazil, where the songstress is in town continuing her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
Bey is due to perform at Belo Horizonte on Wednesday followed by the Rock In Rio Festival in Rio De Janeiro on Friday and a stadium gig in São Paulo on Sunday. After that, Beyoncé's trek will take her to Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico before wrapping up Latin/South American leg in Puerto Rico on Sept. 28.
The R&B songstress recently returned from a luxury yacht tour of the Mediterranean last week celebrating her 32nd birthday with husband Jay Z and their 20-month-old daughter.
So much so that the R&B superstar couldn't resist taking to her Tumblr page to share photos of her and husband Jay Z relaxing while touring the Mediterranean in a luxury yacht last week with 20-month-old daughter Blue Ivy to ring in Beyoncé's 32nd birthday.
The snapshots show the superstar couple having a grand old time as they happily embarked on a private pleasure cruise from Spain to Italy aboard the triple-decker Galactica Star, which included stops in the Italian port of Stromboli as well as the island of Capri.
And by the looks of things, the trip may have included a moped ride as Bey posed next to the kind of motorbike that's ubiquitous in that part of the world.
Beyoncé also took a picture of she and H.O.V.A. lounging on deck as they took in magnificent views of the sun setting over the ocean. Other images showed Jay Z diving off the back of the yacht into the sea, Beyoncé floating on her back, and the hip-hopster enjoying one of his favorites Cabana No. 4 cigars.
Last but not least, the duo sipped Armand de Brignac Brut Gold champagne, courtesy of the 15-liter bottle that's just one of the many amenities of the 60-meter superyacht.
With their vacation now at an end, Beyoncé has since flown with Blue Ivy down to Brazil where she resumed her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour on Sunday in the coastal resort city of Fortaleza.
The songstress is due to perform at Belo Horizonte on Wednesday followed by the Rock In Rio Festival in Rio De Janeiro on Friday and a stadium gig in Sao Paulo on Sunday. After that, Beyoncé's trek will take her to Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico before wrapping up Latin/South American leg in Puerto Rico on Sept. 28.
As her 32nd birthday celebrations in the Mediterranean continue, the singer almost fell victim to a booby-licious wardrobe malfunction in Capri, Italy.
While visiting the Anema e Core eatery with hubby Jay Z, Beyoncé's cleavage-baring low-cut blue jumpsuit popped open, almost exposing too much of her chest. Luckily, Bey quickly caught the loose button and covered up the outfit oopsie before suffering a full nip slip.
During their night out, the pop star looked glamorous with her blond hair down and a jeweled necklace paired with her jumpsuit.
Hubby Jay sported dark pants and a sweater for the evening outing.
Besides her near wardrobe malfunction, Bey was all smiles while strolling the streets of Capri with her man.
Over the weekend, Bey, Jay and their adorable daughter Blue Ivy were snapped on a luxurious yacht, sailing the Mediterranean Sea as a family. The birthday girl and her fam were in Spain last week before sailing to Italy as part of her 32nd birthday celebrations.
Beyoncé turned 32 on Sept. 4.
Yes, she's on a boat, extravagantly yachting her way through the Mediterranean with hubby Jay Z and bundle of joy Blue Ivy.
And looking damned fine doing it, we must say.
Although the mean old internet did get its meme on at the expense of the hip-hop mogul's diving prowess, or lack thereof, with meme-Jay's questionable form going all wrestlemaia and jumping into Miguel's fan kick and in general going for the gold.
Etc., etc., etc.
We're having some funnies, but not gonna lie:
It sure looks like they're having the better time.
After starting the yacht party in Spain on Wednesday, the happy family and some friends are currently cruising Italy, soaking up the sun and fun.
But traveling in style can be a tad bit pricy. The type of triple-decker Galactica Star yacht favored by Bey and family on this trip would set the music star couple back more than $350,000 a week, the owner of SuperYachtFan.com tells E! News.
Our yacht expert estimates the purchase price of the brand-new Galactica Star to have been around $50 million, noting that the boat isn't listed among charter companies as an acquirable rental, so Beyoncé and Jay-Z likely pulled some insider strings to gain access.
We're told this particular yacht is "super fast" and boasts a helicopter "touch and go" landing pad, a two-deck beach club, a sauna and a glass-bottom pool on the main deck.
It's got to be hard to return to the mainland after living on that for a few days, right?
Congrats again to the B-Day girl!
Beyoncé spent the week, including her 32nd birthday on Wednesday, swimming, sunning and celebrating wirh Jay Z, daughter Blue Ivy and some of their luckiest pals aboard a luxury yacht that ferried them from Spain to Italy.
So, how much does a private pleasure cruise on the Mediterranean run—on the type of triple-decker Galactica Star favored by Bey and family on this trip, that is?
According to the owner of SuperYachtFan.com, chartering a 60-meter yacht would cost about $350,000 a week, not including food, fuel, gratuities for the staff or amenities such as the 15-liter bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut Gold champagne Jay Z was spotted hoisting (or should we say bench-pressing) onboard.
For the record, Armand de Brignac doesn't even list such a splurge on its website, but a 1.5-liter bottle sells for $650. You do the math.
Our yacht expert estimates the purchase price of the brand-new Galactica Star to have been around $50 million, noting that the boat isn't listed among charter companies as an acquirable rental, so Beyoncé and Jay-Z likely pulled some insider strings to gain access.
We're told this particular yacht is "super fast"—she has an innovating hull and can reach speeds of 27 knots (nautical miles per hour)—and boasts a helicopter "touch and go" landing pad, a two-deck beach club, a sauna, a hammam and a glass-bottom pool on the main deck.
It's got to be hard to return to the mainland after living on that for a few days, right?
But maybe it's just another vacation for one of music's most powerful couples.
Beyoncé was spotted boarding the yacht on Monday in Formentera, Spain, in flowing, animal-print separates—and it doesn't appear that she packed light.
On the water in Stromboli, Italy, she almost stole the spotlight on Wedneday in a bright red bikini and black-and-white-striped cover-up and matching red lips, but Blue Ivy gave her a run for her attention-getting money in an adorable leopard-print one-piece.
Then it was on to a multi-colored ensemble, including a cute head wrap, when they disembarked in the coastal Neapolitan municipality of Massa Lubrense to have lunch at famed ristorante Quattro Passi.
After lunch, they they boarded a smaller boat and were off to Blue Grotto, a sea cave on the isle of Capri.
Bey and Jay Z sipped champagne and snapped pictures, a couple of ordinary sight-seers appreciating the view.
Again, our best wishes go out to Beyoncé. This birthday looks like it was a good one.
The birthday girl and her rapper hubby were spotted Monday boarding a yacht in Formentera, Spain, where the twosome took some time to relax with daughter Blue Ivy.
Queen Bey looked fab as she flaunted her short blond bob, sporting a leopard print cover-up while carrying a large camera. She left her sky-high heels behind as she stepped on the boat barefoot, while the "Tom Ford" singer received a helping hand from the staff.
The twosome appears to have chartered the Galactica Star yacht for their getaway, which features an abundance of A-list amenities, including a sauna, fully equipped bar and a Jacuzzi pool with a glass bottom located on the main deck, which allows for natural light to pour into the beach club directly below.
There's also a stunning balcony outside the master cabin, as well as a helipad on the foredeck, which can also serve as a lounging area.
Custom built in 2013 by Heesen Yachts, the 213-foot, 3-inch ship has an exterior styled by Omega Architects, offers accommodations for twelve guests in six suites and can also carry a crew of 13 onboard.
Sounds pretty fabulous, right?!
Oh, what we wouldn't give for a day in the life of Bey and Jay.
The singer – who turns 32 on Wednesday – walked a gangplank in sky-high stilettos while toting her pajama-clad 19-month-old aboard a yacht in Ibiza, Spain.
Beyoncé paired the impressive black shoes with denim cut-offs and a white top and smiled as she and her husband, Jay-Z (not pictured), were greeted by the boat's staff.
The family arrived on the Mediterranean island on Monday for some R&R after Beyoncé's 90-minute performance at the Made in America festival in Philadelphia on Saturday. She returned to the festival on Sunday to see her sister Solange's set.
Beyonce was the headline performer Saturday at the "Budweiser Made In America" festival in Philadelphia at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that included 50,000 fans.
She was excited and energetic as she as sang and danced to songs that satisfied the crowd. She closed with the pop ballad "Halo."
Deadmau5, Phoenix, Imagine Dragons, 2 Chainz, Emeli Sande, HAIM and others performed Saturday. Nine Inch Nails, Calvin Harris, Queens of the Stone Age, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will perform Sunday.
The Mrs. Shawn Carter Tour headliner appears to be dressed as Disney's most famous lady mouse in Brooklyn's most famous theme park! We know Coney Island doesn't have an official female character to copy, but isn't it sacrilege to take Minnie out of her world?
Rumor has it the "Single Ladies" singer was actually at the beach-side boardwalk for a music video shoot. So now we're stuck wondering what new song requires a bright pink Minnie bow?
We should probably be more interested in the rest of the on-screen style. Skinny, distressed jeans, a chic white tank and piles of gold-charmed chains complete the costume. So maybe the new tune is about trying to be a woman while still feeling like a girl? Or maybe we're reading way too much into it and Bey just grabbed a hair piece from Blue Ivy's closet?
The singer, 31, acted out the lyrics from her hit song "Single Ladies" and put her "hands up" Wednesday, taking a thrill ride on Coney Island's famed Cyclone for her new music video.
Sporting a cap featuring the image of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., a white tank top, loads of bling and a big smile, the pop icon rode in the front car of the amusement park's iconic rollercoaster for the music video, which is being directed by fashion photographer Terry Richardson.
The superstar's surprise appearance at the park made the long holiday weekend even better for lucky fans.
"This is the craziest and best thing I’ve seen in my whole life,” Shawnette Duncan, 19, of Brooklyn, told the New York Daily News. "I came out to Coney Island for the day. It was a lucky day."
The singer posted a new video to her I Am Beyoncé Tumblr page, and in signature Queen B style she uploaded the YouTube video without much explanation, captioning the clip "The Mrs. Carter Show, Bey Good."
In the video, the superstar interacts with a variety of her fans of different race, shapes, sizes and gender, promoting a message of love and acceptance while her hit song "Love On Top" blasts in the background.
"She motivates us to be good," one fan says as another chimes in, "All united, different races, different people."
The pop star is also seen interacting with fans with an illness or disability, as Queen Bey's presence brings a beaming smile to their inspirational faces.
Jay Z's missus was recently interviewed by the adorable Kid President in honor of World Humanitarian Day, and the 31-year-old performer opened up about why the do-gooding day is important for us all to remember.
"It's so admirable, the people around the world who dedicate their lives to other people," she said. "And I think it's so important for us to take some time and be unselfish and have compassion because we really can impact the world."
Clearly, she already has.
At least in the case of Beyoncé, who showed off yet another new look last night while out with hubby Jay Z in Brooklyn attending a star-studded VMA's afterparty.
You may recall when not that long ago Queen Bey shocked the world just weeks ago debuting a sassy blond pixie cut, but it looks like she has plenty more surprises up her stylish sleeve when it comes to how exactly she wants to wear her hair.
Rocking a flirty, fresh bob with loose waves last night, the star stepped out showing off the third update (in case anyone's counting) to her ‘do in a matter of days.
The voluminous ‘do paired perfectly with her curve-hugging cutout dress and Brian Atwood suede platform ankle-strap heels.
Prior to that, the diva took the stage at a concert in Chelmsford, England flaunting a sleek, polished bob that exuded high-class panache and serious style, and before that she showed off a choppy, asymmetrical bob decorated with a hippie chic gold headband in Miami.
Looks like this hair evolution is continuously changing!
Of all the looks, we're giving her high marks for the wavy look, as it feels fun, free-spirited and effortlessly gorgeous!
Bey, you make any style look good!
What do you think of Bey's new hairstyle?
Jay Z's missus—who is set to embark on the Brazilian leg of her Mrs. Carter World Tour in September—released a new promo for her upcoming concert series in which she bares her enviable bod in a retro bikini.
The black and white video clip is set to the tune of Frank Sinatra's version of the hit "The Girl From Ipanema," and features Queen Bey strolling in the sand on a beautiful beach while the camera cuts to picturesque scenes around the city and countryside.
Bey explores the beauty of Brazil while tour dates flash across the screen, as she's shown sunbathing in a hammock, writing her name in the sand and swimming in the cool ocean water.
The 31-year-old performer will soon be heading down to South America, where she's set to play five cities in Brazil as well as four other shows across Latin America throughout September.
In addition to her new promo, Beyoncé posted three new pics on her Tumblr page. In one image, the "Bow Down" singer poses (with long hair!) next to a sign that says "Beyoncé Shots," placing one hand on her hip while delicately holding what appears to be a cup of cognac.
She flaunts her long legs in a pair of booty shorts and sports a shirt with her initial "BK" emblazoned on the front, smiling from ear to ear with berry-red lips.
In another shot, the singer shows off her love of the Brooklyn Nets (the team that Bey's hubby previously owned), sporting a baseball cap and making a kissy face while seemingly snapping a selfie.
And, of course, the proud mama also gave daughter Blue Ivy some love, posting a pic where you can only see the top of the one-year-old's head (can't miss that curly hair!) as Bey gently guides her little girl, while wearing a Texas jersey and bikini bottoms.
Too cute! We just love getting a look in to the life of Queen Bey.
What do you think of Beyoncé's new promo? Are you a fan of her Tumblr pics?
On Saturday, Aug. 17, Queen Bey and her entourage put in a $2,261 (£1,444 if we're feeling British) order at an Essex location of Nando's, a casual dining chain popular in the U.K. for its chicken.
In a receipt obtained by the Daily Mail and BBC, an order placed under the name of "Beyonce K" (as you will recall, before she was a one-namer, she used her given last name, Knowles) includes 58 wing platters, 48 whole chickens, 12 veggie burgers and 24 coleslaw orders.
Adorably, one Twitter user posted a picture of two smiling Nando's employees behind a grill "cooking @Beyonce wings while she's at @VFestival."
This isn't the first time Bey's hit up the popular U.K. chain for some post-show comfort food. Back in May, she and her crew racked up a $1,144 tab at a Nando's in Dublin.
They must have some mighty good chicken wings if Beyoncé's a repeat customer!
With him on Monday's World Humanitarian Day, which the United Nation holds annually to honor aid workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, was Beyoncé.
"I think it's so important for us to take some time and be unselfish and have compassion, because we really can impact the world," the singer, 31, told Novak about the organization and its lifesaving work.
The Kid President also asked Beyoncé what she thinks the world needs more of. "Well, I think the world needs more strong empowered men and women," she said. "So, I'd say I think the world needs more strength."
Novak then thanked the superstar for her time and asked: "Are we best friends?"
Her reply? "Only if I get a kiss on my cheek. Come on, Kid President!"
The singer headlined the opening night of the event in Chelmsford, England but she got off to a bad start by taking to the stage 20 minutes late, leaving the crowd standing in the wet and windy conditions.
A chorus of boos and jeers rang out through the site before Beyonce finally started her set with her track Run the World (Girls).
She later thanked fans for waiting in the wet conditions, telling the crowd, "Thank you all so much for waiting in the rain... Now let's have some fun in the rain. It feels good doesn't it."
Beyonce headlines the second night of the festival at its sister site in Stafford, England on Sunday night.
A week after Beyoncé caused a small style earthquake when she showed off an impossibly chic blond pixie cut that took more than four hours to get just so, she's already sporting a new, longer 'do!
Today at lunch in Miami with hubby Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy, Mrs. Carter rocked a choppy, longer-in-front bob—with the help of some extensions, of course, so theoretically she can go back to the pixie at any time.
She's probably luxuriating in her fabulous short hair right now somewhere, in fact. But we understand why Bey may have been craving a little swing in her step—the 31-year-old singer had long hair for pretty much ever.
Anyway, she kept today's style in check with a gold headband (What, the tiara was at the jeweler's?) and looked every bit the superstar in short-shorts, aviator shades, oxfords and a loose tank-top that read "Name Brand."
But we do hope she hasn't already tired of the pixie. It's fab.
"I think it is sexy, strong, a statement, empowering," colorist Rita Hazan, who toiled for hours to give Beyoncé her new blond hue, told E! News. "She always had beautiful, gorgeous tons of hair and for her to strip down and reveal herself this way is a very powerful moment."
Not only do we give Beyoncé kudos for undergoing a bold new cut, but she can now add “fragrance mogul” to her ever-expanding list of accomplishments.
Her “Heat” collection of signature scents has just been named the best-selling celebrity fragrance brand worldwide. Since 2010 she’s launched six, to be exact — the latest is a limited edition of Heat for her Mrs. Carter Show world tour (now available at Beyonce.com). If you missed the show, it’s the best-smelling alternative.
And if you collect all six scents, you can spray them depending on which Beyoncé banger you’re in the mood to dance to — spritzing Heat Rush for “Crazy In Love,” Midnight Heat for “Party,” or N.Y.C. Pulse for “Run the World.” Add the original scents (Heat and Pulse) for a complete collection.
In the case of Beyoncé and her new pixie cut, it took four.
That's right, Rita Hazan the colorist behind Bey's lightened locks exclusively tells E! News that while the edgy 'do was certainly the main attraction, the brilliant blond color played an important supporting role.
Hazan expertly dyed the star's hair to a soft, glamorous hue that gave off an Old Hollywood vibe with a modern edge; making sure that the roots were left natural while the ends were brightened to a perfect summery champagne blond shade.
She also paid special attention to make sure that Bey's locks weren't damaged in the process, and noted that the singer was "very excited the whole time, happy to cut it and happy to do the color."
Aww! We couldn't be happier with the outcome of the incredible transformation and applaud Jay Z's leading lady for the bold update.
"I think it is sexy, strong, a statement, empowering," says Hazan. "She always had beautiful, gorgeous tons of hair and for her to strip down and reveal herself this way is a very powerful moment."
Indeed it was!
And given the diva's tremendous following, we had to ask Hazan if she anticipates a trickle-down effect from fans hoping to follow suit with the fresh hairstyle.
"I said, 'You are going to put me out of business! Everyone loves Beyoncé hair,' and she said ‘You will be all right," Hazan laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if it starts a trend. I think it's modern and old Hollywood at the same time. She's a beautiful girl. She can basically do anything."
Beyonce debuted a super-short pixie hairstyle on her Instagram account late Wednesday night, posting three pictures that highlight different angles of her new 'do.
Perhaps the style is a reaction to an incident last month on her recently-concluded Ms. Carter World Tour, in which her long locks got caught in a fan onstage.
What do you think of Beyonce's updated look?
The singer, who performed the last of three concerts at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Monday night, posted pics on Instagram showing how she got to work – by riding her bike a little over three miles from her Manhattan home across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
"I biked to Barclays for my last show in Brooklyn!" she wrote.
While her mode of transportation might have been a surprise, the 31-year-old had an even bigger treat in store for fans who attended the show on Monday – an appearance by her husband, Jay-Z, who walked onstage when she was in the middle of singing "Bow Down."
She then acted as his backing vocalist while he performed "Tom Ford" and kissed him on the cheek before they slow-danced to the side of the stage. After Jay-Z waved goodbye, Mrs. Carter launched back into her song.
Jay Z wowed the crowd when he made an unannounced stop at Beyoncé's final concert in Brooklyn Monday night.
The rapper stopped by the Mrs. Carter World Tour and jumped onstage right after she sang her latest single, "Bow Down."
Queen Bey let Hov take the reins and watched him perform "Tom Ford" while sitting stage right.
Toward the end of the song, however, Mrs. Carter joined in and gave Jay a big hug after their adorable duet.
The "Grown Woman" singer rocked a jersey for the song with the number 04 on it and "Carter" written across the back. Now that's a stylish shout-out if we've ever seen one!
(Video)
The couple's famous BFF was also in the building last night. Gwyneth Paltrow stopped by to watch her gal-pal serenade the audience.
Solange Knowles stopped by as well to support her big sister and took to Twitter to give a raving review of the evening.
"My sister literally just wrecked that show," she wrote. "She is simply, the best."
But this isn't the first time these two music industry heavyweights have been on the same stage together in Jay Z's hometown of Brooklyn.
Back when the stadium first opened in October of 2012, Jay performed for eight nights to christen the venue he owned a percentage stake in.
The two performed "Crazy in Love" together among other hits, and Jay even let Bey have her moment to sing some of her own singles.
The rapper became so distracted with his wife's sexy dance moves that he was heard saying on the mic, "Oh sh-t, I should probably rap here." Looks like he almost missed his cue!
Jay famously slapped his girl on the behind without her knowing, causing a shocked Beyoncé to grab him and whisper something in his ear in a cute (and rare) candid moment.
These two sure do know how to balance that spotlight!
The 31-year-old singer recently shared a vampire-inspired photo on her website.
In the pic, Jay Z's other half sports a bedazzled vampire fang grill in her mouth while posing for a close-up shot. Blue Ivy's mama looks gorgeous and fresh-faced with little makeup on in the pic.
Beyoncé shared another candid photo of herself picking up some snacks at a convenience store in the "Life" section of her webpage.
In the snapshot, Bey makes a duck-faced expression with her lips while grabbing sunflower seeds and candy off the store's wall.
She sports chic black shorts, boots, a printed sweater, large hoop earrings and a black fedora for the snack stop.
Keep the cute pics coming, Bey!
The "Standing on the Sun" singer Instagrammed an adorable picture showing off Jay Z, Blue Ivy and her own version of the popular boot. Daddy's are standard, baby's are tiny, and Mommy's, of course, have a very high heel!
So how exactly does Queen Bey manage to be a wife, mother, international superstar and still have time to keep her social media update? Because everything the 31-year-old singer does, she does with love.
"If I do things that I love, then it works out, and I find time [for myself]. And I'm passionate about it," she said in an interview with Australia's The Project. "So, I think that's the key to life. It's just finding what you love—and as long as it comes from that passion—my body is like a machine!"
And when, inevitably, Beyoncé gets caught up in a situation she doesn't love, she rolls with the punches! Like when her hair got tangled up and stuck in a supersized fan onstage, she kept right on singing "Halo." She even Instagrammed a reworked cue sheet for the song later joking about the incident, saying, "Gravity can't begiiiiiin to pull me out of the fan again/ I felt my hair was YANKIIIIIIIN / From the fan that's always hatiiiiiiin."
Clearly that fan was defective because it should not be hatiiiiiiin on Queen Bey.
Queen Bey shared a few photos from Jay Z and Justin Timberlake's Legends of the Summer tour stop in Los Angeles.
She looked happier than ever as she danced alongside her hubby and a few friends after the show ended.
Clad in head-to-toe Givenchy, Bey showed off her matching bag in another snapshot on Instagram for her fashion-savvy followers.
And between showing off her best dance moves and shaking her famous derriére next to her hubby, she looked like the life of the party.
So while she's on the road supporting her husband of five years, it looks like her sister is focusing on her music career in Brooklyn.
Solange recently performed her single "Bad Girls" at the Atlantis Super Wash Center in front of a crowd of die-hard fans for The Fader. While her killer moves and insanely long legs took center stage (or shall we say, washer?) her eye shadow really stole the show—who else could pull off bright blue streaks? We know...her older sister!
But her music endeavors are going to be taking a backseat to her personal life very soon.
The singer announced last week that she was cancelling her European tour dates for August.
And while the decision didn't come easily for the 27-year-old singer, she hoped that fans will be sympathetic to her needing to spend more time with her family.
"I wish I could put in words how much of a difficult decision this was," the singer wrote in a statement on her website.
"But between moving part time to a new city, starting my son in a new school and writing/recording my new record…I really had to make the best decision for my mental/physical health and provide some stability for my family."
Beyoncé got a big surprise when her husband, Jay-Z, walked out on stage while she was performing in Philadelphia on Thursday night.
The singer was in the middle of introducing her dancers and band when he snuck up behind her, grabbing her around the waist and planting a kiss on her cheek. As the crowd went wild, he rushed off stage.
Beyoncé posted the pics of the sweet moment on her tumblr blog, and it's clear by the expression on her face that it wasn't a pre-planned appearance by her husband.
Jay-Z and the couple's daughter, Blue Ivy, have been accompanying Beyoncé on some of the dates of her Mrs. Carter World Tour. (Video)
Beyoncé is already practically a superhero herself – her very own Wonder Woman. But she channeled a different DC Comics character during a recent visit to a toy store.
The pop star, 31, donned a Batman mask and posed for pictures with friends, which she then posted to her website.
The singer has a thing for classic superheroes, it seems.
"I love Wonder Woman, and it'd be a dream come true to be that character," she said a few years back.
And for those who want to be Beyoncé? Well, there's a mask for that, too!
The songstress' camp is shooting down a story in The Hollywood Reporter that surfaced Wednesday and quoted a source as saying that Beyoncé has shelved more than 50 songs she's been working on and decided to start over because she's unhappy with the direction of the record and has yet to find a theme.
Her rep confirms to E! News that Queen B has never scheduled a release date for the new material and that she's been busy recording the tracks while on the road for her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
So any chatter to the contrary is all a bunch of hooey.
What sparked the rep's denial was partly the report's suggestion that executives at her label, Columbia, have been growing increasingly jittery regarding Beyoncé's desire to work on the album while juggling the rigors of a global trek.
Especially since her last disc was 2011's 4, the production for which she oversaw on her own without label supervision and which is her lowest-selling album to date, having moved 1.4 million copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan. It also failed to score a top 10 hit.
Contrast that effort with 2008's I Am…Sasha Fierce, which sold 3 million and spawned the No. 1 hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and perhaps it's not surprising to hear the 31-year-old superstar is taking her sweet time with the follow-up given the pressure to deliver bigger sales as expectations soar.
In the meantime, Jay-Z's missus is continuing her Mrs. Carter jaunt, making headlines just yesterday for showing support for the victims of the tragic Boston Marathon bombings by inviting three survivors backstage all of whom lost a leg in the attack. She also gave a concert in Los Angeles a few weeks ago attended by a bevy of celebrities including Kourtney Kardashian, who tweeted the above pic of her getting up close and personal with her fans.
Next up, Beyoncé is scheduled to perform at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight; in Atlantic City, N.J., on Friday; and several more East Coast dates before wrapping up the North American leg with a three-night stand in her home turf of New York at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Aug. 3-5.
Despite some rain on Tuesday, the Magna Carta Holy Grail rapper and his wife shared a romantic lunch in Boston – the latest stop on Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
The couple – sans daughter Blue Ivy – sat side by side as they dined at Sam's at Louis on the South Boston Waterfront.
To complement the French-American bistro's fare, they ordered a bottle of Champagne on ice, an onlooker tells PEOPLE.
After their quick bite on Fan Pier, the couple visited Louis Boston, a high-end boutique for men and women that was temporarily shut down so the pair could shop in private.
Following their shopping excursion, the duo took off in an SUV with two bodyguards in tow, so Beyoncé could prepare for her live show at the TD Garden that night.
Beyoncé must have enjoyed her lunch, because during her concert she announced to the crowd, "How you doing Boston? You guys have good food!" says another source.
After the singer wrapped up her Mrs. Carter Show concert in Boston Tuesday night, the superstar showed her support for victims of the tragic Boston Marathon bombings by inviting three strong survivors backstage.
Fans Mery Daniel, Adrianne Haslet and Heather Abbott—all of whom lost a leg in the attack—enjoyed a meet and greet with JAY Z's missus as they smiled and posed for pics with Bey at Boston's TD Garden.
The strong survivors have all publicly documented their long road to recovery, candidly speaking about their struggles after being fitted with prosthetics and learning to walk again.
"Picking things up off the floor, getting food, things that I used to be able to do independently now I no longer can do," 31-year-old Daniel told People magazine in June.
But last night, the inspirational trio took a moment to forget about their hardships, beaming with Bey as they showed off how far they've come since the April 15 tragedy.
"If someone had told me I would have half a leg basically at the age of 38 before this happened, I think I would never have believed it," Abbott told ABC News after the attack. "I think I would have been devastated and I really haven't had a moment yet of being devastated because I've gotten so much support...It is a life-altering experience."
Beyoncé is currently on the North American leg of her Mrs. Carter Show world tour; she's set to perform at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Thursday night.
On Monday, the 31-year-old music legend performed in Montreal, where her hair got stuck in a fan while she was singing her hit "Halo."
But being the consummate professional, Queen B kept on singing and even took to Instagram after the show to post a video poking fun at the hairy situation.
The performer has also been busy showing her support for Trayvon Martin's family in light of the controversial George Zimmerman trial verdict, recently attending a peaceful protest in NYC with hubby JAY Z.
Kristen Stewart's ex attended the Mrs. Carter Tour show on July 1, 2013, at L.A.'s Staples Center, and in a newly released photo, it appears he met with Queen Bey backstage.
Death Grips, an indie band based out of Sacramento, Calif., posted the photo of Rob and Bey's meeting. (A rep for the band confirmed the photo was real and not Photoshopped. When asked about the questionable Twitter account listed on the band's official Facebook account, he could neither confirm nor deny if the page, which appears to have been hacked by 9gag army, remains under the group's control.)
In any case, the pic shows Bey looking radiant in a blue and gold ensemble beside a smiling R.Pattz, who's dressed (ironically?) in an MTV letterman jacket. Bandmembers Stefan Burnett, Andy Moerin and Zach Hill are also in the shot, looking slightly less enthused than their famous friends to be a part of this epic moment in time.
Erroneous reports claimed that Rob was "snubbed" backstage at the show and denied access to Beyoncé's meet and greet. Clearly, though, this couldn't have been any farther from the truth.
Hm. Blue Ivy's mama and Gwyneth Paltrow are adorable as BFFs, but Queen Bey and R.Pattz could make for some pretty fun besties, too!
While enjoying a recent concert by the 31-year-old singer, a man standing in the front row was clearly overcome by excitement when the diva grabbed hold of his hand during her performance of "Irreplaceable."
As she continued to cling on, the fan had what appeared to be nothing short of a religious experience.
As if that wasn't enough, Beyoncé then went so far as to crouch down and actually offer up a hug.
The fan proceeded to fall to his knees following the emotional encounter.
It's been quite a memorable tour for Beyoncé, to say the least.
Earlier this month, her shows in Los Angeles turned into star-studded events when several famous faces, including Chris Evans, Lea Michele, Seth Rogen, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Minogue attended.
And just last week, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia came out to see Queen Bey do her thing in Chicago.
Photos of the superstar couple showed up on Instagram ... of Jay and Bey in NYC, protesting against "Stand Your Ground" laws ... the law in FL which allowed George Zimmerman to claim self-defense in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon.
J & B were seen posing with Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and Al Sharpton. Al reportedly told the crowd of protesters the famous couple was there ... but didn't want to speak and didn't come for a photo op.
As TMZ previously reported ... both Beyonce and Jay have taken time out of recent performances to honor Trayvon. And last week, Beyonce tagged a photo on Instagram "JusticeForTrayvon."
On Friday, Jay-Z's love took her Mrs. Carter Show to Atlanta's Gwinnett Center. Per usual, she let the crowd help out with the vocals on her 2006 hit "Irreplaceable." But when one fan tried to snap a photo of Queen Bey rather than singing, "To the left, to the left," Mrs. Carter good-naturedly ordered him to, "Put that damn camera down!"
"See, you can't even sing because you're too busy taping," she said. "I'm right in your face, baby. You gotta seize this moment, baby!"
(Video)
And you gotta listen bow down to Bey's orders, baby! The fan gave up on trying to snap Blue Ivy's mama onstage and sang a strong, "To the left, to the left," into her microphone.
"Yes!" she exclaimed. "That's my style!"
She continued on with the song, urging different sections of the crowd to sing along. "Sing," she commanded. "Everybody put their camera down!"
The camera-holder isn't the first fan to flub the "Irreplaceable" lyrics. On April 30 at Beyoncé's London show, Princess Eugenie was a bit shellshocked when she was picked to sing along. In the front row alongside James Middleton and his rumored girlfriend Donna Air, the 23-year-old royal couldn't come up with, "To the left, to the left." Put on the spot, Eugenie reportedly mouthed the words, saying nothing, then ducked to the ground and hid.
"It was hilarious," a fellow attendee told U.K.'s Mirror. "She was really excitable and filming the whole thing on her iPhone like any other fan." (Eugenie should consider herself lucky Bey didn't tell her to put that damn camera down!)
"Beyoncé clearly didn't recognize her," added the concertgoer. "So when it came to 'Irreplaceable,' and the part where she picks on an audience member to join in with her, she simply chose the first woman she could reach."
According to a source, the princess's friends were "teasing her about her stage fright for hours afterwards."
Hey, at least neither Eugenie nor the camera-holding fan in Atlanta slapped Beyoncé's butt like an uncouth audience member in Copenhagen!
"I went to Target last night around 9 p.m. to get some groceries and saw a few Escalades parked out front. When I was shopping around in the grocery section, I saw a few security guards and what looked like Beyoncé," a fellow shopper, Katelyn McGaw, tells E! News. "As soon as I heard her speaking, I knew it was her!"
Queen B is back down south for her Mrs. Carter Show tour, which stops at the Toyota Center in Houston tonight. Blue Ivy didn't tag along for her mama's shopping spree, but Beyoncé had "a few friends and a few security guards" in tow.
Katelyn continues, "Her security guard told us to keep a distance, because she was shopping. But we yelled, ‘We love you,' and she had a huge smile and yelled back ‘I love you guys too!'...She didn't take any photos with fans, since it was her day off."
So what did Beyoncé buy?
"When I was buying cookies, she was walking by and said, ‘Oh, we got to get some Pepsi.'" We like to think the cookies were possibly watermelon flavored Oreos, available exclusively at Target. Also, Beyoncé name-drops Pepsi even when she's not getting paid for it! She even spokespersons better than everyone else, ever!
"Later, my boyfriend and I saw her hula-hooping in the aisle, she was laughing and chatting with friends, and hula-hooping in the middle of the aisle," Katelyn recalls. "I couldn't see what she was buying, but she was trying on hats."
The 31-year-old "Grown Woman" singer recently hit the pool with baby daughter Blue Ivy during a vacation in Miami Beach.
Last week, Jay-Z's other half was snapped flaunting her supersexy body in a printed green and blue curve-hugging one-piece swimsuit that showed off her cleavage, long legs and bootylicious bum. The Grammy-winning star was all smiles while lounging in the sun, taking a dip in the pool and walking around the hotel where they were staying.
Beyoncé was also seen sporting a giant smile while playing with 1-year-old baby Blue. Bey and Blue were seen cuddling on a poolside couch. Blue looked supercute (as always) in a colorful yellow top and pink shorts. Beyoncé and Blue walked hand-in-hand around the pool as the mother-of-one showed her bundle of joy around the grounds.
This isn't the first time Bey and Blue have shared some adorable quality time together by the pool. Last month, the hot Hollywood mom shared a ridiculously cute pic of herself and her Blue enjoying some time together in a Jacuzzi.
The mother-daughter day by the pool last week was a well-deserved break from Beyoncé's busy worldwide Mrs. Carter Show tour, which she's currently on. Tonight, she'll perform at the Toyota Center in her hometown of Houston. So how's Bey prepping for tonight's big show?
Last night, she was spotted shopping at—wait for it—a local Target! Beyoncé, sans Blue Ivy, stopped by the consumer-friendly store to pick up some Pepsi, according to an eyewitness. "I went to Target last night around 9 p.m. to get some groceries and saw a few Escalades parked out front. When I was shopping around in the grocery section, I saw a few security guards and what looked like Beyoncé," a fellow shopper, Katelyn McGaw, tells E! News. "As soon as I heard her speaking, I knew it was her!"
McGaw added, "Later, my boyfriend and I saw her hula-hooping in the aisle, she was laughing and chatting with friends, and hula-hooping in the middle of the aisle. I couldn't see what she was buying, but she was trying on hats."
It happened at Bey's Nashville concert Saturday. About 30 minutes before the singer took the stage, news broke that Zimmerman was acquitted of both the 2nd degree murder charge and manslaughter charge in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon.
After the moment of silence, Beyonce sang the chorus of "I Will Always Love You" (above), before leading into her own gut-wrenching ballad "Halo".
Beyoncé gave fans an inside look at a family vacation she took earlier this week in Miami, showing off her adorable baby girl in new photos on her Tumblr page.
The superstar singer, who's in the midst of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, posted photos of herself and her daughter spending time together on the beach.
In the snaps, Beyoncé totes her daughter on her hip, walks with her along the sand, and cradles her on the shore while Blue Ivy touches her arm, wearing a ruffled bathing suit and stylish sun hat.
Beyoncé's mom, Tina, was also on the trip, along with her sister Solange Knowles and Solange's son Daniel—who can all be seen in the family photos.
The singer was a big supporter of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" fitness campaign, which preaches an active lifestyle and a healthy diet. But Mrs. Carter is also the spokesperson for sugary soft drink Pepsi, to the tune of $50 million. Conflict much? Not much.
But the question came up again in a new interview with Flaunt. Here's the exchange:
Flaunt: "Some were critical at your participating in a Pepsi campaign after you moved your body for childhood obesity. Where is the balance between your career objectives and your philanthropy?"
Beyonce: "Pepsi is a brand I've grown up seeing my heroes collaborate with. The company respects musicians and artistry. I wouldn't encourage any person, especially a child, to live life without balance."
She continued, "When you work out, take care of your body, rehearse as hard as I rehearsed in the commercial, I think it's great to have a Pepsi or Diet Pepsi when you want one. It's all about choices."
Pepsi produced Beyonce's Super Bowl halftime show and debuted her new song "Grown Woman" in its "Mirrors" commercial. Beyonce similarly premiered "Standing in the Sun" in an ad for clothing chain H&M.
The megastar (and 2012 PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful woman) strips down and glams up in a dazzling coat of body paint and some major makeup for the latest issue of Flaunt.
And just as surprising as that sultry, sparkling cover: The notorious perfectionist opens up to the mag about topics as varied as her drag queen impersonators and awesome sex scandals in history.
Want to know where you can find her and Jay-Z making out? “The Louvre, or under the Arc de Triomphe,” she shares. “Paris is a beautiful, sexy city.”
How about how to pack a picnic to get her in a romantic mood? “A cozy blanket, red wine, fruit, ’90s R&B playing on my iPod. I don’t think you need much else,” she says.
For more insight from Beyoncé, visit Flaunt.com, and pick up the latest issue, on stands July 11, for even more jaw-dropping shots (the two below are just a small sample of what’s inside!).
"Part II (On the Run)," a sultry track from the superstar couple off H.O.V.A.'s latest album, Magna Carta… Holy Grail, leaked online on the Fourth of July holiday Thursday—the same day his new record dropped via digital download.
"Who wants that perfect love story anyway anyway / Cliché cliché cliché. Who wants that hero love that saves the day anyway, cliché cliché cliché," Bey croons in an airy prelude.
A mid-tempo beat and Jay's rhymes soon follow.
"I'm an outlaw, Got an outlaw chick / Bumping 2Pac, on my outlaw s--t / Matching tats, this ink don't come off / Even if rings come off off, if things ring off," the hip-hop star raps.
The slow jam is a worthy sequel to their 2003 ditty "'03 Bonnie and Clyde" off Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love album and the first time the two performers got together musically.
To celebrate the release of Magna Carta and their latest creation, the duo attended a star-studded listening party hosted by Samsung Wednesday in Brooklyn, where they were all smiles as they hit the dance floor.
Beyoncé looked fabulous in jean cutoffs and white lace jacket and top and high heels while Jay-Z was casually dressed in sneakers, black pants, white t-shirt and black jacket and was seen sipping on what appeared to be cognac.
Other notable celebrity pals in attendance included Tyson Beckford, Raekwon, Nick Cannon and producer and rapper Timbaland, who produced a majority of the tracks on Magna Carta and appears in that ubiquitous TV ad for it that's been airing lately.
Jay-Z's twelfth studio effort is expected to debut with platinum status after the Recording Industry Association of America announced it would change its rules and begin counting digital sales toward gold and platinum certification. And that's even after the 43-year-old MC gave away for free one million copies of the album as part of a deal with the phone giant, which offered copies to its Samsung Galaxy customers.
Magna Carta… Holy Grail, which has been winning rave reviews from music critics who have praised it for its themes of family and spirituality, is set to hit retail brick-and-mortar stores on July 7.
Beyoncé kicked off the Fourth of July with a bang, celebrating Independence Day in patriotic shorts, a white tank top and red cat-rimmed shades.
In photos the superstar crooner posted Friday on her Tumblr, Beyoncé strikes a hot pose, barefoot, in front of a baby blue Rolls Royce.
The "Love on Top" singer also revealed other glimpses of how she and hubby Jay-Z spent the holiday, posting a picture of the hip-hop icon driving the car, and another photo of herself walking away from a helicopter as Jay-Z toted their daughter Blue Ivy in the background.
And what did the family feast on for the Fourth?
Slices of watermelon, corn on the cob and lobster tails, among other things, according to the photos on the "Love on Top" singer's site.
Her father and former manager, Mathew Knowles, got married last Sunday. His representative told The Associated Press on Friday that he has wed former model Gena Charmaine Avery in Houston, Texas. The pair had been engaged for a year and a half.
The 48-year-old Avery is a Realtor. The 61-year-old Knowles guided his daughter to superstardom with the group Destiny's Child and later in her solo career; she released her father as her manager in 2011.
Knowles, head of Music World Entertainment, still manages several gospel acts including Grammy-winner Le'Andria Johnson.
Knowles and Beyonce's mother, Tina, divorced in 2011 after 31 years of marriage and two children – Beyoncé and her sister, fellow singer Solange.
Jay-Z's love Instagrammed a picture Tuesday showing her enjoying a burger and fries from In-N-Out along with a drink served up in a champagne flute.
In the shot, the 31-year-old singer sits before three laptops. Bey's creative mind most likely fills up a hard drive pretty quickly, plus she's surely got dozen upon dozens of albums of Blue Ivy Carter pics.
And even though Queen Bey's an international superstar at the front of the global stage, it's her and Jay's 1-year-old daughter that matters most.
In an interview with ABC News earlier this ear, the proud mama explained that Miss Blue is the most important thing in her life.
"I am very protective," she said. "I just want to make sure that she can have a healthy, safe, normal life…in the back of my mind, she's my priority. And life is completely different now. So I'm—I feel really, really just lucky that I can still do what I love, and now have a way bigger meaning. And that's to be her mother."
Jay-Z's also enamored with mini-Bey. In a promo for his new album Magna Carta, the 41-year-old rapper gushes that Blue is "something that we [he and Beyoncé] both created, you know, we still marvel at her."
There's even a song about the tiniest member of the Carter family titled "Jay Z Blue."
"And it deals with—you know, my pop left when I was young, so he didn't teach me how to be a man nor how to raise a child or treat a woman," he said. "So, of course, my karma, the two things I needed I don't have, right?"
"And I have a daughter," he said. "It's the paranoia of not being a great dad."
Not to worry, Hov, we don't think Blue could possibly have any better parents than you and Beyoncé!
If you and your friends—surely you're the Beyoncé of the group, making the others your Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams—have been itching to bust out your matching camo outfits at a full blown D.C. reunion, the news isn't so great.
Bey and Michelle were recently featured on a track on Kelly's new album, Talk a Good Game. The song is called "You Changed" and kicks off with Kelly asking, "Ladies, you wanna do it again?" So here's the good news: There might be more where that came from.
"That's a good question," Michelle told us at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards when we asked if she might have the girl appear on her upcoming album next. "I have something that I might want them to hop onto."
For the album—which Michelle describes as "urban inspirational"—she is "still recording a couple more songs. I could turn the album is as it is, but I want to do two or three more songs, just to round it out a little more."
That's as far as the Destiny's Child reunion love goes. Here's the bad news:
We asked if these mini-reunions might lead to a bigger project for the trio and Michelle hesitantly replied, "I don't know, to be honest. We honestly don't talk about that, to be honest."
She continued, "We hang out with each other all the time—I was with Beyoncé last night—but we never talk [about a reunion]. We'll play each other our new music, but we never say, ‘What do you think about, you know, getting together for something else?' That's something we never discuss."
Or so we're told. Remember, this is the same woman who claimed she wasn't performing with Beyoncé at the Super Bowl because she was appearing in the Broadway show Fela! She did perform at the Super Bowl. A Destiny's Child album could drop next week for all we know.
Besides Beyoncé and Kelly, Michelle teased a few more surprises set for her album: "I had some people do some collaborations with me that people are going to be very, very, very, very surprised about. Now if legalities work and politics don't get in the way, y'all are going to be very shocked at who I worked with."
When pressed, she coyly revealed that it's a rapper. "But that's all I'll say. If I say anything else, you'll know who it is."
No, Rosie the Riveter didn't wear denim cut-offs or a cropped white tank (we think...), but the Life Is But A Dream director's bright red head piece is identical to the most famous cultural icon of the women's rights movement.
Mrs. Shawn Carter's homage to a girl-power champion makes us wonder what other heroes she could channel through her fashions. Our suggestions: a sleek, white robe look for Gandhi, a sleek, black suit for MLK Jr., and a red pleather body suit for Wonder Woman! If anyone can pull that off, The Queen B can.
It's official: Beyoncé and Jay-Z's six-month-old little girl, Blue Ivy Carter, already has so much more swag than we could ever possibly try to accumulate.
And this might have already been a known fact, but Bey was nice enough to post some photographic evidence to make it clear.
The singer shared a few BIC-themed photos on her official Tumblr. page, which ranged from super cute to pretty badass (Is that appropriate when referring to a child? Whatever, it's true).
Of course, Bey steered away from uploading the generic, posed snapshots, and got crafty with her artwork.
One picture just featured an adorable, light peach dress of Blue Ivy's on a hanger, while another playfully showcased the tot's tiny, hot pink Tom Ford heels on her mama's foot. Jealous of her wardrobe? Yeah, us, too.
Another image caught a sweet moment between the mother-daughter duo, with Blue's itty-bitty finger poking at Beyoncé's face from a baby carrier. In response, Bey shared an adoring gaze at her little princess, while seemingly backstage at a show.
But the best photo—at least in our opinion—is the picture of Blue Ivy rocking her mini crown.
The angling of the image only partially shows the cutie's face as she wears her royal headgear tilted to the side, very reminiscent of the famous Notorious B.I.G photo.
(Hey, Hov: This picture be awesome as album art. Just sayin'.)
"I hate hearing myself speak," the singer, who voiced the animated character of Queen Tara in Epic, told Australia's The Project. "I think everyone does. I hear my little crazy voice coming out of this beautiful, regal woman—I'm like, 'This is really strange, but I love it.'"
"Just seeing yourself animated and seeing yourself doing something you could never do in real life—I've always thought, for whatever reason, that would be supercool," Jay-Z's love explained.
The fantasy-adventure flick features the voices of other Hollywood heavyweights like Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler and Josh Hutcherson, but Beyoncé thinks her name might've been a bit of a concern for those working on the project early on.
"I worked with the director [Chris Wedge] and I think he was—in the beginning—a bit nervous. Because I'm, you know, a one-namer, and usually we're divas," she said laughingly. "But I told him, 'Listen, just tell me whatever you have to tell me! I love direction. I'm here to be your muse.' And we had fun."
Voice-over work for Epic was "the first thing" Beyoncé did work-wise after giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter in January 2012. "So I was so full of joy and emotion and—yes, hormones," she said. "And literally, I was bawling!"
The interviewer told Bey that it would be "such an honor" for a little girl to get to watch her mom's movie. "It's why I did it!" Beyoncé gushed. "I showed her a few of the scenes. She's still young, so her attention span is about 20 minutes, but she did see it. She was like, 'Wait a minute. That's you!' So I think she figured it out. She seemed to be impressed."
How could anyone not be impressed with Beyoncé?! She balances motherhood, married life, movies, music and a world tour—and somehow manages to make it all look easy! But don't you worry about Mrs. Carter overdoing it.
"If I do things that I love, then it works out, and I find time [for myself]. And I'm passionate about it," she said. "So, I think that's the key to life. It's just finding what you love—and as long as it comes from that passion—my body is like a machine!"
So insists Knowles himself in a defamation lawsuit filed against London's Sun tabloid, which, he claims in a statement released to E! News, interviewed him and then "knowingly and maliciously misrepresented [his] relationship with his daughter, Beyoncé, and with his granddaughter," Blue Ivy Carter.
In the article in question, dated March 24, 2013, The Sun teases the story with the sub-headlines "Former manager talks about family rift for the first time" and "Mathew Knowles has reportedly not yet met Blue Ivy."
The story also states: "Although he insists the decision to go their separate ways was mutual, Mathew, 61, is hurt that Beyoncé has cut him out of her life."
In his statement, Knowles calls foul on those three particular assertions.
"My daughters and my family mean the world to me," he said. "The barrage of repeated falsehoods spawned by the British Sun's defamatory article has been exhausting and personally damaging to me. No matter how many papers it sells or web hits it generates, The Sun, like any newspaper, needs to maintain a basic level of journalistic integrity. The Sun crossed the line when it went after my family. The Sun needs to be held responsible for its lies in a court of law. This happens too often to too many people, and it is simply unfair."
Meanwhile, the paper also quotes Knowles in the article as saying, "'Normally I hate to talk about anything personal, but it would be a lie if I did not say it has been difficult. It was hard for me to let her go—it was hard for both of us to let each other go. And let's be clear on that. She didn't let me go, we both let each other go. That's a big difference."
Knowles is suing The Sun for unspecified damages, alleging defamation and breach of contract.
News Corp. has not yet returned a request for comment.
"He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly," Beyoncé said in a statement in 2011 upon announcing that she and her dad, who had managed her career since her Destiny's Child days, were parting ways "on a business level."
When the singer appeared on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live earlier this week, the former Destiny's Child member revealed a shocking detail about BFF Beyoncé.
Host Andy Cohen asked her to tell him "one annoying thing" about the "Single Ladies" singer and Rowland replied, "She would tell you this, she's a slob."
"If you walk in—maybe she's gotten better since becoming a mother—but she's got a lot on her brain. You can tell she's got a lot going on," she further explained.
It looks like Queen Bey's habits have been longstanding, too.
In 2009, the songstress told Ebony magazine that her not-so-tidy ways irked hubby Jay-Z.
"I'm a little messy…When I get home, I don't want to take care of anything. I drop it. I'm relaxed. I don't have any shoes on. No makeup. My purse is in the kitchen," she said.
"I think that is the most difficult thing for [Jay]. He is very, very organized. I'm extremely organized when I'm working and I work so much that when I get home I don't want to think about anything."
The superstar couple went all-out glam to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hova's 40/40 Club in New York City, bringing some serious star power to the 10-and-still-going-strong Manhattan hot spot.
The rapper looked dapper in a silver-gray suit, while his ladylove rocked a long white sequined cut-out dress that highlighted her signature curves.
After arriving at the club, the two hightailed it to their VIP table, where they were seen busting out some sweet PDA, holding hands as Beyoncé repeatedly kissed her hubby on cheek.
At one point, the "Countdown" songbird spilled her drink on her dress, and her attentive hubby helped her clean the splotch.
They were later joined at the VIP table by pals Fabolous, Maxwell and T.I.—a whopping eight cases of Ace of Spades bubbly were ferried there for Jay-Z's crew to enjoy—and Beyoncé was spotted proudly showing pals photos of daughter Blue Ivy on her cell phone.
The songstress also helped put her personal touch on the festivities: E! News has learned that the flower arrangements that decorated the club were created by Beyoncé's personal florist, and the singer herself handpicked them.
Bey and Jay have been able to carve out some sweet couple time for themselves recently while the songbird takes a brief breather from her busy world tour: Earlier this month, they enjoyed a low-key movie night in New York City.
They better savor it: Beyoncé's tour ramps up again on June 28 in Los Angeles, hitting 22 other cities before wrapping up on Aug.5 in Brooklyn.
The reality star started having contractions Friday night and went into labor in the early hours of Saturday. The delivery of Kimye's daughter was a little ahead of schedule, as she was reportedly due in July.
On Monday, Beyonce wrote a post on her Tumblr offering up congratulations to Kardashian and West. "Congratulations Kim & Kanye," Beyonce wrote with a photo of the couple. "Enjoy this beautiful moment together." Like Kardashian, Beyonce is a new mother. She gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012.
Kardashian recently announced the sex of her baby on an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "I'm so excited we're having a girl," she said. "Who doesn't want a girl? I think they are the best. I know that'sreally what Kanye has always wanted."
Court records show the case was closed Friday after the Grammy Award-winning singer and Gate Five LLC agreed to drop it.
A lawyer for Gate Five says the terms are confidential. A lawyer for Beyonce hasn't returned a call seeking comment.
Gate Five had said Beyonce made a lucrative deal for a game called "Starpower: Beyonce," then demanded a new agreement and abandoned the project. The company says it lost its nearly $7 million investment and 70 people lost their jobs.
Beyonce's lawyers had said she was within her rights to get out of the deal because Gate Five didn't have needed financing.
The fashion house sent out a press release this morning showing an illustration of the vibrant cutout gown designed for her Mrs. Carter Show world tour with an obviously altered version of the star's signature physique.
While the embellished dress was positively magnificent in all of its multicolored splendor, we couldn't help but notice that Jay-Z's ladylove looked superskinny in the sketch.
Not only were her legs extremely elongated and thinned out, but her waist was teeny tiny, as were her dainty little arms.
Um, where's the bootylicious babe we know and love?
A quick side-by-side comparison of the illustration and the star in real life shows a dramatic difference in how her hot bod really looks in person. Phew!
Hey, Roberto, we'll take curvy Bey any day!
Jay-Z's leading lady flaunted her toned body and famous curves while strutting a Parisian-inspired outfit to pal Kanye West's birthday celebration last night.
Bey wore a black-and-white striped crop top with a matching pencil skirt and black fedora, and rocked a pair of bright orange pumps for a pop of color.
Bey and Hov joined numerous celebs, including Jay's former feuding partner Nas, as they celebrated Yeezy's 36th birthday at Miss Lily's, a popular Jamaican restaurant in the West Village.
The singer also posted a sweet photo of herself and her rapping hubby embracing each other while enjoying last night's festivities.
These two are too cute.
The 31-year-old singer recently posted this ridiculously adorable pic of herself and her 1-year-old daughter enjoying some time together in a Jacuzzi.
In the black and white photo, Jay-Z's other half holds Blue Ivy against her chest while submerged to her shoulders in the bubbling water.
The Grammy winner is still fashionable of course, sporting large sunglasses, jeweled earrings and animal print head wrap.
Blue Ivy looks preciously perfect in a striped swimsuit with a tiny bow in her hair.
Too cute.
Beyoncé released an inspirational ballad called "Rise Up" earlier today.
The single is featured on the soundtrack for the film Epic, in which Bey voices Queen Tara. The song is cowritten by Sia and produced by Hit-Boy, both people she's entrusted to work on her past music.
Bey belts out "Some people try to drag you down, take it from me," and "Be who you are."
(Listen)
Another memorabe lyric from the song is, "Don't be afraid to risk it all / Life holds more than what we see and what we get."
The singer also released the up-tempo song "Grown Woman" last month after performing it for the first time at her concert in Paris.
No word yet on when her upcoming album is slated to hit the shelves, but we cannot wait to get our hands on some more new music from the pop icon!
What do you think about the song "Rise Up"?
To be exact, $25,000.
Jay-Z's missus and her mother, Tina Knowles, have donated the opportunity to work for the "Bow Down" singer for a day as a VIP member of her style team on the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
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Posted on CharityBuzz with an estimated value of $25 thou, the pricey package includes a meet-and-greet with the superstar, two VIP tickets to her Los Angeles show, a chance to spend the day working with Bey's mama in the wardrobe department and a Mrs. Carter Show World Tour "gift bag."
Proceeds will benefit the "Miss a Meal" fundraising campaign, which Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland and Solange also support.
Act fast—the current bid is already $11,500 and bidding ends June 11.
The music legends stepped out together Sunday night in NYC for a rare quiet night at the movies.
Blue Ivy's parents were snapped looking relaxed and casually cool as they left the theater, strolling side by side while paps snapped photos of the picture-perfect pair.
Beyoncé rocked a sexy ensemble and looked gorgeous for her man, flaunting her long legs in leather hot pants, a white blazer and chic black shades. She added a black fedora to her trendy look as well as a pair of pointed-toe teal pumps for a little pop of color.
Jay-Z wore a black "blame society" T-shirt, black pants and white kicks, making the twosome a perfectly monochromatically coordinated couple.
The "Bow Down" singer headlined the Chime for Change concert in London over the weekend. The organization helps to promote education, health and justice for girls and women around the world.
During Bey's performance, Jay joined his missus onstage, where the pair sang their hit "Crazy in Love."
Which they still are to this day!
Beyonce is headlining a concert at Twickenham rugby stadium in London on Saturday in support of Chime for Change, a campaign set up to help empower girls and women around the world.
Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Florence + The Machine, Rita Ora and Simon Le Bon also are performing at the Sound for Change show.
Madonna, Freida Pinto, Aishwarya Rai, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jessica Chastain are among the presenters.
Beyonce is co-founder, with actress-producer Salma Hayek and Gucci creative director Frida Giannini, of the charity, which supports projects improving access to education, health care and justice for women.
Rumors of Bey being knocked up have been swirling for weeks, beginning when she canceled a concert in Belgium and cited the dreaded "exhaustion and dehydration."
She also posted (and quickly deleted) a diatribe on Instagram slamming the rumors ... but at no point has she ever denied them.
This photo doesn't put the rumors to rest either ... doctors aren't completely against a pregnant woman having a glass of wine every now and again.
When the singer's hot bikini ads for the retailer first broke out in April, she definitely wowed us with a bangin' bod that most women would kill for.
So, we were surprised by The Sun's recent report that the retailer had originally intended to use Photoshopped shots that minimized Bey's famous curves for the steamy swimwear campaign. And, according to the British taloid, Jay-Z's wife was definitely unhappy with the altered photos.
"She's a true diva and was furious that she had been given such a snubbing," a source told the paper. "Her people refused to give the pictures a green light so H&M were forced to use the originals.
So, was H&M really not ready for Beyoncé's jelly?
"Beyoncé was our first choice for this campaign and we were delighted when she said yes," H&M said in a statement. "Our purpose has always been to portray Beyoncé as the strong and beautiful woman she is. It has been a good working process and a close cooperation. Both parties are happy with the images."
We'd definitely say the stunning shots are cause for content! We know we wouldn't mind heating up the beach with killer curves like hers this bikini season.
Rowland told Washington radio station 93.9 WKYS that she let the ladies hear her emotional track, "Dirty Laundry," before she put it on her new album.
Upon first hearing Rowland's soulful song, Beyoncé's immediate reaction "was just like 'I never left'," she said.
"Which was so sweet. It was endearing. She heard how real I was and she was just like, 'I'm so proud of you.'"
The X-Factor judge released the single earlier this month and confessed to being in an abusive relationship as well as being jealous at times of Queen Bey's success.
Sisters stick together!
On Sunday, the Destiny's Child singer was overcome with emotion during a performance of her new single, "Dirty Laundry," onstage in Washington, D.C. Beyoncé's BFF actually had to stop singing, burying her face in her hands as she broke down crying. Fortunately, the audience began chanting Kelly's name, encouraging her to continue on with the song.
(Listen)
And even though "Dirty Laundry" hints at some jealousy between Michelle and Bey, these two women—plus Michelle Williams—clearly still adore one another. On Monday, Kelly dropped by Blis FM to premiere "You Changed," a track from her upcoming album that features her Destiny's Child bandmates.
Kelly's new album, Talk a Good Game, comes out June 18. Who wants to bet Beyoncé's already singing along to her advanced copy?!
“The Women’s Concert for Change: Live from London” is the centerpiece of Chime for Change, a new campaign to raise funds and awareness for female empowerment around the world, distributed to non-profit organizations focused in the key areas of education, health care and justice.
Beyoncé, the international superstar and co-founder of Chime for Change, will headline the concert event, with additional performances by Ellie Goulding, Florence + the Machine, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Timbaland and more.
Presenters will include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Blake Lively, Gloria Steinem, Jada Pinkett-Smith, James Franco, Madonna, Salma Hayek Pinault, Zoe Saldana and many others. PSAs featuring Franco, Ben Affleck, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and other influential A-list celebrities will also be a part of the special.
The global concert event will be broadcast live from London to over 175 countries, and will serve to celebrate inspirational stories from around the world, generate awareness about the issues that affect girls and women, and raise funds for non-profit organizations pursuing change.
“The Women’s Concert for Change: Live from London” is produced by Control Room, in association with Harvey Goldsmith.
The pregnant singer was spotted at a port in the South of France, where she was snapped hopping aboard a luxury yacht with hubby Jay-Z, sister Solange and her sibling's boyfriend Alan Ferguson.
Taking some much-needed R&R time in between touring for her Mrs. Carter Show, the expectant star looked relaxed and content as she waved to the camera.
Sporting tight leather pants, wedge sneakers, retro shades and a Proenza Schouler bag, the soon-to-be mother of two looked effortlessly cool and pregnancy chic as she embarked on her mini-vacay.
The hard-working superstar was recently forced to cancel her Belgium concert due to "dehydration and exhausted," although she managed to make it onstage in Switzerland the following day.
Despite the minor show setback, sources tell E! News the "Bow Down" singer's pregnancy will "likely not" impact her North American summer tour.
Glad to see Bey happy and healthy!
The Crazy In Love hitmaker vented her frustration at ongoing reports suggesting she is expecting a sibling for 16-month-old daughter Blue Ivy by posting a scathing note on her Instagram page on Friday — but she stopped short at denying the claims outright.
The message read: "I can't stop the rumors from starting, and I can't really change peoples (sic) minds who believe them, all I can do is sit back and laugh at these low life people who have nothing better to do than talk about me."
The note was promptly removed, and she took to her other social networking account on Tumblr to share photos from the couple's recent trip to Cuba — with one picture, showing her surrounded by happy kids and captioned with the hash tag "#mylife," only serving to fuel the pregnancy talk.
However, Jay-Z has now broken his silence on the issue in a bid to silence the rumours once and for all in e-mail correspondence with New York DJ Ebro Darden.
The Hot 97 programme director explains, "I e-mailed on some congratulations — 'Send my love to the family, blah, blah, blah'. He hit me back and said, 'It's not true'."
According to Ebro, his pal blamed the mainstream media for spreading the rumours as the direct quote reads: "'It's not true — the news is worse than blogs.'"
The couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in the country alongside both of their mothers.
Bey and Jay went sightseeing and checked out some of the country's famous retro cars and gorgeous architecture.
The "Crazy in Love" singer's snaps show the famous duo getting cozy in the back of a turquoise convertible and posing next to one of Havana's landmarks.
Bey also took time to pose with a few local schoolchildren, who appeared to be huge fans of the songstress!
How fun does their vacay look?
It's an odd response to a pregnancy rumor -- it's not like reports are saying she's hooked on drugs or splitting from hubby Jay-Z. A simple "Yes it's true" or "No it isn't" would solve the problem ... but she opted for neither.
Well, exhaustion may have kept her from performing in Belgium, but she was back onstage Friday when the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour touched down in Zurich, Switzerland at Hallenstadion Arena.
And isn't the not-showing-yet superstar a vision?
Bey's next show is tomorrow in Milan, after which she'll hit eight more cities (including Antwerp, the city she had to regretfully cancel on) before capping the European leg of her tour in London on June 1.
A source tells E! News, which first broke the news that Blue Ivy was going to be a big sister, that Mrs. Shawn Carter's pregnancy will most likely not affect her North American dates, starting with a June 28 show at Los Angeles' Staples Center.
Perhaps she'll make a 2011 MTV VMAs-style announcement on one of those nights and give the crowd just one more reason to cheer.
The report comes two days after Bey canceled a concert in Belgium. Though the singer cited dehydration and exhaustion, many took it as confirmation of the pregnancy rumors that have been swirling since she attended the Met Gala in a stomach-concealing, high-waisted Givenchy dress.
Earlier this month, Beyonce told Good Morning America that she and Jay-Z, who are already parents to 15-month old Blue Ivy, are looking to expand their family. "I would like more children," the singer said. "I think my daughter needs some company. I definitely love being a big sister."
Beyonce is currently in the middle of her Mrs. Carter World Tour, which runs through early August.
The Crazy in Love hitmaker axed her concert in Antwerp at the last minute on Tuesday, citing dehydration and exhaustion.
She vowed to be back onstage on Wednesday and she stayed true to her word as she performed for fans at the Sportpaleis venue.
Beyonce addressed her cancellation during the show, telling the audience, “I just have to say, I feel so good to be on this stage. Now, my doctors told me not to perform, but there was no way in the world (I would cancel again). I just have to say that you all have given me so much inspiration and I just want to thank you guys.”
The star’s cancellation fuelled rumours she is expecting her second child with husband Jay-Z.
In an email to The Associated Press, the singer's publicist says Beyoncé has been advised by her doctors to rest. She was scheduled to perform at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp. The show will be rescheduled and tickets can be used at that show.
Her next tour date is Wednesday at the same arena. The statement says "she is awaiting word from her doctors before making a decision."
The cancelation comes amid reports Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z are expecting a sibling for their daughter, Blue Ivy, now 15 months.
Beyoncé, 31, launched her Mrs. Carter World Tour last month in Belgrade, Serbia. It wraps Aug. 5 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Beyonce called the reaction over their vacation to the communist nation "quite shocking."
"You know, it was such a beautiful trip," Beyonce said. "I met some incredible children. I visited some incredible entrepreneurs. And it was really, it was really educational for me. I learned so much about so many people and the country, and it was actually quite shocking."
Last month, the first couple of hip-hop came under fire from lawmakers who questioned whether they had the proper permits to visit Cuba. The U.S. Government prohibits travel to the Caribbean nation except under strict conditions.
Beyonce has also been criticized recently for covering the Amy Winehouse classic, "Back to Black" with Andre 3000, for the "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack. Winehouse's father took exception to the decision and execution.
But fortunately, not all of her latest moves is sparking controversy for Mrs. Carter. Beyonce plays the role of Queen Tara in the upcoming animated film, "EPIC," in theaters May 24.
Queen B has gone from pop royalty to screen royalty, becoming the forest queen in an animated movie that she hopes her 15-month-old daughter Blue Ivy will be proud of one day.
The film was her first work since giving birth and she says her hormones were raging.
"I literally had tears when I played the voice," Beyonce told The Associated Press in an interview between concerts in London. "There was a scene where Queen Tara picks out her pod and I just imagined seeing my child."
From the creators of the "Ice Age" and "Rio" series, "Epic" follows a teenager who is transported into a secret forest world then embroiled in a battle between good and evil and has to protect a special flower pod to save the forest. The film is being released in the U.S. on May 22.
This role in "Epic" is not the superstar's only brush with royalty of late. When performing in London last week on her "Mrs. Carter Show" world tour, the singer inadvertently singled out Princess Eugenie in the crowd to sing with her. The 23-year-old is sixth in line for the British throne. Beyonce giggled as she revealed that she had no idea who Eugenie was.
"'I didn't know, and I still don't know. Someone told me and I don't know what's going on, but I hope they had a great time and I hope I didn't insult anyone, making them sing into the mic," Beyonce said. "But you know royalty likes to have fun and have a good entertaining night."
Her sellout world tour has also caused some controversy for its racy costumes and explicit lyrics in the song "Bow Down (I Been On)," but for Beyonce it's simply all part of the show.
"I'm an artist and I love being able to express myself and I'm not one-dimensional," she said. "I have different feelings every day and now that I've done movies I feel like I can try and recreate these characters on the stage."
"I would like more children," the singer told ABC News during an interview for Good Morning America in London, where she performed over the weekend. "I think my daughter needs some company. I definitely love being big sister."
According to a YouTube video posted on Vibe.com, the singer may have showed off her darling daughter during her concert on Saturday at the O2 Arena.
As she belted out her hit "Irreplaceable," Beyoncé greeted a baby wearing a white dress and sporting large headphones who looked a lot like Blue.
"I am very protective," Beyoncé told ABC News. "I just want to make sure that [Blue Ivy] can have a healthy, safe, normal life. ... In the back of my mind, she's my priority. And life is completely different now."
Already a seasoned traveler, Blue Ivy has a special place to sit next to mom while she travels on The Mrs. Carter Show world tour.
"I feel really, really just lucky that I can still do what I love, and now have a way bigger meaning," Beyoncé said. "And that's to be her mother."
The "Sound of Change Live" concert on June 1 in London's Twickenham sports stadium could fund at least 120 projects supporting girls and women in more than 70 nations, if all the tickets are sold, organizers said on Wednesday.
Organized by the Chime for Change campaign, founded by Italy fashion house Gucci, every ticket buyer will be able to choose which project their ticket will fund in what organizers said was a world first for such a venture.
Beyonce, currently on a European tour, will play a 45-minute set. She will be joined in the venture by singer and dancer Lopez, R&B artist John Legend, British indie sensation Ellie Goulding and rapper Timbaland, with more performers still to be announced.
U.S. actors James Franco, Blake Lively and Jada Pinkett Smith will be among the presenters.
"Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of girls and women around the world," Beyonce said in a statement.
Rock promoter Harvey Goldsmith, who helped put on the Live Aid and Live Earth charity concerts, will produce the concert which will also be broadcast internationally.
Ticket prices range from 55-95 British pounds each ($85-$150) and 52,000 tickets are on sale.
"She expects her list of demands to be adhered to," a source supposedly told Daily Star, explaining that Beyoncé turned down the opportunity to use the O2 arena's new dressing rooms in favor of a dressing room that ususally accommodates an entire sports team.
Well, joke's on them, because she used both!
A rep for the O2 tells E! News that Beyonce is using the sports rooms and the newly refurbished ones, and she seems very pleased with the space she has. Still, we've ranked her alleged rider demands from least to most diva-licious:
6. "Hand-Carved Ice Balls": For Queen B to "suck on," this is still just frozen water. We expected better from Beyoncé: Hard-carved ice balls made only of imported water that was fetched from the wells of Switzerland by small Swiss children whose only worldly possession is a pair of lederhosen.
5. "Freshly Painted White Walls and a New Toilet Seat": This is just standard building maintenance. Would it be insane for Bey to except the structure-bearing beams to be intact? Or for her to expect that all emergency exits be cleared? Dang, just buy a new toilet seat and toss it on the can.
4. "Red Toilet Paper": We can think of reasons this might be useful. They're all gross, so we'll leave it at that.
3. "100 Percent Pure Cotton Clothing for Staff": The Daily Star presumes that this measure is taken to "save [Beyoncé] from allergic reactions," which is convenient for Beyoncé but inconvenient for the crew member allergic to cotton and forced into a Froot of the Loom full-body suit. But that crew member can be replaced (to the left, to the left) while there's only one reason everyone else on the tour is even getting paid in the first place: Beyoncé, crusader for cotton.
2. "Titanium Drinking Straws": These straws apparently cost £600 (roughly $935) and are used to drink special alkaline water (which is basically just water, but better water) and served at exactly 21 degrees. If it is served at 22 degrees, prepare yourself for a face full of special alkaline water when it's thrown back at you. But it won't scald you or anything, it's only 22 degrees.
1. "No Junk Food": The rider demands that all junk food is strictly forbidden, while glass platters of almonds and oatcakes are bountiful and the salad bar "nibbles" are overflowing with greens. So maybe Beyoncé wants to keep things tight, but if we were a backup dancer on that tour, we'd be like, "I just 'Single Ladies' danced my ass off behind you for hours, so what if I want an M&M, bitch?"
Princess Eugenie, the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, may have had a choice seat near the stage for Beyoncé's concert at London's O2 Arena Tuesday. But when the singing star pointed the microphone in the young royal's face and asked her to belt out a line from "Irreplaceable" as she does to audience members each night, Eugenie blanched, according to a report from the U.K.'s Mirror.
According to the report, which cites an eyewitness, Beyoncé didn't apparently recognize Eugenie when she asked her to sing the line "to the left/to the left" in her hit song.
Instead, when she held the microphone out, Eugenie dodged the opportunity, ducking away in embarrassment and dropping to the ground, according to the Mirror report. "All Eugenie's friends were teasing her about her stage fright for hours afterwards," the paper reports, quoting a concertgoer.
Eugenie, 23, reportedly attended the concert with friends, including designer Matthew Williamson, Donna Air, a British television personality, and James Middleton, brother of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Nevertheless, Eugenie was enjoying herself at the show, and the Mirror reports that before the "Irreplaceable" incident, "[She] was really excitable and filming the whole thing on her iPhone like any other fan."
Beyoncé and Jay-Z were photographed stepping out for lunch with their daughter – who Beyoncé has also referred to as her "road dog," "homey" and "best friend" – Blue Ivy, in Paris on Thursday.
Wearing a black top and no makeup, the singer – who is currently on the Mrs. Carter World Tour – looked every bit the hands-on mom as she carried her 15-month-old daughter through the restaurant.
While Beyoncé has publicly doted on her daughter – sharing photos of matching tour chairs and dining together in Brooklyn – the tot might be a daddy's girl after all. With a blue pacifier in her mouth, Jay-Z was snapped giving her daughter a sweet smooch as he carried her.
The couple recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary by visiting Havana.
Fans patiently waiting for the release of Beyoncé's new album are getting another small taste of new music from the singer as part of her ad campaign for H&M.
In a 90-second video, Beyoncé shows off sexy swim and beachwear while flipping up sand and surf in the Bahamas to the pulsating sounds of "Standing on the Sun."
The singer, who is currently on tour in Europe, also goes from her usual blonde hair to black locks in the video, which was directed by Jonas Akerlund. By the end of the clip, Queen Bey is sitting on a wicker throne wearing an elaborate headdress that we're guessing won't be available at H&M.
"Standing on the Sun" isn't the first new material we've heard from the singer this year: The song "Grown Woman" was featured in her recent Pepsi commercial. And she posted the controversial track "Bow Down/I Been On" on her Tumblr page in March.
Without an official album release date, if Beyoncé keeps releasing new music this way it's going to be a long, hot summer!
Calling Beyonce and Jay-Z "the royal couple of culture," director Baz Luhrmann writes of Knowles: "Right now, she is the heir-apparent diva of the U.S.A. — the reigning national voice."
Recent Oscar winner and new Hollywood It Girl Lawrence received a tribute from Jodie Foster. "You'll remember where you were when you first felt it, how you were stuck to one spot like a small animal considering its end. The Jennifer Lawrence Stare," Foster wrote. "It cuts a searing swath in your gut. A reckoning. I remember going to the cutting rooms of Winter's Bone. I thought, 'Sure, this girl can act. But, man, this girl can also just be.'"
Television personalities on the list include Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, Bryan Cranston and Christina Aguilera. Justin Timberlake and Frank Ocean also made the cut.
Check out the complete list here.
Beyoncé won't be putting together another reunion with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland anytime soon.
"That Super Bowl—how do you top that?" Michelle Williams told me last night at the premiere of Call Me Crazy, the new Lifetime movie premiering April 20.
In other words, it will only happen if "it's something epic and worthwhile and amazing," Williams said.
She said, "I'm never going to say never, but it'll be a long time."
Williams, however, will be featured on a new track on Beyoncé's upcoming album. She's also currently touring the U.S. in a production of the Broadway musical Fela!. Rowland, who is performing at the GLAAD Media Awards in L.A. on Saturday, is rumored to be a possible judge on the next season of the U.S. version of X Factor.
And if by some chance you haven't heard, B recently launched a massive world tour.
Now we want to hear from you. Do you want to see—and hear!—another Destiny's Child reunion?
Apparently so, if you're Beyoncé: The Grammy winner showed off quite the provocative look at her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, which kicked off Monday night in Belgrade, Serbia.
The first photos from the star's splashy tour have now begun to emerge, and they're pretty eye-popping, to say the least.
In fact, the "Countdown" diva set the audience—and Internet users—aflutter when she stepped out onstage in a glittery gold leotard whose intricate craftsmanship was far from the ensemble's biggest focal point.
Yep, Beyoncé gave props to girl power in a racy getup that graphically paid homage to the female anatomy. (Bey did eventually switch things up in a white ensemble with a teeny flirt-skirt overlay.)
Expect Beyoncé's busty gold outfit to get lots of boobage—er, mileage: The singer is set to hit 41 more cities over the next four months before wrapping things up Aug. 4 in Brooklyn.
The 31-year-old is standing behind a cause she firmly bey-lieves in and speaking out in support of women's empowerment in the inspirational video for Chime for Change.
Queen Bey revealed that she's determined to let her 1-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, know that she can accomplish anything she wants in life.
"I'm telling my daughter every day, 'You know you can be president, you know it's possible,' and I know she has no idea why I'm saying that," she told the cameras.
(Video)
Mrs. Carter is set to headline the Sound of Change Live concert on June 1, which will feature the music industry's most powerful female voices in a one-off show at London's Twickenham Stadium.
The Gucci-founded organization has also recruited some of Hollywood's most famous faces for their campaign including Halle Berry, Katy Perry, Zoe Saldana, Salma Hayek and Blake Lively.
Beyoncé is flaunting her stunning bikini bod once again, this time in five new H&M ads. This isn't the first time Jay-Z's wife has showed off her post-baby body. Just a little over a year after giving birth to Blue Ivy (the couple welcomed their first daughter in January 2012), Beyoncé posed for GQ magazine's February 2013 cover in a barely-there crop top and leopard print underwear. Then last month, the "Bow Down" singer gave us a sneak peek at her H&M campaign, lying ocean-side in a plunging top and seriously short-shorts.
The stunning new ads debuted just as the Grammy-winner launches her Mrs. Carter World tour in Serbia today. Only further proving that the year of Beyoncé is still going strong.
The 31-year-old star is gearing up for the opening concert tonight of her 42-city Mrs. Carter tour in Belgrade, Serbia, and she uploaded last-minute rehearsal photos to her Tumblr page.
The behind-the-scenes shots show the singer putting finishing touches on choreography for the upcoming tour with a slew of backup dancers.
Queen Bey is shown in one photo practicing her moves in sky-high heels and a leotard-showing off her toned physique.
The buzz surrounding Beyoncé isn't just limited to her world tour. On April 4, the singer debuted her first installment of Pepsi commercials in a 61-second clip entitled, "Mirrors."
Jay-Z's wife showcased some of her famous looks from previous years—including "Bootylicious" and "Crazy in Love"—and previewed a snippet of her highly anticipated single "Grown Woman."
The Grammy winner has yet to release the full single, but she has already dropped a mashup of two new songs called "Bow Down/I Been On" to mixed reviews.
Let the Queen's reign Bey-gin!
The Republican lawmaker from Florida calls their recent trip "hypocritical" and he takes issue with the U.S. government's approval of the visit as a cultural mission.
Beyonce and Jay-Z marked their wedding anniversary in Havana last week.
U.S. citizens aren't allowed to travel to Cuba for mere tourism, though they can obtain licenses for academic, religious, journalistic or cultural exchange trips. These people-to-people licenses were reinstated under the Obama administration.
Rubio, a Cuban-American, says such trips provide money to the Castro government to oppress the Cuban people.
Rubio discussed the trip during interviews Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," ABC's "This Week" and NBC's "Meet the Press."
The festival announced Wednesday on Spotify that Beyonce will perform at the "Budweiser Made in America" music festival on Labor Day weekend.
Nine Inch Nails will also headline.
A wide range of acts will hit the stage on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, including Queens of the Stone Age, Kendrick Lamar, Phoenix, Imagine Dragons, A$AP Rocky, Public Enemy and Miguel.
Tickets go on sale April 17.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Wiz Khalifa, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, 2 Chainz, Emeli Sande and Solange will also perform.
About 40,000 people attended each of the two days of the 2012 festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Beyoncé has been named honorary chair of the upcoming Met Institute Costume Gala on May 6, which means this highly anticipated star-studded fashion affair is about to get seriously stylish.
A rep from the Met confirm to E! News that the singer joins a number of high-profile cochairs to kick off this year's Punk: Chaos to Couture-themed event including Anna Wintour, Riccardo Tisci, Lauren Santo Domingo and Rooney Mara
Talk about the crème of the crop!
And as we all know, the gorgeous star never disappoints when it comes to fashion, so we're expecting big things from Bey on the red carpet this year!
The actress, who has been very vocal about political issues since the last presidential elections, has now turned her focus to Jay-Z and Beyoncé and their decision to spend their anniversary in Cuba.
She's not very happy about it and she doesn't think you should be either.
Dash tweeted, "Do you care that The Jay Z"s have taken the capital you have given them and funded a communist oppressive regime?" (Apparently, Hov and Bey's conjoined name is "The Jay Zs.")
Judging by her followers' responses, no, they don't care. "I like you better when you were CLUELESS," one fan wrote, while another said, "What. Ever."
However, Dash wasn't the only one who raised flags from the duo's trip. The Hollywood power couple also faced backlash for their Cuban getaway from two members of U.S. Congress, who are now asking the Treasury Department to investigate whether they violated the long-standing U.S. embargo restricting travel to Cuba.
Maybe Jay-Z just wanted to show off his Cuban links?
Rowland told Billboard Magazine … Beyonce and Michelle Williams both sang a little bit on a track for Kelly’s upcoming solo album, but Rowland is adamant it’s NOT like old times.
“It's not a Destiny's Child track … It's me featuring Beyonce and Michelle," she explained.
D.C. fans have been hoping for a reunion ever since the gals performed at the Super Bowl, back in Feb … the first time they’ve been on stage together since 2006.
Even though the Rowland project isn’t an official reunion, seems like it’s only a matter of time ... hopefully.
U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart say they want information on the type of license the R&B power couple received to travel to the communist island.
U.S. citizens are not allowed to travel to Cuba for mere tourism, though they can get a license for academic, religious, journalistic or cultural exchange visits.
The artists marked their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana last week.
The Congress members say they represent a community that includes former political prisoners. Both support Washington's 51-year embargo against the island.
The Treasury Department did not immediately return a request for comment.
Beyonce and Jay Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in the Cuban capital, where big crowds greeted them as they strolled hand in hand through the city and posed for pictures with admiring Cubans.
The longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from traveling to the island without a license granted by the U.S. government, though President Barack Obama's administration has eased restrictions on travel to Cuba for academic, religious or cultural programs.
The opening notes of the trailer offer the first listen to Beyoncé and André covering Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black." That's followed by Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful," followed by Florence's "Over the Love," written specifically for "Gatsby."
The trailers hold no plot surprises for those of us who are familiar with the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel (and who isn't?) but Luhrman's trademark razzle-dazzle spectacle is still worth a second and third viewing. We expected something epic, and it looks like he's about to deliver. If you don't get chills looking at that green light, it's possible your high school English teacher failed you.
The highly anticipated film hits theaters May 10. Don't miss it.
On Tuesday, she previewed her upcoming song "Grown Woman" in Pepsi's "Mirrors" ad.
In the 61-second clip, Jay-Z's wife comes face-to-face with herself from different points throughout the past decade. There's the Destiny's Child-era Bey in pink, the "Crazy in Love" Bey in jean shorts and a white tank, some iconic Sasha Fierce Beys and of, course, the "Single Ladies" Bey from a few years back. But the today version of Bey trumps them all, looking sexy and empowered in leather shorts and a hot AllSaints Kyoto Tee.
She glugs down a Pepsi (it is an ad, you know!) in between the sneak preview of "Grown Woman" and telling viewers to, "Embrace your past, but live for now."
Per Billboard, Beyoncé's new single debuts this Monday. Bey ready, y'all!
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are causing quite the stir in Havana, where the couple is celebrating their fifth year of marriage.
The superstars were mobbed by dozens of fans at La Guarida, a popular restaurant, on Wednesday and police had to be called to keep the crowds at bay.
Waitress Silvia Fernandez said they dined with their mothers and another man she couldn't identify.
She called Beyoncé "beautiful, without a drop of makeup."
On Thursday, they toured colonial Old Havana and popped into another restaurant that boasts a magnificent rooftop terrace with a sweeping view of the harbor.
It was not clear why they traveled to Cuba.
Beyonce's recent photo posted to her Tumblr has us musing about getting picked up in a yellow cab by the stunner. I mean, one can dream, right? In the latest blog post, the singer proves she earns her "Baddie Bey" Instagram moniker, posing all street chic with bright red lipstick, a light gray hoodie and gold platform wedge sneakers pointed out the window.
But silly antics aside, Bey means business when it comes to her music.
In a new teaser video posted to her YouTube channel, the pop star is revving up some serious anticipation for a new project slated to drop tomorrow at 9 a.m.
The six-second teaser opens with heavy tribal drumming as a blond Bey stares seductively into the camera, then cuts quickly into a title page that reads "4.4.13 9AM EDT #BeyHereNow." While the vague message will probably cause some confusion, we're thinking (and praying!) she might drop a new single early tomorrow morning on the heels of her latest release "Bow Down/I Been On."
Bey is back...not that she ever left.
Fresh off her sexy GQ cover, Beyoncé shows off the enviable result of all that hard work (in a more high-fashion way, of course) for her bombshell Vogue U.K. cover.
And there’s a reason the star’s feeling sexier than ever these days: domestic bliss agrees with her. “It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child. I was like, ‘OK, this is what you were born to do,’” she says in the magazine’s May issue. “The purpose of my body became completely different. The way I view it and everything. There’s a sensuality and an audacity that I’m O.K. with sharing.”
But though she doesn’t mind being more open, at the end of the day, she’s Mrs. Carter first and foremost. “I feel like Mrs Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been,” she says. “I do believe in equality, and that we have a ways to go … But I’m happily married. I love my husband.”
For lots more from Beyoncé, including candid thoughts on motherhood and much more, visit Vogue U.K.’s website and pick up a copy when it hits stands.
The "Bow Down / I Been On" singer graces the cover of British Vogue's May issue, and she opens up about her views on feminism, equality and her widely scrutinized decision to dub her upcoming tour The Mrs. Carter Show.
"I guess I am a modern-day feminist," Jay-Z's missus tells the mag, per an excerpt in The Huffington Post.
"I do believe in equality," she adds. "Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I'm just a woman, and I love being a woman."
That said, the songbird still maintains that "we have a way to go and it's something that's pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept."
As for criticism that, as Limbaugh claims, she's now bowed down to her role as Jay-Z's wife—the rapper's real name is Shawn Carter—by name-checking him in her tour's moniker, Blue Ivy's mama is clear about where she stands.
"I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I've ever been," she says.
"It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child. I was like, 'OK, this is what you were born to do'. The purpose of my body became completely different."
The singer's tour kicks off on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia, and will wind its way through 42 cities in North America and Europe before wrapping up in her hubby's home turf of Brooklyn in August.
E! News got the scoop about the song, and was informed by Interscope Records that "it's a very different take on 'Back to Black.'" Considering Luhrmann's films' frenetic style, it's anyone's guess how the track will be incorporated.
This is the second time Beyonce and Andre 3000 have worked together. They also collaborated on the 2011 single "Party." "The Great Gatsby" stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. It's due in theaters on May 10.
Beyoncé Knowles will have one very small – but special – guest with her when she goes on The Mrs. Carter Show world tour in June.
On Friday, the proud mama, 31, posted an Instagram shot of a director's chair with the tour logo, alongside a pint-sized version of the same seat emblazoned with the initials "BIC" – presumably standing for her 14-month-old daughter, Blue.
Although her baby girl with husband Jay-Z will be accompanying her on the road, life won't always be that way, the pop superstar said recently.
"At some point it's very important to me that my daughter is able to experience life and run through the sprinklers and have slumber parties and trust and live and do all the things that any child should be able to do," Knowles explains.
"Once I learned about my character, Queen Tara, I just had to be a part of it," she says of the movie. "What I like most about Tara is she sets a great example for the people she protects. I've always wanted to be a queen. The film is about how everything in our life connects."
She continues, "Everything in this movie is big: the characters, the action. This is one time where the film really lives up to its title."
This is far from Beyonce's first film role. She also starred in "Dreamgirls," "Austin Powers in Goldmember," "The Fighting Temptations," "The Pink Panther" and 2009's "Obsessed." "Epic" also features the voice talents of Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Steven Tyler, Pitbull and Colin Farrell.
Hours after the debate on Prop 8, California's controversial ban on gay marriage, raged in the Supreme Court, the Grammy winner came out in vocal support of marriage equality.
And the singer used her formidable Facebook page as a platform to let the world know her stance.
In her singularly intimate style, the 31-year-old posted a handwritten note that read, "If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it," giving the lyrics to her anthem "Single Ladies" deeper resonance.
She also caption the photo: "#WeWillUniteForMarriageEquality."
Earlier, Beyoncé had posted another Facebook message—"It's about TIME!!! #EQUALITY #MarryWhoYouLove"—and attached a photo of the Human Rights Campaign logo.
The songbird joins a surging wave of stars who've tweeted their support of gay marriage in the wake of the Prop 8 Supreme Court debate.
This past spring, the singer's own hubby, Jay-Z, spoke openly about marriage equality, saying that President Barack Obama's trailblazing endorsement of same-sex marriage was "the right thing to do."
"You choose to love whoever you love," H.O.V.A. said in an interview with CNN. "That's their business. It's no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination, plain and simple."
New Yorkers were thrilled to spot Beyoncé out with her 14-month-old daughter, Blue Ivy, on Sunday in Brooklyn.
The "Bow Down" singer, 31, wore a black hoodie and dark sunglasses, while an apparently sleepy Blue Ivy donned little boots on the mother-daughter outing to Buttermilk Channel restaurant, the Huffington Post reports.
Husband and dad Jay-Z was not along for the lunch date.
"When I wake up in the morning, the best thing in the world is seeing her face," the pop star said last month.
"She's starting to talk. It's just such a beautiful time in my life to have a child and every day see something new and see her learn something new."
Beyoncé has signed on to be the line’s newest face, something that’s been buzzed about since she was snapped on a shoot back in January. The photos, shot in the Bahamas, show the star looking especially sultry, wearing flowers in her hair and cute, summery clothes.
And true to her Type A personality, the star had a hand in designing the looks in the summer collection, including a body-con dress, high-slit maxi, sleeveless top and swimwear. Her new track “Standing On the Sun” will be heard in the ads, which “felt more like making a video than a commercial,” Beyoncé said in a statement.
The already enormous affordable-fashion empire has been raising its profile even further recently, from shooting Guy Ritchie-directed ads to making appearances at the Oscars, and we have a feeling a collaboration with Beyoncé is only going to make 2013 even bigger for H&M.
Look for “Beyoncé as Mrs. Carter in H&M” ads to pop up soon, with the full collection to hit stores in May. Tell us: What do you think of H&M’s new face?
The conservative talk-radio host called out Jay-Z's missus for what he deemed a "180" in the image department, blasting her for supposedly abandoning the feminist credo she previously espoused in her solo work and her former group Destiny's Child, and for now telling women to "bow down" to their husbands.
"[Destiny's Child] songs were attempts to inspire young women not to take any grief from men. She's done a 180," said Limbaugh. "Beyoncé, now having been married, having been impregnated and giving birth to Blue Ivy…she's got a new song, 'Bow, Down Bitches'… Beyoncé is now saying, 'Go ahead and put up with it!'"
He continued: "You know why? I'll tell you why. Because she married a rich guy. She's even calling herself Mrs. Carter on the tour…She has shelved Beyoncé…She now understands it's worth it to bow down."
Limbaugh also cited an editorial in U.K.'s The Telegraph by a woman angered by Queen B's allegedly new direction away from the "Independent Women" champion who played President Barack Obama's inauguration and offered up "Singles Ladies" good advice.
Unfortunately, if Limbaugh had bothered to read the lyrics to Beyoncé's new song a little more closely, he might have understood their meaning and not taken the songstress completely out of context.
As E! News pointed out, a more likely interpretation of "Bow Down"' is it's a tough message aimed at any upstart singers hoping to challenge her place on the pop-music throne.
"I know when you were little girls/You dreamt of being in my world/Don't forget it, don't forget it/Respect that. Bow Down Bitches," she croons.
She does refer to hubby Jay-Z, singing: "I took some time to live my life/But don't think I'm just his little wife."
But naming her tour the Mrs. Carter Show was more a playful nod to her role as H.O.V.A.'s other half than a serious command for women to be subservient to their partners.
To be fair though, Limbaugh isn't the only one to take issue with "Bow Down," as R&B star Keyshia Cole also slammed the ditty.
"First 'Women need to Stick together' now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it's all G! Chicks stay shooting the s--t. But when I speak my mind it's a prob," she wrote on Twitter Monday.
In Kendrick Lamar's new track "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe," Jay raps a verse about his good life with his gorgeous wife.
"Up in the clouds, me and my spouse / Rumors on the ground gettin' too loud," he raps. "Please turn them s--ts down, can't hear myself think!"
Blue Ivy's dad also spills on his times "in the White House with a mink / Running through that bitch like it's my house / All up in the hall like a mall, told you motherf--kers, all I do is ball."
And Jay's thoughts on Barack Obama? He raps, "Presidential pardon, name one n---a out there harder than him / I'll wait!"
The track is a remixed version of Kendrick's original 2012 song of the same title, and per NME, the new version premiered at SXSW. Both Jay and Kendrick will appear at the Wireless Festival in London this July.
Listen to "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" here (warning: lotsa NSFW language), and then let us know in the comments what you think!
In a new interview with Shape magazine, the 31-year-old singer says she definitely plans on having more kids with hubby Jay-Z.
"Absolutely," the Grammy-winner dished about expanding her family. "I'll probably start after this tour. We'll see if it happens."
Beyoncé, whose 42-city Mrs. Carter Show world tour kicks off next month in Serbia, also dished on loving everything about 1-year-old Blue Ivy. And we mean everything!
"I just adore being a mother, hearing her say Mama and call me when she needs something," she said. "It makes me feel like I have a real purpose here. I enjoy all the things people warned me would be tough to handle."
Like changing dirty diapers?
"Yes, even that!" the "Single Ladies" songstress said.
"I'm most surprised by how much she's taught me," B said. "She's only a year old and I've learned so much about myself from her. Giving birth was one of my biggest fears, and having Blue forced me to face it. And now I recognize the strength I have. She teaches me to focus on the things that truly matter, like family, and to pay attention to each moment, because they go by so quickly."
"Can't stand when people all self righteous when it's convenient it makes them look good. Lmao! But can still talk s--t when convenient 2 FOH," the Woman to Woman artist tweeted upon the release of Bey's latest single, "Bow Down/I Been On." On the track, Blue Ivy's mom sings, "I know when you were little girls you dreamt of being in my world. Don't forget it. Respect that. Bow down, bitches."
And, though immediately faced with a swarm of offended denizens of the "BeyHive," Cole kept going.
"I done kept it real from the start! #RespectTHAT," she also wrote. Then: "First "Women need to Stick together" now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it's all G! Chicks stay shooting the shit. But when I speak my mind its a prob. #Well #StayMad."
Comments from the pro-Beyoncé peanut gallery ranged from"U need a hit record ASAP!! @KeyshiaCole u bored and angry..." to @KeyshiaCole When Beyoncé sings she's Sasha Fierce though, so get ya life" and "@KeyshiaCole what's ironic is that you've been talking all that family 1st/God shit for a minute, but then pull the same shit... lol."
"Bitch you ain't gon need NO more perm kits. The #BeyHive bouta snatch you BALD !!! @KeyshiaCole," tweeted another concerned fan.
"Never said there was any. IM not in denial... God Bless RT @_BEYHive: @KeyshiaCole fuck yo unity," Cole fired back.
Cole also tweeted: "How am i hating? no Mamm or sir. whatever u may be. No H8 RT @GothamsKnight_: damn @KeyshiaCole hating on everybody."
The "Trust and Believe" singer also drew the ire of Destiny's Child fans when she slammed Michelle Williams for "f--king the groove up" during their Super Bowl performance.
"I don't care what anybody else says," Williams later told Bilboard. "I don't let it get me down. It was a beautiful thing."
Beyoncé is back on the music scene with a Hit Boy-produced track (who also was behind Kanye West and Jay-Z's "N----s in Paris") that's so fierce it's sure to become every woman's anthem this season.
The singer posted her new single "Bow Down / I Been On" today on her website, with artwork that features a younger (possibly Photoshopped) Bey in a pageant gown next to a collection of trophies.
"I took some time to live my life, but don't think I'm just his little wife," Beyoncé sings on the song, "Don't get it twisted, get it twisted, this my s--t, bow down bitches."
Oh yeah, she went there!
"I know when you were little girls, you dreamed of being in my world," the superstar also says. "Don't forget it, don't forget it, respect that."
Blue Ivy's mom is gearing up for a massive 42-city tour—aka The Mrs. Carter Show—which will trek through Europe and North America, and kicks off April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia. The tour wraps up Aug. 4 in her hubby's home turf of Brooklyn.
The pop star opens up to Shape magazine about the race to lose the baby weight she had gained while pregnant with Blue Ivy—a particular challenge given that the Grammy winner, who put on 57 pounds, had booked her first post-baby concert just mere months after she and hubby Jay-Z welcomed their daughter.
"I gained 57 pounds when I was pregnant. I didn't have a lot of time to lose the weight, because I scheduled a show three months after I gave birth, which I would never do again," she says in a behind-the-scenes video on her upcoming cover story for the mag, per an excerpt in the Huffington Post.
"I'm not a person that is naturally very thin," she adds. "I am a person that has to work at keeping my body in shape." That regimen, she reveals, included a fitness routine filled with lots of dance workouts.
The 31-year-old Grammy winner also acknowledged that the most important part of losing the baby weight was understanding what worked best for her body.
"Not everyone is supposed to be the same," she says. "Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you, you."
Beyoncé is currently gearing up for her upcoming Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, which will travel through 42 cities in North America and Europe and kicks off on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia.
A website -- we're not disclosing the name -- has posted social security numbers, mortgage amounts, credit card info, car loans, banking and other info of major celebs. In addition to Beyonce and Jay-Z ... the site has snagged financial dossiers of Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Ashton Kutcher, Joe Biden, Robert Mueller, Hillary Clinton, Eric Holder and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.
The site was not able to get a lot on Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton, but most of the others on the list have had their financial info compromised.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the LAPD has already launched an investigation. We're told the FBI is looking into it.
Fortunately, Jay-Z's wife isn't puffing on a cigarette, but she is surrounded by gray smoke in a series of new Tumblr shots.
Wearing a sideways "Beyond" cap, puffy jacket, leggings, sneakers and minimal makeup, Blue Ivy's mama looks contemplative in the shots.
In one pic, she walks straight through smoke coming up from a grate in the street.
Fittingly enough, Friday is International Women's Day. And for that, we celebrate Queen Bey. Because who run the world? Girls!
The "Countdown" chanteuse is currently gearing up for her eagerly awaited Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, and—in a new snap uploaded to her Tumblr page—Jay-Z's missus slips into full-on prep mode.
In the candid black-and-white shot, the 31-year-old can be seen kneeling on stage and holding a microphone as she confers with someone off-camera.
Behind her, an assemblage of performers and crew members mosey about, including what appears to be a small gaggle of backup dancers.
Buzz for Beyoncé's tour—her first all-out global jaunt since welcoming daughter Blue Ivy back in January 2012—has slowly begun to build.
Two weeks ago, an extended teaser hit the Web, showing the singer royally dolled up as a wicked mashup between Marie Antoinette and Queen Elizabeth I.
And on Tuesday, the Grammy winner released a promo pic of her as a blond-bombshell pinup girl to hype the massive 42-city tour, which kicks off on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Blond ambition, indeed.
The sexy singer posted a pretty pleasing picture to her Facebook page to promote her upcoming Mrs. Carter Show world tour.
And between the lighter locks, the form-fitting top and the blue short-shorts, we're definitely reminded why Mr. Carter, aka Jay-Z, is one lucky fella.
Bey kicks off her world tour in April, and she'll perform in 42 cities throughout Europe and North America until August.
Will you be seeing her in concert?
The singer, during an L.A. concert Friday targeted Beyoncé for her bags, saying they lead to rhino extinction, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The former Smiths frontman, an outspoken vegetarian, not only made the Staples Center go meatless for the show by shutting down McDonald's, but scolded the Queen Bey onstage before launching into the song, "Meat is Murder."
Morrissey's been on quite a tear of late, also fueding with Jimmy Kimmel this week. The singer cancelled his appearance on the talk show because the cast of the hunting-centric program, Duck Dynasty, was scheduled for the same night.
Earlier this month, the animal rights advocates slapped Beyonce’s wrists over the python, iguana and cow skin Rubin Singer bodysuit she wore at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Now, the organization is outraged over her Isabel Marant wedge sneakers custom-designed by Perfectly Made Kicks (PMK). The "King Bey" shoes are made from crocodile and anaconda skins, stingray, ostrich and calf hair.
The “Crazy in Love” star is a fan of the French designer’s shoes, and is often seen wearing a pair in black (see photo). Beyonce is yet to be seen wearing the shoes in question.
The PMK Web site proudly states that the company was “given the task to create a custom design worthy of [Beyonce’s] approval.”
Not pleased, PETA issued a statement: "These custom-made kicks come with a high price and it's paid by the various animals who were beaten and skinned alive or cruelly farmed and killed. Although most people aren't as familiar with the types of animals (snakes, stingrays, crocodiles, and ostriches) killed for this single pair of sneakers as they are with the cats and dogs we share our homes with, these animals are highly sensitive living beings who try hard to avoid capture and suffer enormously when trapped, netted, speared and skinned alive. We hope that Beyonce will choose to wear more clothes from her own clothing line, which features faux fur, and that one day, she'll go completely cruelty-free.”
"She can always choose the cruelty-free and green fashion favored by compassionate, chic celebrities such as Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway and designers such as award-winning fashion queen Stella McCartney."
The pop star took to her Tumblr page to post a series of playful shots of her literally getting down to work as she attempted to rock a new kind of, er, headpiece.
In the hilariously candid snaps, the 31-year-old hops on a tractor while wearing a big blue hard hat and safety gloves.
And while the impeccably fashionable pop star can glam up any look, her hard hat proved to be a particularly challenging accessory, at one point falling over and almost swallowing her head whole.
Hey, at least Bey's got a terrific sense of humor about it all!
One thing the errant accessory couldn't detract from? The singer's flawless, makeup-free face.
Jay-Z's missus is currently ramping up for a sprawling 42-city tour, which kicks off on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia, and will wind its way through Europe and North America.
Not to worry though, Jay-Z: The sexy singer kept it clean and was fully clothed in her Tumblr pic.
In the shot, Blue Ivy's 31-year-old mama wears sneakers, leather pants and an ornate patterned top. She shoves her hands in her pockets and makes some combination of duckface/kissy-face. (This is only acceptable when you're Beyoncé.)
Of course, Bey doesn't have too much time for silly photo ops. She's kicking off her world tour in April and visiting 42 cities between then and August.
We don't call her Queen Bey for nothing!
A new extended teaser has just been released hyping the songbird's upcoming "Mrs. Carter Show" world tour, and in true pop-royalty fashion, Jay-Z's ladylove simply rules.
In the spot, which specifically hawks Bey's show at London's O2 arena, the 31-year-old songstress holds court as a wild mashup between Marie Antoinette and Queen Elizabeth I.
(Video)
As she gets ready to make her grand entrance, Beyoncé is primped to pop-star perfection, complete with corset, knee-high boots, jewels and crown.
A shorter version debuted last month when the singer first announced her world tour, but the new spot—which is about a minute longer—offers black-and-white snippets of Bey behind the scenes, as an army of assistants, choreographers and dancers piece together the eye-popping production.
The final ad, of course, is quite the extravaganza: Scepter in hand and killer bouffant at the ready, Beyoncé steps forward as a cadre of subjects trail her, swaying and swooning as Bey stomps away in those killer Wonder Woman–esque boots.
The massive 42-city tour, which will trek through Europe and North America, kicks off on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia, and wraps up on Aug. 4 in—surprise!—her hubby's home turf of Brooklyn.
Based on this extended teaser, we're expecting nothing less than a majestic spectacle.
The famed singer gave fans a sneak preview of her latest promotional ad for Pepsi on her Facebook, which is much different than the sexy grocery shopper photo we'd seen before.
"Pop Art inspires me to Live for NOW," she wrote.
The new seemingly Andy Warhol-inspired ad shows a combination of Bey striking three different facial poses, followed by a Pepsi can (of course).
However, the bright-colored and posterized promo, which follows the design of the famous artist's vintage prints, has created a problem with some fans who feel that Beyoncé's skin tone is too light.
One commenter wrote, "ummmmm…why does she look Caucasian..?," while another said, "And to look like a white chick. thumbs down for you Missi."
Pepsi was not immediately available for comment.
What do you think of Bey's new Pepsi promo?
The film -- co-directed, co-written, starring, executive produced and sometimes even shot (on a web cam) by Beyonce Knowles -- drew 1.8 million viewers for its 9 p.m. premiere on Saturday (Feb. 16). That just beats out the previous champ, Spike Lee's Hurricane Katrina chronicle "When the Levees Broke" which drew 1.7 million viewers in 2006.
In these days of monster ratings for nontraditional shows like "The Walking Dead" and "Downton Abbey," 1.8 million may not sound like a lot -- but for a HBO documentary it's a big deal. It's also a considerably larger number than the network averages for a first run episode of media zeitgeist show "Girls." And pretty much anything that airs on HBO expands its audience substantially through repeats and video on demand viewing.
Beyonce mania also gave a boost to Oprah Winfrey's OWN. The talk show queen's "Oprah's Next Chapter" interview with Ms. Knowles aired at 8 p.m. Saturday and drew 1.3 million viewers.
On Saturday night, Blue Ivy's pop star mom, her husband Jay-Z and LeBron James held court in Houston at the Sprite Two Kings private dinner at RDG + Bar Annie.
While fans were buzzing about the singer's new documentary, Life Is but a Dream, Beyoncé slipped into the late night event dressed in a white pantsuit with her honey-hued hair in curls.
As the event continued, Chef Robert del Grande served mixed surf and turf with starters of Maine lobster salad, seared foie gras po' boys and entrees including wood grilled prime beef and gulf red snapper.
After dinner, things took a lively turn as deejay Mick Boogie played hits late into the night. Other attendees included P. Diddy, Drake, Ne-Yo, and Scottie and Larsa Pippen.
The HBO documentary Life Is But a Dream promises to be a very revealing look at Beyoncé's career and personal life—and, sure enough, the singer took the opportunity to show off 1-year-old Blue Ivy more than ever before.
Cue the inevitable leak, right?
An image from the film, which doesn't premiere until Saturday night on HBO, featuring Beyoncé holding her and Jay-Z's adorable daughter hit the Internet today.
All we can really do at this point is coo.
The ubiquitous Beyoncé, whom you may also recognize from her bootylicious Super Bowl halftime performance, is on the cover of the massive March issue of Vogue and she recently sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an interview airing Sunday on Oprah's Next Chapter.
Beyoncé: Life is But a Dream debuts Feb. 16 on HBO at 9 p.m.
"I have no clue why this works," HBO's President of Programming Michael Lombardo tells the New York Daily News. "If someone said to me, 'Why is this on HBO?' I can't say why -- this isn't a traditional documentary and this isn't a traditional music special because there something undeniably moving and honest about it."
He continues, "I knew who Beyoncé was, but I wasn't really a fan. If you had asked me to name more than one of her songs at that point I couldn't."
That all changed when Beyonce's team hand delivered a copy of the film to Lombardo and watched it with him in HBO's screening room. After that, "Life Is But A Dream" topped HBO's "must have" list.
"This, felt so fresh and honest to me," Lombardo says. "She's constantly walking this line between public performer and private person, and wrestling with how, in this massive spotlight, she can hold onto the part of yourself that makes you real. It's such an honest struggle and such an honest conversation."
He adds, "I was also dazzled by how hard she works, the unbelievable, unsexy, hard, sweaty work that goes into mounting a show -- any show she does. You just have to take you hat off to her."
Fans will find out what convinced Lombardo to change his mind when "Life Is But A Dream" debuts on HBO on Feb. 16.
The notoriously private performer, 31, recently got candid with Oprah, and gushed about the love of her life, husband Jay-Z, 43.
"I would not be the woman I am if I did not go home to that man," the new mom said firmly, almost as if she she was about to get teary-eyed. "It just gives me such a foundation. [He's helped me] on so many levels."
But it wasn't love at first sight for the power pair.
"We were friends first for a year and a half before we went on any dates," Beyoncé explains. "We were on the phone for a year and a half, and that foundation is so important for a relationship. Just to have someone who you just like is so important, and someone [who] is honest."
For the longest time, the couple refused to address their marriage to media, and that is something the talk show host finds particularly amusing.
"I remember the first time you were on the Oprah show, I told you, 'Don't go around telling people who you're dating,' " Oprah recalls. "I think you took that all the way. Don't tell people who you're dating, but you can tell people who you're married to, OK?"
The singer is set to get even more personal in her Life Is But a Dream documentary, airing Saturday night on HBO. In an already-featured clip from the highly anticipated documentary, Beyoncé revealed she miscarried before giving birth to Blue Ivy.
For years, the superstar has existed behind a veneer of perfection and control that rumor, controversy and no amount of speculation could penetrate. Her personal life remained off-limits and public missteps were avoided. But the special shows a different side: Here's a woman with her hair up and unadorned by makeup speaking candidly for the first time about the pain of firing her father as her business manager,her devastation after suffering a miscarriage, her deep affection for husband Jay-Z (they dated for years and barely acknowledged it), and the joy and pride she takes in daughter Blue Ivy.
Also telling are her explanations of why she writes so many feminist anthems, that her life's goal is "independence," and the importance of family. She reveals more personal details in 90 minutes than she's offered throughout her career. For someone who seems like a force of nature on stage, she appears very down-to-earth off of it.
"People are taking pictures of you and exploiting your personal life as entertainment," she says. "When Nina Simone put out a record, you fell in love with her voice. … But you didn't get brainwashed by her day-to-day life, and what her child was wearing and who she is dating. All things that are really not your business. It shouldn't influence the way you listen to the voice and the art, but it does."
The singer -- who co-directs with Ed Burke and executive-produces the film -- tells her story through a candid interview punctuated by family movies, behind-the-scenes and performance footage, and video journals. It isn't a perpetually glamorous life, and it's apparent how draining the daily grind of recording, performing and running her business can be.
The family theme is interwoven throughout. She talks about her middle-class upbringing in Houston and how her father guided and inspired her early on. There's footage of private moments with Jay-Z, who is probably even more famously guarded than she is, on vacation and at a birthday party she gave him. And near the end, a beaming Beyoncé holds 1-year-old Blue Ivy at a family gathering. Home is where her heart is.
The Super Bowl songstress stunned in a sheer and sparkly gown on the red carpet last night at the premiere of her HBO documentary Life Is But a Dream, and E! News caught up with Jay-Z's other half to talk about daughter Blue Ivy and her famous friendship with Gwyneth Paltrow. The singer admits Gwyn has given her motherly advice on raising her little girl in the spotlight.
"She is incredible,;she's a great friend on every level," Bey gushes when asked about her celeb BFF. "I think for us, protecting our daughters is so important and…keeping things on our own terms, so I will still be protective and make sure [Blue Ivy] has a childhood and a great time."
Still, the superfamous mama realizes she can't keep a close eye on her little girl forever, and she looks to her own mother as an example of a great parent:
"At some point, you know it is what it is, you can't control it anymore," she admits. "But I know as long as I'm the mother that I know I can be and the mother I have—such an incredible mother—my daughter's going to be fine."
Beyoncé also reveals she started on the documentary before she was pregnant but she didn't feel the film was complete until she became a mother. "It's out now because I feel like I finally know what to say after seeing my child's eyes," she says with pride.
As for hubby Jay-Z's cameos? Bey confesses the world-famous couple put their private lives out there together.
"None of the footage was directed; it's all natural moments, so I think [Jay-Z] probably meant to say he was surprised he let us put it in the movie," she says with a laugh. "It's inspiring to see real life and a real couple."
Especially when it's the life of Beyoncé.
The 31-year-old pop singer and her rapper husband, Jay-Z, 43, one of music's most influential couples, have guarded their privacy fiercely.
But in "Life is But a Dream," airing on Saturday on cable channel HBO, Beyonce gives fans a glimpse of how she works and even a peek at baby Blue Ivy, who has been shielded from paparazzi since her birth in January 2012.
The film, which Beyonce co-directed, is part of a return to performing after a year off since her first child was born.
Beyonce began her comeback with a controversial lip-synched performance of the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration in January, followed by a live performance at the Super Bowl halftime show that wowed critics.
At the New York premiere of the documentary on Tuesday, the new mother said she wanted to share her altered perspective on life.
"Knowing that at this point in my life, this age is so wonderful because I see everything differently and I hope that I can share that with other people," she said.
The "Crazy in Love" singer addresses the widely reported claim from 2011 that she was faking her pregnancy, calling it "the most ridiculous rumor I've ever heard of me."
"To think that I'd be that vain ... especially after losing a child. The pain and trauma from that just makes it mean so much more to get an opportunity to bring life into the world," she says in the documentary.
The HBO film shows footage of a sonogram, Beyonce's growing bump and grainy video of herself posing nude as she neared her due date.
The arrival last year of Blue Ivy Carter gained worldwide media attention and prompted Beyonce to share more with her fans, launching a Tumblr page with snapshots of her family life.
Her miscarriage had been kept secret from the public until Jay-Z referred to it in his song "Glory," that he released following the birth of Blue Ivy.
In the documentary, Beyonce touched on the topic briefly, saying, "It was the saddest thing I've ever been through."
"My life is a journey. ... I had to go through my miscarriage, I believe I had to go through owning my company and managing myself ... ultimately your independence comes from knowing who you are and you being happy with yourself," she said.
"Life is But a Dream" also gives a peek into the Grammy-winner's four-year marriage to Jay-Z, showing the couple singing Coldplay's "Yellow" to each other.
"This baby has made me love him more than I ever thought I could love another human being," she says.
The film shows Beyonce putting herself and her team through grueling choreography rehearsals in 2011 and planning every second of her performances at big awards shows that year.
Beyonce has also announced a new album for this year. "The Mrs Carter Show World Tour" - Jay-Z's real name is Shawn Carter - will kick off in April with more than 40 performances in Europe and North America.
"Life is But a Dream" airs on HBO on Saturday, the same day as Beyonce's interview with Oprah Winfrey on the OWN cable channel.
While in labor with her first child, the songstress formed an instantaneous bond, an experience that was music to the mom-to-be’s ears.
“I felt like when I was having contractions, I envisioned my child pushing through a very heavy door,” Beyoncé, 31, recalls in Vogue‘s March issue.
“And I imagined this tiny infant doing all the work, so I couldn’t think about my own pain. We were talking. I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a communication.”
Surrounded by close family and friends — including husband Jay-Z — for the birth of Blue Ivy, Beyoncé managed to find strength in her support system, allowing her to embrace the moment … and the pain.
“Everything that scared me just was not present in that room,” she explains. “So for me to really let go and really appreciate every contraction … it was the best day of my life.”
Now the proud mama of a 13-month-old daughter, who she calls her “road dog, she’s my homey, my best friend,” she says life has new meaning. “I feel like I have something that has grounded me so much more.”
The star also opens up about her life in the upcoming HBO documentary. Life Is But a Dream premiers Saturday, and she addresses the rumors surrounding her pregnancy.
“That was very odd. Who even thinks that?” Beyoncé says of the speculation that she used a surrogate. “Like, who would make that up … You can’t take it too seriously.”
Instead, the working mama is focusing her attention on finding the fine balance between her personal and professional lives as she plans her upcoming tour with plenty of downtime built in to spend with Blue.
While the tight-knit trio gear up for life on the road, the proud parents hope that, one day, they can give their baby girl a chance at a laidback childhood.
“At some point it’s very important to me that my daughter is able to experience life and run through the sprinklers and have slumber parties and trust and live and do all the things that any child should be able to do,” Beyoncé says.
“School visits and lemonade stands and all that stuff. It’s very important to me,” she adds.
But her return to the stage isn’t the only thing Beyoncé is looking forward to; Eventually, she and Jay-Z are hoping to make Blue a big sister.
“When I was younger, there were moments when I said, ‘I’m not going to have children,’” she recalls. “And then moments when I wanted four. And now I definitely want another, but I don’t know when.”
Powerhouse Beyoncé took to Facebook to wish her longtime friend and Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland a happy birthday today.
"Happy Birthday to my sis Kelly! ?," she wrote, with a black-and-white photo of the duo that was both divalicious and funny, thanks to Bey's bunny ears.
Rowland, who turned 32 today, stunned on the Grammy red carpet last night, and told E! News how happy she was to recently reunite with her Destiny's Child ladies for the Super Bowl halftime performance.
"When I looked on the other side of the stage at the Super Bowl and I saw Beyoncé and Michelle [Williams], my heart just went into my throat. I was so happy. It was just such a beautiful moment."
Aw, so sweet!
In Vogue's March issue, Jay-Z's 31-year-old wife says their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, has "grounded me so much more."
"Family has always been important. I've always had my mother and my father and my husband," she says. "But it's just… Life is so much more than…It's not defined by any of this."
By this, she means the fame, money and accolades that come with being a celebrity. And while Bey has her fair share of famous friends, it's 1-year-old Blue Ivy that's "my homey, my best friend."
In fact, Beyoncé felt like she and her daughter "were talking" during Blue's birth.
"I felt like when I was having contractions, I envisioned my child pushing through a very heavy door," she explains. "And I imagined this tiny infant doing all the work, so I couldn't think about my own pain...I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a communication."
And she hopes to feel that special communication again—someday. "When I was younger, there were moments where I said, 'I'm not going to have children,'" she says. "And then moments when I wanted four. And now I definitely want another, but I don't know when."
She adds that becoming a mother has helped her to "really understand the power of my body."
"I just feel my body means something completely different. I feel a lot more confident about it," she says. "Even being heavier, thinner, whatever. I feel a lot more like a woman. More feminine, more sensual. And no shame."
And as much as Beyoncé loves being a powerful woman, she admits females still face some obstacles. "Equality is a myth, and for some reason everyone accepts the fact that women don't make as much money as men do," she says.
Her advice? "Power's not given to you. You have to take it."
Wise words from a wise woman. Any questions?
After a powerful Super Bowl halftime show, the singer, 31, is embarking on the Mrs. Carter world tour – and just added a special performance.
Beyoncé will return to New Orleans's Superdome to headline one of three concerts during the 19th annual Essence Festival, the magazine confirms.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Beyoncé back to the 2013 Essence Festival lineup. She is truly the ultimate Essence woman," Communications President Michelle Ebanks said in a statement.
The festival will also include performances by Jill Scott, Maxwell, New Edition, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J and Brandy.
But that's not all for the ever-busy mom to Blue Ivy. Aside from her own HBO special Life Is But a Dream slated to air on Feb. 16, Beyoncé will also sit down with Oprah for an episode of Next Chapter on OWN – which will also air Feb. 16.
Music's top stars attended the annual pre-Grammy Roc Nation and Nokia brunch Saturday at the Soho House.
Grammy nominee Miguel, Timbaland, Jill Scott and Kylie Mingoue also attended the exclusive event.
Jay-Z is one of six acts nominated for six awards at Sunday's Grammys. Rihanna is up for three trophies, and Beyonce is nominated for one award.
The crowd Saturday was full of members of music industry, who mingled with performers like The-Dream, Jordin Sparks, Melanie Fiona, Diane Warren, Christina Milian, MC Lyte and Santigold.
The famous family stepped out together for a casual afternoon lunch Thursday at Gjelina restaurant in Venice, Calif., and the always-private pair were snapped trying to hide from paps.
Of course, papa Jay shielded baby Blue from the shutterbugs in the backseat of the couple's car, and Bey has a big smile on her face as they drive to the popular restaurant.
Music's biggest couple are expected to rock the red carpet together Sunday at the 55th Annual Grammy awards.
Queen Bey is nominated for Best Traditional R&B performance for her song "Love on Top," while Jay is up for six awards, including Best Rap/Sung collaboration for the hit "No Church in the Wild" and Best Rap Performance with Kanye West.
Can't wait to see these two kill it on the carpet together!
Beyoncé and fellow "Independent Women" pals Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams are clearly enjoying catching up with each other following their not-so-surprising "surprise" reunion at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday.
The "Love on Top" songbird took to her Tumblr page this week to post candid snaps of the trio—who recently released a new single and compilation album—as they mugged it up for the camera by doing fish faces. Feels just like old times, yes?
And the ladies weren't the only ones who got a shout-out: Bey's mom, Tina Knowles, also popped up in another photo as the group busted out some fierce 'tude.
Although Beyoncé's Super Bowl gig with the gals scored glowing reviews, not everyone was impressed: Earlier this week, Keyshia Cole dissed Williams for supposedly "f--king the groove up."
But the Destiny's Child reunion also seemed to have mended one frayed relationship: Former member LaTavia Robertson raved that the gals "looked great and did a good job with their dance moves."
Time to kiss and make up? Bey's puckerrific Tumblr pic is looking pretty spot-on, we must say.
"We would take a bet that if Beyoncé watched our video exposés...she'd probably not want to be seen again in anything made of snakes, lizards, rabbits, or other animals who died painfully," People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals told E! News, reacting to the halftime show headliner's skimpy leather outfit, which also incorporated iguana and python skin (but, for the record, no rabbit) in addition to nylon and other man-made materials.
"Today's fashions are trending toward humane vegan options, and Beyoncé's Super Bowl outfit missed the mark on that score."
It's already been a rough year for these two, PETA also reportedly finding fault with the Christian Dior mink coat Beyoncé wore to the presidential inauguration last month.
PETA did, however, have find something to cheer about after the Super Bowl: They applauded the complete absence of great apes in this year's batch of commercials, taking special note of CareerBuilder.com's decision to not once again dress chimps in suits and ties for human amusement.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, after the trio shook what their mama gave them and belted some of their big hits while occasionally striking a fierce pose on stage, fans were so impressed that they rushed to buy some of the group's music. Cha-ching!
And we're not talking just any old increase. Destiny's Child's music sales soared by more than 600 percent! Yes, you read that right.
Those sales included the group's brand-new Love Songs compilation, which features one new recording, "Nuclear."
But you know the saying, "You can't please everybody."
Shortly after the show was done, R&B singer Keyshia Cole took to Twitter to share her thoughts on what she just experienced.
"F--k that shit up then Beyonce! Bad bitch central," Cole wrote of the headliner. "I think I was frightened to blink for a sec. Then Michelle sung and woke my ass up from my daze! She always f--king the groove up." Yikes!
Regardless, Williams was pleased with her performance, "Had a great time with my sisters tonight! Tried to keep it a surprise!" she tweeted. "Love you all. God bless!"
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the halftime show was not the cause of the power outage that darkened the Superdome for half an hour during Sunday's broadcast.
"There's no indication at all that this was caused by the halftime show. Absolutely not. I know that's been out there that this halftime show had something to do with it. That is not the case," Goodell said.
Beyonce was the halftime performer at Sunday night's game and used plenty of power to light up the stage. Some had joked that her electrifying performance was to blame for the outage.
But the halftime show was running on its own generator, said Goodell and Doug Thornton, a vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Superdome.
"It was not on our power grid at all," Thornton said, adding that the metered power consumption went down during halftime because the house lights were down.
Beyonce's 13-minute set included hits "Crazy in Love," ''Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and a Destiny's Child reunion.
The energetic performance was sung live days after she admitted she sang to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration. And it won applause from critics who called it a major improvement over Madonna, who sang to a backing track last year, and the Black Eyed Peas' much-criticized halftime show in 2011.
Afterward, Beyonce announced "The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour" will kick off April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia. The European leg of the tour will wrap up May 29 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The tour's North American stint starts June 28 in Los Angeles and ends Aug. 3 in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the Barclays Center.
It was also announced Monday that a second wave of the tour is planned for Latin America, Australia and Asia later this year.
The tour, which so far includes 19 European cities and more than 20 in North America, is part of the 31-year-old's carefully crafted comeback since giving birth to her first child with rapper and husband Jay-Z in January, 2012.
Some online media reports said a second wave of performances would be announced for Latin America and Asia, but there were no such details on her official website.
"The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour" will stop in Paris for two performances on April 24 and 25 and in London for a four-date "mini-residency" at the O2 Arena on April 29 and 30 and May 1 and 3.
The European leg ends in Stockholm on May 29 and the tour travels to North America where it kicks off in Los Angeles on June 28.
Beyonce was watched by a television audience of more than 100 million people on Sunday in New Orleans for the Super Bowl, performing hits like "Love on Top", "Crazy in Love" and "End of Time".
Her comeback was temporarily derailed when she admitted that she sang along with a pre-recorded track of the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration in January.
But reviews of her appearance on Sunday, which included a reunion with former Destiny's Child bandmates, were largely positive. It will be followed by the premiere of her self-directed documentary, "Life is But a Dream", on HBO on February 16.
Just hours after an electrifying halftime show, Beyoncé announced a world tour with a name clearly inspired by loving hubby Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. Her Fierceness will launch the "Mrs. Carter Show" tour in Eastern Europe, including dates in Serbia and Slovakia, before burning up Europe and then North America.
Her tour will finish up—where else?—in Brooklyn, childhood home of Mr. Carter.
Tickets for North America go on sale Feb. 11.
Check out the teaser video above!
Fresh from the stage after her heart-pounding halftime set at the Super Bowl, Beyoncé found support and comfort backstage in the arms of Jay-Z.
Wearing a black robe to cover up her smoking hot leather and lace stage gear, the singer received a giant hug from her husband in a moment that was caught on camera and posted to Instagram.
The couple – who were together in Washington, D.C., where Beyoncé performed a controversial rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" – embraced backstage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans as Tweets rang out in support of her dazzling performance, which included a reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child.
Beyoncé shared a thank-you note for her former band mates as well as Alicia Keys, who sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, and Jennifer Hudson, who sang "America the Beautiful" with children from Sandy Hook Elementary School.
"What a proud day for African-American women," she wrote. "You are all beautiful, talented and showed so much class. It was an honor to perform at the Super Bowl with you phenomenal ladies."
And, she has since added to omg! Insider's Kevin Frazier, it was lucky the lights stayed on through their performance. "It's a live television show, it's the biggest show in America, and there's so many things that could happen and God was on my side, so I'm very, very happy that it went well and the power went out after."
In more more bit of business on Sunday night, Beyoncé announced she'll be hitting the road in April on The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
She emerged onstage singing some of "Love on Top," transitioning to her hit "Crazy In Love" in an all-black ensemble, which matched the dark stage. She ripped off part of her shirt and skirt as she danced hard with background dancers doing the same.
She sang live — and sounded good. Days after admitting to singing to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration, she proved herself to any doubters and added a few off-script remarks as if to show her microphone was on.
Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of the 13-minute performance. She was especially top-notch during "End of Time" and "Baby Boy."
She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of herself dancing. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny's Child band mates.
Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing "Bootylicious." They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang "Independent Woman," as their voices faded into the background.
They also joined in for some of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," where Beyonce's voice grew stronger.
She asked the crowd to put their hands toward her she belted the slow groove "Halo" on bended knee — and that's when she the performance hit its high note.
Before the game, Alicia Keys performed a lounge-y, piano-tinged version of the national anthem that her publicist assured was live. The Grammy-winning singer played the piano as she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in a long red dress with her eyes shut.
She followed Jennifer Hudson, who performed "America the Beautiful" with the 26-member Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus, a performance that had some players on the sideline on the verge of tears.
The students wore green ribbons on their shirts in honor of the 20 first-graders and six adults who were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage at the school in Newton, Conn.
The students began the song softly before Hudson, whose mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were shot to death five years ago, jumped in with her gospel-flavored vocals. She stood still in black and white as the students moved to the left and right, singing background.
Beyonce and her former bandmates have been coy about reports of a comeback at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana during the half-time show, but it seems they haven't been able to lock down rehearsals.
Cheerleader Courtney Labat, who will be performing with Beyonce on Sunday, was caught out on Friday when Entertainment Tonight reporter Rocsi Diaz asked her if rehearsals with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland have been good.
She replied, "Yeah, they've been awesome. We were actually able to see the show yesterday."
If the reports are true, it will be Destiny's Child first public performance in five years.
"My husband is incredible," the pop star, 31, gushed on the NFL Network's Super Bowl Live show of Jay-Z. "He's so supportive."
But Sunday's Super Bowl halftime performer's smile gets even bigger when it comes to talking about her daughter, Blue Ivy.
"When I wake up in the morning, the best thing in the world is seeing her face," Beyoncé says. "She's starting to talk. It's just such a beautiful time in my life to have a child and every day see something new and see her learn something new."
Calling motherhood "so much more fulfilling than anything else in the world," she adds, "I love it."
As for family football traditions. "Usually we have all of our friends and we have our drinks," Beyoné explains. "Sometimes the women and the men end up separating. We get excited, but the exciting part for me is the halftime show, and I'm happy to be the entertainment for it." (Video)
For starters, you're unlikely to hear the term "wardrobe malfunction" around the water cooler Monday morning. Nor should there be speculation about questionable words or gestures, such as the middle finger seen 'round the world last February — raised by M.I.A. in a seeming bid to steal the spotlight during Madonna's halftime show.
This year's main attraction is "somebody who's universally loved, with a sterling reputation," says Rolling Stone associate editor Andy Greene. "Beyoncé has done sexy, of course," most recently in a thigh-flashing promotional shot posted alongside rehearsal photos on her website Tuesday. "But she's always erred on the side of classy."
Greene expects "not a hint of scandal" — particularly since Beyoncé, at a news conference Thursday, addressed the brouhaha over reports of her lip-syncing the national anthem at President Obama's second inauguration. She sang the anthem for reporters, admitted she had used a prerecorded track last week and vowed to sing live Sunday at the Superdome.
"I have no reason not to take her at her word," Greene says. "It's definitely not worth taking that risk twice."
Other chatter has focused on what the overall production will be like. Greene anticipates "a spectacular (show) on par with something from Broadway or Vegas. That's been the trend lately, to make it a one-time-only event, like Madonna did last year, with bells and whistles."
That approach appears to have been a canny one: The halftime show typically attracts fewer viewers than the overall game, but last year, the reverse was true, with Madonna's set drawing 114 million pairs of eyeballs and scoring a 47.4 household rating, edging out averages for the game.
As for the set list, there's lingering talk that Beyoncé's old bandmates from Destiny's Child will join her (the trio released a compilation album Tuesday, with one new song, Nuclear), even after member Michelle Williams said in a radio interview that it wouldn't happen. (Williams is touring in a production of the musical Fela! — though, notably, she isn't scheduled to appear in it this weekend.)
Regardless, Beyoncé has no shortage of material to draw from. Alan Light, former Vibe editor and director of programming for the public television series Live From the Artists Den, notes that she can "fill the 14 minutes with massively successful songs and still have a bunch on the table." And she'll likely launch at least one new tune from her upcoming album, expected this year. "That seems part of the point of doing a thing like this."
Light notes that, at 31, Beyoncé is considerably younger than the average halftime performer and that, like Madonna, she represents "a move away from the male-driven classic-rock world, which seems to have worked from a ratings perspective."
That's what Beyoncé had to say to reporters gathered in New Orleans for her Super Bowl halftime show press conference after she took the stage, asked them to stand and belted out a flawless, live rendition of the National Anthem on Thursday.
The singer – who has remained silent since criticism and accusations of lip-synching erupted following her performance of the same song at President Barack Obama's inauguration – then told the world why she decided to sing along to a pre-recorded track on Jan. 21.
"I am a perfectionist," she said. "One thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed. I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra. It was a live television show. It was a very important emotional show for me, one of my proudest moments."
"Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check," she continued. "I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the President, the Inauguration. I wanted to make him and my country proud, so I decided to sing along to my pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry."
"I'm very proud of my performance," she added, as the gathered reporters applauded.
Although she coyly dodged questions about a possible Destiny's Child reunion during the Super Bowl halftime show (something her band mate Michelle Williams previously denied), she did clear up another lingering question about Sunday's big show.
"I will absolutely be singing live," she said. "This is what I was born to do."
The singer held a press conference Thursday in New Orleans days ahead of her half-time performance at the Super Bowl.
She said she's a "perfectionist" and wanted her performance for President Barack Obama to be a memorable one. She called the day "emotional."
Beyonce opened the press conference with live rendition of the national anthem.
If there's still any lingering doubt that Beyoncé is hard at work prepping for her upcoming Super Bowl debut, may we please direct you to this new video that the Grammy winner just posted, providing an exciting preview of what the world can expect to see when she takes the stage at New Orleans' Superdome on Sunday.
Appropriately, the clip rocks it out to the songbird's smash "Countdown" and puts the spotlight not only on the 31-year-old singer but on her throng of dancers.
And there are many of them, as they stomp, shake and shimmy their way through several dance routines. (Look closely and you'll spy a couple of "Single Ladies" dance moves—but of course!)
Jay-Z's other half also posted a new promo pic for her gig, flashing a killer look as she holds up a football.
Hey, whether she's playing a sexy referee or a Game Day songbird, Bey surely knows how to score. (Video)
The only one who doesn't get paid: Beyoncé. Even her band, dancers and technical crew get paid. NFL will fork over $600,000 in production costs, and Pepsi, with whom Beyoncé recently signed a $50 million deal, will pick up the rest of the tab. It's literally just Beyoncé who won't get paid.
According to a story from Time.com posted this morning, she won't get a dime for her highly anticipated show, but that's not a surprise. Not even the Material Girl herself was paid for last year's show.
The Who, a band that already has sold 100 million records, happily served up classics like Pinball Wizard and Won't Get Fooled Again in 2010. "You can be touring like we have for 50 years, and there's billions of people who have still never heard of you," lead singer Roger Daltrey told Time.com. "That's the nature of media these days." After they played Super Bowl XLIV, digital purchases of their music quadrupled.
When the Black Eyed Peas performed in 2011, they saw a huge spike in their music sales.
When Madonna played last year, her show pulled in more eyeballs than the game itself.
You just can't buy that kind of publicity. It's priceless.
The superstar hasn't spoken publicly since it was alleged that she lip-synched her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Barack Obama's inauguration last week. Her critically praised performance came under scrutiny less than a day later when a representative from the U.S. Marine Band said she wasn't singing live and the band's accompanying performance was taped. Shortly after, the group backed off its initial statement and said no one could tell if she was singing live or not.
It's expected that the halftime performance will be a main focus of her afternoon press conference, even though she'd likely rather concentrate on questions about her set list for Sunday and her upcoming HBO documentary, "Life Is but a Dream." The documentary is being shown for the media just before Beyonce speaks and takes questions, as expected.
There has been plenty of speculation about Beyonce's Super Bowl performance, including reports there would be a Destiny's Child reunion with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland (Williams has shot down such speculation). Some are also curious about whether her husband, Jay-Z, will join her onstage, as they often do for each other's shows.
Beyonce has teased photos and video of herself preparing for the show, which will perhaps be the biggest audience of her career. Last year, Madonna's halftime performance was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance ever, with an average of 114 million viewers. It garnered more viewers than the game itself, which was the most-watched U.S. TV event in history.
The singer gave birth to a daughter named Blue Ivy last year, and just days afterwards, her husband Jay-Z released a song which suggested they had endured a previous tragedy.
Beyonce has now confirmed she conceived for the first time two years ago, and was grief-stricken when she lost the child.
Speaking in her new documentary Life Is But a Dream, she says, "About two years ago, I was pregnant for the first time. And I heard the heartbeat, which was the most beautiful music I ever heard in my life. I picked out names. I envisioned what my child would look like... I was feeling very maternal. I flew back to New York to get my check up - and no heartbeat. Literally the week before, I went to the doctor, everything was fine, but there was no heartbeat."
Beyonce admits she dealt with the tragedy by pouring her emotions out in her music, "I went into the studio and wrote the saddest song I've ever written in my life. And it was actually the first song I wrote for my (last) album. And it was the best form of therapy for me, because it was the saddest thing I've ever been through."
However, the Crazy In Love hitmaker insists experiencing such a sad loss made her even more grateful when she eventually gave birth to baby Blue.
She adds, "Being pregnant (with Blue Ivy) was very much like falling in love. You are so open. You are so overjoyed. There's no words that can express having a baby growing inside of you."
The hitmaking songbird has been posting a storm of intimate behind-the-scenes pics of her and her crew as they rehearse for Sunday's halftime show, and—lucky for us—Bey shows no signs of easing up on those terrific snapshots.
The "Love on Top" singer has just uploaded slew of new pics to her Tumblr page, pulling the curtain back on all the hard work that goes into mounting her highly anticipated Super Bowl debut.
In these candid black-and-white pics, the 31-year-old singer runs through a few moves with her dancers as they fine-tune what is sure to be a showstopping performance.
Bey, completely makeup-free and clad in leggings, white high-tops and a chic headpiece, looks impeccable even as she sweats it out. At one point, she even sprawls out on the floor as she takes a break.
Of course, there are no signs of any of her fellow Destiny's Child sisters, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, in any of the snapshots, although the rumor mill has been on overdrive that the trio will reunite in a surprise performance.
Guess we'll have to wait until Game Day to find out!
As anticipation builds for her Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on Sunday, Beyoncé has posted another photo of herself on her Tumblr – this time as a sexy NFL referee.
Sort of. She also seems to be running the ball ... in stiletto, thigh-high leather boots.
While the the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers take a breather from their game, it's safe to say that all eyes will be on Beyoncé after a controversy erupted over her possibly lip-synching the National Anthem at the presidential Inauguration.
There's also a rumored Destiny's Child reunion happening at halftime, though whether Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will join Beyoncé on Sunday is disputed.
The singer, 31, has not commented on either situation, but she will attend a Super Bowl halftime show press conference on Thursday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Down in New Orleans to gear up for her highly anticipated halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl XLVII, Jay-Z's wife is snapped sans cosmetics, but still looking her usual radiant self as she heads to rehearsal accompanied by her mom Tina Knowles.
The fresh-faced "Halo" songstress is likely focusing on the big game and putting the controversy over her lip-synced rendition of the national anthem on Inauguration Day behind her.
Blue Ivy's mama has been sharing photos of her halftime rehearsals, including a pic of herself rocking a cheeky sweatshirt and snaps of her dancers.
We're ready for that jelly, B!
Moving past the brouhaha surrounding her inauguration performance while gearing up for her upcoming Super Bowl appearance, Beyoncé isn't slowing down one bit as she launches her new fragrance, Pulse NYC.
In the snazzy ad campaign for the perfume, which will mark her fifth fragrance, Queen Bey towers high above New York City and looks stunning as she rocks a mirror-bedecked strapless mini that easily gives the Empire State Building a run for its ogle-worthiness. (In a savvy stroke of design beauty, the bottle for the fragrance itself resembles a skyscraper.)
(Video)
As if that weren't enough, Bey also released a behind-the-scenes video giving fans a peek at the photo shoot for the campaign as she explains how she zeroed in on the concept for the fragrance.
"I thought that now that I am a New Yorker and I've learned about how I can accomplish anything in this city, I felt it was an appropriate energy for the new fragrance," she says.
And with her upcoming Super Bowl performance already generating loads of buzz (rumors of a Destiny's Child reunion! Instagram pics!), we're betting Bey will be bringing her own explosive energy to New Orleans' Superdome on Sunday.
Fans of Destiny's Child may be wondering where Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will be at the Super Bowl halftime show.
While Beyoncé has posted photos of her rehearsals for the big performance, Williams says reports of a reunion for the pop group are merely unconfirmed rumors – and that they're "not true."
"I'm going to be in the musical Fela!," she told WRUG Media in a recent interview. "I hate to disappoint the people and tell them that it's not true."
Williams is headlining a world tour of the Tony Award-winning show, which kicks off Tuesday in Washington, D.C. According to the show's website, there are two performances of Fela! at Sidney Harman Hall, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, but Williams will not be appearing in the show that day.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Williams said of the reunion rumors. "But we did record a song with each other before the holidays."
Destiny's Child – Love Songs, a greatest hits compilation of the group's most romantic recordings set for release Tuesday, will feature a new song, "Nuclear," their first in eight years.
But Williams did hint that a reunion outside the recording studio may still happen.
"We have talked about it," she said. "You know, one day soon."
Beyonce -- who has yet to address the allegations she faked her way through the National Anthem on Inauguration day -- posted the cryptic snapshot on Instagram Saturday night.
Bey is seen wearing a sweatshirt -- while practicing for her upcoming Super Bowl gig -- which poses the question "Can I Live?" ... the title of a song by her husband, Jay-Z.
It's clear from the pic ... either Beyonce is telling the world to back the heck off ... or she's just a totally supportive wife.
As everyone in the world expects, the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on Feb. 3 is going to be a massive production, one involving not just Beyoncé, but also lighting and sound technicians, stagehands, costume designers and dozens of other people there to ensure that those 30-or-so minutes are perfect.
Oh, and there will be dancers!
Beyoncé, who jetted off to New Orleans on Monday immediately after prerecording-then-performing the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony, shared what looked to be a couple of rehearsal photos via Instagram today.
Hence all that scoop about the dancers.
Also, note the visual shout-out Bey gave to hubby Jay-Z in one pic courtesy of her Brooklyn Nets T-shirt (the rapper is a part-owner of the NBA team).
Although the oddsmakers try, you never can predict the little things that inevitably go wrong during a production of such magnitude, be it a wardrobe malfunction or your fiery guest star giving the world the finger.
But we're betting Beyoncé herself is gonna be darn near perfect.
Us Weekly reports that the singer will start the show solo with "Crazy in Love" before Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland join her for the much-anticipated Destiny's Child reunion.
The trio will perform some of their greatest hits that include "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Survivor," before ending with "Nuclear," a new track from their upcoming compilation “Love Songs.”
Beyonce is reportedly closing the show with the premiere of a single from her next album, her fifth solo release.
Page Six revealed earlier this week that Beyonce lip-synced the national anthem to a version of the song she recorded with the US Marine Band at President Obama's second inauguration in DC.
The performer skipped town immediately to New Orleans where she’s rehearsing for the Super Bowl.
Following the intense backlash, spies saw her shopping on Claiborne Street in the French Quarter looking unhappy.
“She was surrounded by huge security guards,” an eyewitness told Page Six exclusively. “She didn’t really interact with anyone and did not look happy. She kept her head down.”
Her rep has yet to confirm if her Super Bowl performance on Feb. 3 will be live.
The R&B songstress posted to her Instagram page the first photo of her current whereabouts since the scandal broke, showing her at New Orleans' Mother's Restaurant, which—by the look of the menu she's holding up—apparently has the world's best baked ham.
Yesterday, after it was revealed that Beyoncé lip-synced "The Star-Spangled Banner" to a prerecorded track—something hardly out of the ordinary for major events (see: Whitney Houston's famed Super Bowl rendition of the national anthem) but which nevertheless sparked outrage—B has remained mum on the matter except to post some pictures of her rehearsing for Monday's big performance.
On Tuesday, the director of the U.S. Marine Corps Band, Col. Michael J. Colburn, confirmed that Beyoncé used the prerecorded version because she had been busy getting ready for her highly anticipated appearance at Feb. 2's Super Bowl and didn't have time to rehearse the anthem properly with the band. He also said the cold weather was a factor.
In any case, a number of the 31-year-old superstar's fellow artists have come to her defense, among them LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Lopez and, most notably, the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, who sang at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration.
Franklin told ABC News that when she heard Beyoncé used a prerecorded track while performing in chilly temperatures, she laughed, noting that "for most singers, that is just not good singing weather." She also praised her protégé, saying, "She did a beautiful job with the prerecord…Next time I'll probably do the same."
Of course, despite the backlash, Beyoncé still sang the song—as fan Piers Morgan was quick to note—even if it was in the studio.
So far, no word whether she'll perform her halftime Super Bowl set live.
Although the Grammy winner has yet to publicly comment on the brouhaha, she's certainly not shying away from making a statement about it—at least visually: Bey has now posted photos of what appears to be the recording session for her performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The black-and-white pics, with the singer added to her Tumblr page, show the songbird hard at work rehearsing the track.
We see the 31-year-old studying the music sheet and then belting out the tune with her headphones on.
At one point, she even grabs a saxophone and appears to be jamming with the band. Later, she sits at a console to listen to a playback of the track.
On Tuesday, the director of the U.S. Marine Corps Band, Col. Michael J. Colburn, confirmed that the singer used a prerecorded rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," but justified it by explaining that all music is prerecorded in the event of bad weather.
He also added that because Beyoncé was busy gearing up for her Super Bowl halftime performance, she didn't have ample time to rehearse with the band, and so organizers opted to play the prerecorded track while the band "created a visual simulation of playing."
Event honchos, however, now appear to be backtracking on that: Shortly after the revelation, a media rep for the Marine Corps Band clarified that the band itself didn't play live, but he couldn't say the same for Beyoncé.
"Regarding Ms. Knowles-Carter's vocal performance, no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or prerecorded."
Intrigue and speculation? Sounds a lot like politics, indeed!
But while some have taken it upon themselves to be outraged (outraged!) by the superstar singer's decision to perform to a prerecorded track and lip-sync the national anthem for President Barack Obama's inauguration, there are plenty of fellow celebs who are firmly backing B.
Like Jennifer Lopez and LeAnn Rimes.
Both singers—who have presumably been there, done that (albeit on a much smaller scale and without the subsequent worldwide hypervigilant fallout)—were asked about the budding scandal while making their own promotional rounds last night, J.Lo while stopping by The Daily Show, and Rimes while talking to Jimmy Kimmel.
And both were nothing but supportive.
"I'm actually taking up for her on this one," LeAnn said, arguing that the decision may not have been the singer's to make. "There are times when people will ask you to do it, and they will not let you do it unless you do it because they want control over what happens."
Follow that? Well, keep paying attention.
"In certain venues and stuff, they do prerecord things, because you're going to have that terrible slapback," Lopez said.
"Sure," chimed in Jon Stewart. "Slapback."
"All performers do have to do it at some point," Lopez added. Just, ideally, not on such a massive stage.
On Tuesday, Jay-Z's wife launched Beyhive, a blog featuring "all the inspiring things" she encounters in her daily life. Queen Bey wrote that she wants "to show that world what [my fans] do and how much I appreciate you."
Like BFF Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, Beyhive will feature some of Bey's favorite things (from shoes to movies). She also showcases people who inspire her (including Barack Obama and Michael Jackson), photography from her stylist (very cool) and fan art (ours isn't up there—yet).
But fans of Bey, that's not all. In a newly released pic from her sexy GQ photoshoot, the 31-year-old superstar poses in a Nets cap, white bra and Calvin Klein underwear.
Jay-Z, you are one lucky, lucky man.
“All music is pre-recorded for the ceremony because there are so many eventualities and conditions that day,” Kristin DuBois, a rep for the band tells Page Six. “We performed, live, the band. But we received last-minute word that Beyonce was going to use the pre-recorded vocal track. Those were the instructions we were given. We don’t know what the reason why.”
The news will surely shock those who watched the emotional performance. At one point, Beyonce even dramatically removed her earpiece – which now seems even more ludicrous, as she wasn’t even making any noise.
With the crowd – which was estimated at roughly 800,000 people – chanting "O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma!" the President began his address.
"My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment," he said, "and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together."
Beyoncé closed out the 57th inaugural ceremony with an a powerful rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" – while wearing a pair of 80-carat emerald earrings and a 50-carat emerald ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
And Kelly Clarkson performed a stirring "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" accompanied by the United States Marine Band.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer kicked off the ceremony with an inspiring speech. "It is a good moment to rejoice today," he told the crowd. "It is the perfect moment to renew our collective faith in the future of America."
Myrlie Evers-Williams, an activist who is the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, then delivered the Invocation. The 79-year-old made history as the first lay person and woman to do so.
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor swore in Vice President Joe Biden – making her the first Hispanic person to administer an inaugural oath of office.
James Taylor – who has performed for the President in the past – performed an acoustic version of "America the Beautiful."
With Michelle Obama holding the Bible, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts delivered Obama his oath of office, as the 44th President swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Richard Blanco – who at 44-years-old is the youngest Inaugural Poet – recited a poem that invoked images of Americana.
Beyoncé dedicated a post on her web page to Michelle, sending birthday wishes and words of appreciation. The songbird has repeatedly expressed the utmost admiration for our current first lady, attending her fundraisers and even penning a personal letter to the president's wife, thanking her for all her hard work.
"Happy birthday to a beautiful soul, happy birthday to a leader, happy birthday to a force, happy birthday to a ray of light, happy birthday to an inspiration, happy birthday to our first lady, Michelle Obama," the singer wrote. "Respect, always & forever, Beyoncé," she concluded.
Directed by the Grammy winner herself, Beyoncé gives fans an up close and personal look inside her superstar life, her personal challenges and her insecurities.
The singer reveals issues she faces, asking herself: "How do I stay current? How do I stay soulful? I felt like I had been so commercially successful, it wasn't enough." She also notes that "[If] you can't express yourself, you can't grow. It's the battle of my life so I set a goal and my goal was independence."
Mrs. Jay-Z also reveals "I just had a feeling that something was growing" while sharing images of her sonogram when pregnant with her now 1-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter, even adding "trying to hide [her belly] was very difficult " in tight clothes.
The video, which also features home movies from her childhood in Houston, gives viewers a raw look at the singer in which she admits: "I'm a human being. I cry, I get scared, I get nervous just like everybody else."
Life is But a Dream airs on HBO January 16.
Hot on the heels of the news that they were back in the recording studio together for the first since 2004 and that Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will be joining Beyoncé during her Super Bowl XLVII halftime show performance in New Orleans, the reunited trio went and dropped "Nuclear" on us!
The Pharrell Williams-produced song will go on sale Jan. 29 and be included on Love Songs—which already has a fully realized track list and everything!
Last year saw the release of greatest-hits compilation Playlist: The Very Best of Destiny's Child, but their last studio album was the fittingly titled Destiny Fulfilled in 2004. Their last live performance together was singing the national anthem before the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.
Love Songs promises to be full of the group's signature baby-makin' music (aka, according to their website, a combination of the "romantic, passionate and sensual selections" from their archives). Rowland's solo tune "Heaven" also made the cut.
So, take a listen to "Nuclear" and let us know: Does it put you in the mood for love?
Following the announcement that Beyoncé and her Destiny's Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, are releasing a new song, the Los Angeles Times reports the three singers will reunite for B's halftime performance.
It will be the first time the women have performed together since 2007. The song "Nuclear" will be on Destiny's Child – Love Songs, a greatest hits compilation of their most romantic recordings, set for release on Jan. 29. It will be their first new material in eight years.
The Super Bowl halftime performance on Feb. 3 will be part of a busy time for the Beyoncé, who showed off her sexy curves in a football-themed photo shoot for GQ this week. She'll also perform the National Anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21, and is the focus of a revealing HBO documentary premiering Feb. 16.
In the interview with GQ, Beyoncé revealed details about an upcoming album, expected as early as April, for which she's already recorded more than 50 songs.
Jay-Z's wife shows off her enviable bikini body—and a glimpse of her maternal side—in a new picture posted to Tumblr. In the shot, Bey and 1-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter hold hands as they dip their toes in beautiful cerulean ocean water.
Relaxing with Blue isn't all Beyoncé is up to these days, though. On Thursday, the singer announced she was reuniting with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams on a new Destiny's Child track.
The girl group reunion has fueled speculation that Destiny's Child might come back together during Bey's upcoming halftime performance at the Super Bowl.
Fierce!
Yes, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams are coming out with new music. On Thursday, the trio announced a new album, Love Songs—featuring a brand-new recording, to be released on Jan. 29.
Although the album is "comprised mainly of romantic gems recorded between 1997 and 2004," it also features "Nuclear," the first new Destiny's Child recording since 2004. Per the group's website, the track was produced and co-written by Pharrell Williams and features vocal production Beyoncé and Lonny Bereal.
The Destiny's Child mini-reunion has led to much speculation that Michelle and Kelly will join queen Bey on Feb. 3 for her Super Bowl halftime show. When E! News asked Kelly this December at VH1 Divas if this was a possibility, she played it coy. "I love the Super Bowl, but I love my sister [Beyoncé] more, so of course I'll be watching," she said, then deflected, "I'm totally going to be watching. I'm so excited."
Should that be the case, ladies, we can handle it.
The same day that it was revealed that the singing sensation will perform the National Anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21, the R&B star's stunningly sexy image on the cover of GQ was released.
The superstar graces the cover of the magazine's issue that touts "The 100 Sexiest Women of the 21st Century – starting with Beyoncé."
Beyoncé, who will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show next month, sure lives up to the title in a teeny cut-off jersey and barely-there bottoms.
GQ promises it will "only gong to get better (and hotter)" when more images are released next week. The issue hits newsstands Jan. 22.
Beyonce is also mom to daughter Blue Ivy, who turned 1 on Jan. 7.
The R&B superstar will be performing the National Anthem at the Jan. 21 ceremony, which will take place at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the Presidential Inaugural Committee tells PEOPLE. And she will be joined by an equally auspicious roster of singers: Kelly Clarkson will perform "My Country 'Tis of Thee" this year (that honor went to Aretha Franklin ... and her infamous hat in 2009), while James Taylor will sing "America the Beautiful."
In 2009, Beyoncé performed Etta James's classic, "At Last," while the President and Michelle Obama took their first dance during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.
Other inaugural ceremony participants include civil rights activist and journalist Myrlie Evers-Williams, who will give the invocation. Reverend Louie Giglio will deliver the benediction.
According to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, more information about ceremonial participants will be released in the coming days. Could Aretha be back for her encore?
The Empire State of Mind hitmaker, who is a part-owner of the American basketball franchise, and his wife are regulars at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where Jay-Z rang in the New Year on stage with Coldplay, and to avoid straying too far from little Blue Ivy, who turns one on Monday, the couple has agreed to splash out on a custom suite, complete with toys and a crib, for the toddler, according to reports.
A source tells UsMagazine.com, “Jay rents a luxurious basement suite for $1 million a year. It has an area for Blue filled with toys.”
The VIP space also serves as a party place for entertaining the pair’s pals: “It’s all glass with a champagne bar and TV screen. Jay lets friends use his digs when he’s not there.”
Pepsi announced Friday that 100 fans will hit the stage when the Grammy-winning diva performs on Feb. 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. A contest that kicks off Saturday will allow fans to submit photos of themselves in various poses, including head bopping, feet tapping and hip shaking. Those pictures will be used in a TV ad introducing Beyonce's halftime performance, and 50 people — along with a friend — will be selected to join the singer onstage.
The photo contest — at www.pepsi.com/halftime — ends Jan. 19, but Jan. 11 is the cut-off date for those interested in appearing onstage with Beyonce.
Jay-Z's wife recently posted a beautiful picture of herself and the couple's 11-month-old baby girl on Tumblr. In the artsy shot, Bey and Blue appear to be on a yacht, and the 31-year-old mom puckers her lips for a kiss as she holds on to her little love.
In another shot, Beyoncé shares a snap of Blue's sweet feet. Clearly, Blue is one beloved baby.
No word yet on what mom and Hov bought their little lady for Christmas. Hip-hop's royal couple was spotted doing some last-minute shopping Monday afternoon in NYC, though, and we're sure Blue Ivy was on Santa's nice list!
Suspected gunman Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last week, killing 20 young children and six adults, before allegedly turning the weapon on himself.
(Video)
The massacre is the latest tragedy to rock America in recent years, following shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School in 1999, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2007, and a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado in July.,P>And in the video, celebrities also including John Legend, Cameron Diaz and Selena Gomez, take turns asking when the violence will end and urge viewers to call for change.
The sombre black-and-white clip was released on Friday – exactly one week after the Sandy Hook massacre - to coincide with the launch of Demand a Plan, a new movement which seeks to ban the sale of assault weapons, among other things.
Well, make that more bank thanks to a new $50 million deal the singer has signed with Pepsi.
While Jay-Z's other half has been involved with the soft drink company since 2002, having appeared in four previous commercial ads for the brand, her new agreement takes things to a whole new level.
According to the The New York Times, soon after Beyoncé performs a Pepsi-sponsored halftime show at Super Bowl XLVII, she will be featured in a new TV ad for the soft drink and her face will be on a limited-edition line of soda cans.
The deal will also find Pepsi promoting the Grammy winner's tour next year as well as the expected release of her new album sometime in 2013. What's more, the company will put money toward other creative projects of Beyoncé's, whether they have any actual connection to Pepsi or not.
Of course, we can't help but wonder what Wendy Williams has to say about this deal in the wake of the talk show host dissing Beyoncé on her program last week.
While chatting about the singer's upcoming HBO documentary last Thursday, Williams took a jab at Beyoncé's speaking voice.
"I am a Beyoncé fan. I'm going to be watching this documentary even if she doesn't introduce us to new stuff. I'm watching," Williams told her audience. "I'm watching because fortunately one of the TVs in our kitchen has closed captioning, so I'll be able to understand what she says. You know Beyoncé can't talk. Beyoncé sounds like she has a fifth-grade education. She can't talk."
When it was clear the audience hadn't taken too kindly to what she had said, Williams added: "Excuse me. I just said I was a fan, but we have to call a spade a spade."
Yeah, something tells us Williams won't be popping up in any of B's Pepsi spots any time soon.
The music world came together Friday for a private dinner celebrating Rico Love's 30th birthday at the SLS Hotel South Beach. Diddy, Pharrell Williams, Fat Joe, Russell Simmons and Kelly Rowland feasted and drank into the night as they toasted the music mogul on his big 3-0.
Diddy led the birthday toast, commending his friend for "working his way up from Harlem." Rico told the crowd, "I'm blessed."
Partygoers were treated to delicious fare from SLS restaurant Katsuya, including rock shrimp tempura, miso marinated black cod, and blue crab rolls. After dinner, the candles were lit on a three-tier cake provided by Hublot watches, accompanied by a miniature cake, designed as a Hublot watch replica.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z were also at the SLS, enjoying a romantic dinner upstairs in the exclusive room, Sam's Lounge. Earlier in the evening, the twosome attended an Art Basel exhibit at The Standard Spa Miami Beach and met up with the group later at Nikki Beach.
"Jay-Z and Beyoncé were drinking Cognac and hugging each other and having lots of fun," an onlooker tells PEOPLE about the couple's time at Nikki Beach.
The evening began with a Roberto Cavalli Saks Fifth Avenue fashion show and coincided with Art Basel week in Miami, where many of the stars spent the day. Explaining his new interest in art, Rico said, "Usher has been educating me on ... the value of investing in professional art, so I'm trying to grow and build my portfolio."
"Love On Top"
Beyoncé
Track from: 4
"Wrong Side Of A Love Song"
Melanie Fiona
Track from: The MF Life
"Real Good Hands"
Gregory Porter
Track from: Be Good
"If Only You Knew"
SWV
Track from: I Missed Us.
"I always battle with, 'How much do I reveal about myself?'" Beyonce says at the beginning of the preview.
The film, which premieres Feb. 16, "sheds light on her childhood in Houston, with home movies revealing the close bond she built with her family and charts the challenges Beyonce felt when she decided to manage her career and build her own company, Parkwood Entertainment," HBO says.
"If I'm scared, be scared. Allow it. Release it," the singer says in the clip, which also features a montage of performances and home videos of Beyonce.
In addition to starring in the documentary, she also directed and executive produced the project.
Check out the sneak peek here.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z recently hit the recording studio together. In a Twitter photo captured by songwriter Jozzy (which has since been deleted), Bey and Hov appear to be collaborating over a bottle of wine.
As the mother of an 11-month-old daughter, Beyoncé certainly has her hands full. In addition to working on a new album, she's preparing her February HBO special and gearing up to perform at the halftime Super Bowl show.
Keeping up with the Carters is no easy feat!
And when it comes to showing off her latest dance moves onstage, it turns out Bey has a go-to guy she's relied on for years: Stuart Weitzman.
Yep, when it comes to showcasing her fancy footwork, Beyoncé reaches for Weitzman's equally fancy footwear. This past Tuesday, she sang Weitzman's praises in a video presentation introducing him with the Footwear News' Lifetime Achievement Award.
"After countless tours and TV performances and special concerts, I have literally danced a thousand miles in his beautiful shoes," she gushed.
Beyoncé didn't look too shabby for that thousand-mile journey either. She rocked out in a bright yellow Julien Macdonald fringe dress and the designer's sparkly gold stripe Swarovski crystal Ventipave heels when hitting the stage at Good Morning America's summer concert series last year. She added even more glitz to the daring Ralph and Russo skintight bodysuit she wore for a TV special with Weitzman's sparkling silver glitter pumps. More recently, she added a playful pop of color to her silver Ralph and Russo fringed mini-dress with Weitzman's pretty pink pumps for a performance in May.
But Beyoncé is crazy in love with more than just the fierce footwear's eye-catching designs.
"My performances can last more than two hours, so I need comfort as well as style," she explained.
And if Beyoncé can easily pull off her killer dance routines in Weitzman's heels, we're betting they'll suit our everyday needs just fine. Now, if only we could move like her.
See what else the singer had to say about her fave shoe designer when you watch the entire video: here!
The as-yet-untitled feature will explore Beyoncé's early childhood in Houston and her current life as a singer, actress, businesswoman, wife and mother. Beyoncé has been married to Jay-Z since 2008 and gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Blue Ivy, in January.
2013 is shaping up to be a good year for Beyoncé: She is also slated to perform during Super Bowl XLVII's halftime show on Feb. 3.
Will you watch the documentary?
The world may not get as many glimpses of Blue Ivy Carter as they'd like, but Beyoncé was sweet enough to share an intimate photo of her and her baby girl over the weekend on her Tumblr.
Both matching in blue outfits (how appropriate), Bey, who was sporting a braided 'do, was caught giving her sweet daughter a big, loving smooch on the head.
Of course, they couldn't leave dad out of the family love.
Beyoncé also posted a precious black and white photo of Jay-Z holding baby Blue while walking down a shaded path.
This time, the little girl's actually looking our way! Unfortunately, the shading makes it close to impossible to see her face.
Sneaky, sneaky.
Favorite R&B Artist
Alicia Keys
Beyoncé
Bruno Mars
Rihanna
Usher
Not that Beyoncé really needs to remind us, of course, but we certainly won't complain if the singer wants to graciously post pics on tumblr of herself in a bikini.
In this shot, we get the pleasure of seeing Blue Ivy's hot mama beautifully posing on a yacht while on vacation.
The 31-year-old songstress, however, gives no indication as to where exactly this photo was taken.
Then again, when it all looks this good, does it even matter?
The singer, 31, who is already schedule to perform at the Super Bowl in February, posted some personal photos online this week, including one from the studio – in which she's seen rocking black-and-white leather pants and a matching top.
She shows off the outfit in more detail in another group of photos: the Rag & Bone pants and the abstract Nicholas Kirkwood shoes with what look like two faces staring at each other.
In another photo, she tries out a long-sleeve, collared silk shift dress with a colorful baroque print.
Beyoncé has been connecting with fans online more often this year, both through her Tumblr – part of the recently redesigned Beyonce.com – and now on Instagram.
She has returned to performing sporadically this year, including a few shows over Memorial Day weekend and an appearance with husband Jay-Z in October. But the Super Bowl show will mark her grand return to the stage.
The R&B superstar posted a handwritten letter on Monday to the president on her website praising his leadership and expressing her support, one day before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to grant him a second term.
"Everyday we see your heart and character, inspiring all of us to give more of ourselves," wrote Beyoncé. "You are the leader to take us from where we are to where we need to be."
Bey and hubby Jay-Z, of course, are big boosters and friends of the president and his wife, Michelle Obama, having thrown a $40,000-per-person campaign fundraiser at Hova's 40/40 club back in September that the president and first lady attended.
And Beyoncé even wrote a letter to Michelle last April heralding her for being a "truly strong African-American woman."
Now in her latest missive, the "Halo" singer was even more glowing about the example she says Barack has set for the next generation, particularly her daughter Blue Ivy.
"You are the reason my daughter and nephew will grow up knowing that they can truly be ANYTHING they want to be," she added.
For his part, Jay-Z expressed his support by performing at an Obama rally in Ohio Monday afternoon and tweaking some lyrics in his hit "99 Problems" by throwing in a nod to the president's Republican opponent, Mitt Romney.
"If you're having world problems, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but Mitt ain't one," he rapped.
The earrings were designed by a Puerto Rican jewelry designer named Erika Peña -- and up until last week, she had only sold 5 sets of the handmade earrings.
But her fortune changed overnight when Beyonce wore them last Saturday in NYC. Since then, Erika tells TMZ, she's sold over 1,300 PAIRS!
Erika tells us she received orders almost immediately from all over the world -- England, Switzerland, Chile, and Argentina ... with her biggest order coming from London.
The earrings currently sell for $32 a pair -- so if our math is correct ... that's like, a ton of money.
Beyoncé and hubby Jay-Z have lost their legal bid to trademark their baby daughter Blue Ivy's moniker on account of a Boston-based event planning firm, which has been going by the name Blue Ivy Events since 2009.
The superstar couple filed a trademark application shortly after Blue Ivy's birth in January 2012 reportedly because Beyoncé wanted to put out a line of children's clothing.
However, according to the Boston Herald, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office sent the hip-hop royals a letter turning down their petition to retain "Blue Ivy" for their own business ventures and siding with Blue Ivy Events owner Veronica Alexandra, who was forced to defend her company's good name.
The ruling means Blue Ivy Events can continue to operate under its current designation. But the firm doesn't hold anything against Bey and Jay, posting a photo of the pair on its site with the caption, "Congrats to our SOUL MATE Couple with Baby Blue Ivy!!!"
While they may be disappointed, Beyoncé and Jay-Z can now get back to the business of being first-time parents to Blue Ivy, efforts for which they received the presidential seal of approval after Barack Obama took time out on the campaign trail to offer up some unsolicited advice to the twosome.
"I made sure that Jay-Z was helping Beyoncé out [with the baby], and not leaving it all with Beyoncé and the mother-in-law," the president told Cleveland radio station Z107.9.
Obama also talked about his blossoming friendship with the duo ever since Beyoncé sang at his inauguration.
"They're good people. Beyoncé could not be sweeter to Michelle and the girls. So they're good friends. We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends," he said.
After a source told the Associated Press that Beyoncé will take the stage at the halftime show during Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3 in New Orleans, the superstar officially confirmed the news herself with a post on her official website.
Beyoncé made the announcement via a photograph in which the date Feb. 3, 2013, is written on her face in the style of a football player sporting eye black. At the top of the page, the announcement reads: "Countdown to Touchdown."
The mom to Blue Ivy, 9 months, most recently performed alongside husband Jay-Z during his Oct. 6 show at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center.
During last year's halftime show, Madonna incorporated LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. into her 12-minute performance.
Fans can't help but wonder if Beyoncé, 31, will share the stage with any of the number of artists she's worked with like Kelly Rowland, Shakira and Sean Paul.
Beyoncé will take the stage at the halftime show during Super Bowl XLVII on Feb.3 in New Orleans, a source tells the Associated Press.
The mom to Blue Ivy, 9 months, most recently performed alongside husband Jay-Z during his Oct. 6 show at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center.
During last year's halftime show, Madonna incorporated LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. into her 12-minute performance.
Fans can't help but wonder if Beyoncé, 31, will share the stage with any of the number of artists she's worked with like Kelly Rowland, Shakira and Sean Paul.
The official announcement is set to be made Wednesday, and Beyoncé's rep did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Last Friday (Oct. 5), Gwyneth and girlfriends Cameron Diaz, Chelsea Handler, Kristen Wiig and Beyoncé celebrated the actress's special day. The A-list crew was all smiles as they made their way into Elio's, an upscale eatery on New York City's Upper East Side.
G.P. certainly looks vibrant and youthful. She recently told E! News, however, she might not be returning for Avengers 2. "I'm getting too old for this s--t ," she said. "You know what I mean?"
No, Gwynnie, we do not.
Beyoncé confirmed today that she will no longer be starring in the latest remake of A Star Is Born being directed by the recently controversial two-time Oscar winner.
Not that anyone's blaming the great chair talk of 2012 for Beyoncé's exit or anything.
"I was looking forward to the production of A Star Is Born and the opportunity to work with Clint Eastwood," the Grammy winner said in a statement to E! News. "For months we tried to coordinate our schedules to bring this remake to life but it was just not possible. Hopefully in the future we will get a chance to work together."
It would seem it's now back to square one in the casting department. Though Bradley Cooper's name came up as a possibility to play the declining star opposite Beyoncé's rising ingenue, he was never actually attached to the project.
"We've talked to several people, and we probably won't address that one till next year," Eastwood himself told us at the premiere of his latest film, Trouble With the Curve. "Early next year."
Apparently aware that their schedules weren't quite coordinating, the filmmaker also noted that Beyoncé was "great," but he wasn't yet sure if she would be available.
Eastwood's would be the fourth version of A Star Is Born: Janet Gaynor and Fredric March starred in the 1937 original, Judy Garland and James Mason toplined the 1954 remake, and Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson memorably updated the drama in 1976.
Despite a flush of rumors claiming Beyoncé was pregnant, Jay-Z exclusively told E! News he and his wife are not expecting their second child just yet.
"Are you having another baby?" we asked Hov Wednesday night at the NBA 2K13 release at the 40/40 Club in NYC.
"Tonight?" Jay-Z quipped. "No."
"What about in nine months?" we prodded.
"Not in nine months," Jay said. "Absolutely not."
But before then? What about in seven or eight months?
"No," Jay said. "Not in one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight or nine months."
Hear that, rumormongers? Definitely no baby on board for Hov and Bey.
Rumors that the singer is expecting yet another child, just eights months after the birth of Blue Ivy, were running rampant on Monday after a report surfaced stating Bey and hubby Jay-Z are going to become parents for the second time.
It seems Hollywood Life has a source claiming that Beyoncé was pregnant after the songstress was spotted wearing a form-fitting leopard dress over the weekend that supposedly showed what appeared to be a burgeoning belly.
So is Blue about to become a big sis? Not so fast.
Not only has the singer been looking quite svelte of late, but the PR company that sent out the pic attributed the so-called bump look to the way the dress appeared in the image, nothing more.
Glad that's all cleared up. Of course, we also can't wait for the day when such a rumor really is true.
Coming seven years after the release of the group's last album, this new album will feature 14 hits including "Bootylicious," "Independent Women," "Part 1," "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills." Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams ended the band's career in 2005, having sold 40 million albums.
Tracklist:
"Bootylicious"
"Bug A Boo"
"Emotion (Neptunes remix)"
"Jumpin', Jumpin'"
"Independent Women, Part I"
"Say My Name"
"No, No, No Part 2" featuring Wyclef Jean
"Survivor"
"Lose My Breath"
"So Good"
"Girl"
"Bills, Bills, Bills"
"Soldier" featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne
"Illusion" featuring Wyclef Jean & Pras
Beyonce and King will perform at the fundraising gala for Keys' charity Keep a Child Alive on Nov. 1 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The night will honor Winfrey and Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo for their philanthropic efforts. Keys, Kidjo and rock group Alabama Shakes will also perform. Whoopi Goldberg will be the night's emcee.
In a statement Keys says King has "blazed the trail for women in the music industry," adding about the rest of the line-up: "women will be rocking the house this year."
Keep a Child Alive assists people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. The R&B singer launched it in 2003.
Showing the couple's support of Barack Obama with an intimate fundraising event at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan, PEOPLE's reigning World's Most Beautiful Woman introduced the President to the crowd of 100 who paid $40,000 a ticket.
"I can't tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama," she said, The New York Times reports. "We believe in his vision."
Once onstage, Obama said, "To Jay and Bey, thank you for your friendship."
And while the President, currently running against Mitt Romney, concentrated on the issues of this campaign season – "The economy’s going to grow in a way that includes everybody," he said – the applause grew strongest when he compared Beyoncé's charisma to that of his wife, Michelle's.
Keeping things personal, he also said, "Jay knows what my life is like. We both have daughters and our wives are more popular than we are."
This wasn't the first time Beyoncé, a fan of Michelle Obama's, brushed shoulders with the Prez – she sang at his inauguration in 2009.
The superstar couple will hold a fundraiser with Obama on Tuesday at a swanky New York nightclub that Jay-Z owns.
Tickets are $40,000, but the campaign says a small donation lands a chance to win two tickets — airfare and hotel included.
Beyonce says in an email to Obama's supporters that she's a huge fan and will do whatever it takes to help him win a close race.
This isn't the first time the Obamas have teamed up with the A-list couple to promote each other's causes. Michelle Obama helped Beyonce with efforts to promote global humanitarianism, and the president appeared in a pre-recorded video earlier this month at a Jay-Z event in Philadelphia.
In fact, the proud parents‘ baby bliss has left them loving the new chore.
“Actually, [Jay-Z] is very good. We both [change diapers]. I love changing diapers, I love it. I love every moment of it, it’s so beautiful. I love it all,” Beyoncé says during a Monday appearance on Anderson Live.
From diaper changing champ to singing sensation, the songstress admits she frequently lulls her baby girl to sleep with sweet songs.
“I make up actually a lot of crazy, corny songs,” she reveals, joking she would not give the host a taste of her talents unless he was willing to belt out “Single Ladies.”
“Believe me, no one wants to see that,” Cooper answers.
But, while the world may know her for her powerhouse performances, she insists she’s much like any other mother — especially in the eyes of Blue.
“I’m Mommy and when [Blue] sees me — today was the first time she saw me perform in rehearsal — she was very confused,” Beyoncé, 31, shares.
Hope Jay-Z and Beyoncé's crew knows that. The power couple looked very much in love Thursday, sharing a sweet kiss aboard their private yacht as they continue their vacation in the south of France.
Bey, who celebrated her 31st birthday Tuesday, looked chic and laid-back in a colorful caftan and sunglasses. Hov rocked a nautical look, wearing neon-green board shorts and a white T-shirt.
Blue Ivy is also getting a taste of the Mediterranean with her superstar mom and dad. Just 8 months old and already living the good life!
Beyoncé celebrated her 31st birthday Tuesday in true superstar fashion – on a yacht off the South of France.
Wearing a cozy navy and white sweater, the Grammy winner looked relaxed as she kicked back and enjoyed a glass of wine with husband Jay-Z. Daughter Blue Ivy, 8 months, was also on board.
As the yacht sailed around the Mediterranean, Blue's doting dad carried her across the deck. Clad in a dress the color of her namesake, the baby seemed intrigued by her surroundings.
And to top of a day of cruising, the couple stopped for a birthday dinner at Michelangelo in Cap d'Antibes, France.
But it's not exactly good news if you were excited about reports that the Hollywood legend is going to direct Beyoncé and Bradley Cooper in a remake of A Star Is Born.
"Just a rumor," Cooper told us last night at the premiere of his new drama, The Words, at the ArcLight Hollywood.
Asked if he'd be interested in doing it, Cooper, 37, chose his words carefully, only saying, "I mean, Clint Eastwood is one of the best directors alive."
But maybe we don't need another Star Is Born. "There are like three versions already," Cooper said.
That's true. The first was in 1937 followed by a version starring Judy Garland in 1954. The third costarred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
While we ranked Streisand's version as the best, Cooper wasn't so sure.
"Even better than Judy Garland?" he asked.
Now, back to The Words, which stars Cooper as a writer who finds a lost draft of a novel and publishes it as his own. Zoe Saldana costars his wife with Jeremy Irons playing the book's actual writer. Rounding out the cast are Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde and Ben Barnes.
Cooper grew up with the film's codirectors and cowriters Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal in the Philadelphia suburbs.
"I've known them since I was like 10 years old," Cooper said. "Brian used to come and play at my house."
It really did turn into a hometown reunion. Cooper beamed, "My mom was there for most of the time when we were shooting."
Cute!
Tuesday marks the Grammy Award winner's 31st birthday – and friends and family, including Gwyneth Paltrow; mom Tina Knowles; and her mother-in-law are sharing their warm wishes on the singer's website.
"God blessed me with one of the greatest gifts in my life on Sept. 4, 1981. Happy birthday," Beyoncé's mother writes.
Paltrow's message comes from her whole family: "For dear sweet BB on the occasion of her 31st birthday..." she writes. "We love you so very much. Love Gwyneth, Chris, Apple, Moses."
While a message from husband Jay-Z is not included in the public roundup, the rapper's mother chimes in with a friendly greeting. "B, You came into my life a sweet Southern girl. (LOL) You've blossomed into an amazing woman. I admire how you remain grounded and humble, and you haven't let success change the person that you are. Mama Carter," writes Gloria Carter.
And former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams also reached out.
"Beyoncé, Happy birthday to youuuu!! I love you so very much," Michelle Williams writes. "I am so thankful you're in my life! P.S. Me & you will never part!"
We broke the story ... Tina Knowles tried to unload her 8,885-square-foot pad last September for a whopping $3.499 Million ... but it sat on the market for nine months with no takers.
She finally sold it this summer ... but for a whole lot less than she planned, accepting an offer of $2,962,500.
The house is a steal for the new owner -- it has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, sits on 2.6 acres, and boasts a resort style pool, gym AND a giant media room where you can watch Beyonce tear it up in "Goldfinger" as many times as you want.
Ya know, 'cause it's such a great movie.
In the shots, posted to the label’s Facebook page, Bey rocks graphic black-and-white printed pants teamed with a sexy moto vest (left), a high-waisted leopard-print maxi (with a slit that goes on for days) paired with a black bustier and a leather jacket (center) and a sexy cutout mini with biker boots and an animal-print shawl (right). She polishes off each outfit with a black wide-brim hat similar to one we’ve seen her sporting quite a bit this summer.
Other elements from her personal wardrobe are present in these House of Deréon looks too: those round sunnies, for one. But also the loud prints and the flowy pants, two trends we’ve seen her test-driving recently.
One thing noticeably missing from these pictures: any sign of lingering baby weight. The star, who gave birth only seven months ago, flaunts a very trim figure and an enviably flat belly. So, to recap: killer body, amazing confidence, swagger like whoa and awesome personal style. Yep, we want to be Beyoncé when we grow up.
The 30-year-old singer performed "I Was Here" in front of a live audience at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, stunning in a white gown and sleek up-do.
Beyoncé is donating the video, which was produced by Scott Robinson and codirected by Kenzo Digital and Sophie Muller, as part of the global campaign that seeks to make social media history by sharing 1 billion messages of hope on August 19th to celebrate World Humanitarian Day.
The campaign celebrates humanitarian work and encourages people worldwide to help others in some way.
To join Beyoncé, you can get involved in World Humanitarian Day by visiting whd-iwashere.org.
Here's to B and her do-gooder ways!
Obama and the pop stars have signed on to support Beyonce and the global campaign for World Humanitarian Day, which is Sunday.
The campaign asks that on Sunday people help others through such acts as making sandwiches for the homeless or volunteering at a local charity. The goal is to share 1 billion messages of hope.
A representative for Beyonce says that Bieber, Gaga, Obama, Rihanna, Shakira, Jay-Z, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin and others will participate.
Beyonce performed her song "I Was Here" at the United Nations in New York last week to promote World Humanitarian Day. The performance was taped and the music video will debut Sunday. The song is from her latest album "4."
But in the meantime, Bey has taken to her Tumblr to show off pictures of a road trip she recently took back home in good old Texas, complete with vacation tresses (one of our fave Beyoncé looks, by far), more patterned jumpers and boots than you could shake a stick at and a gaggle of girls (including sister Solange).
The pics show Bey and her posse riding bikes, grabbing some street meat, getting up close and personal with some horses and donkeys and fitting in only the fiercest of high fashion poses whenever possible, naturally. You betta werk!
Oh, and for those surprised at just how un-Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous her getaway was, don't fret. Beyoncé isn't completely parting with her A-list lifestyle—the gals did arrive on a private jet, after all. How sweet it is.
The doting mom has posted an adorable pic of daughter Blue Ivy on her Tumblr page, giving everyone an intimate glimpse of the pop superstar in full-on mommy mode.
And what a precious pic it is: a black-and-white shot showing Bey feeding her 8-month-old from a bottle.
Natch, the lovable tot is already getting a head start in the family biz, as she's seen wearing a T-shirt stumping for dad Jay-Z's "Watch the Throne" tour dates. Atta girl!
Bey's also been pretty active on Tumblr lately, posting a slew of other pics including cute images of her on a swing being pushed by her hubby. (Cue those awwwwws!)
As if that weren't enough, Rihanna has joined the Beyoncé lovefest. On Saturday, she tweeted a jaw-dropping glam shot of the "Countdown" pop star, along with this caption: "This pic could single handedly destroy the self esteem of an entire nation."
Hard to argue with RiRi on that.
Meeting with the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the one and only Queen B was the picture of grace and star power as she chatted with the South Korean leader.
The Grammy Award winner has an exciting week coming up in the Big Apple as she gets set to take to the stage in the U.N. General Assembly Hall, where she'll be joined by songwriter Diane Warren—and hopefully these massive gold earrings—to film a special music video for "I Was Here." The song will be released on World Humanitarian Day, Aug. 19, and will donate all of its proceeds to the cause.
Rowland parted ways professionally with her bandmates Beyonce and Michelle Williams in 2005 and the singers have since been working on their solo careers, while the Crazy in Love hitmaker became a mum earlier this year.
Beyonce's dad and former manager, Mathew Knowles, recently revealed plans to release a treasure trove of previously-unheard songs by the Grammy-winning trio and voiced his hopes of a reunion "in the next five years".
But Rowland has played down Knowles' comments, claiming the only reunion they will have will be behind closed doors – as friends.
She says, "We have a good time together and I think that's the most important thing. We don't want to scratch each other's eyes out; we love each other too much. If (reuniting is) something that we would want to do, you know, (we would do it) but in the meantime we're just enjoying each other's friendship. That's the greatest gift of Destiny's Child."
The international pop star and songwriter Diane Warren will donate a video of "I Was Here" that will be filmed in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York in front of a live audience. The video will premiere Aug. 19 on World Humanitarian Day and the UN hopes it will help the campaign reach 1 billion people.
A news release says the campaign website launched Thursday and allows people to share individual acts of good.
Beyonce says in the statement that World Humanitarian Day is a chance to work together and "this is our time to leave our mark on the world."
While receiving praise from many for winning the gold medal in the All-Around Women's final, this U.S. gymnast is now in the same circle as Michelle Obama, Frank Ocean and Blue Ivy after being highlighted on Beyoncé's blog.
The superstar singer posted, "A huge congratulations to 16 year old Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas - WOW - what a thrill to watch you take this Gold! - enjoy this moment, its yours. Thank you for inspiring all of us! Love, B"
How awesome is that?!
Gabby's A-list fanbase also includes Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Pink, Justin Bieber and the man, himself—President Barack Obama.
"WOW such an AMAZING experience! Thank you all for your support, love and prayers love you all!!! #oncloud9," she tweeted.
The Crazy in Love hitmaker is following in the footsteps of other artists including Justin Bieber and Katy Perry by making her own movie, but she will step behind the camera to direct the project herself, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Beyonce will also serve as a producer on the film, which will document her entertainment career and life behind the scenes through interviews and concert footage.
Fans were previously treated to a glimpse into the singer/actress' world in mini-documentary Beyonce: Year of 4, which aired on MTV in 2011.
Best Female Video:
Rihanna, We Found Love
Katy Perry, Part of Me
Beyonce, Love on Top
Nicki Minaj, Starships
Selena Gomez & The Scene, Love You Like a Love Song
The 11-acre property on Halsey Lane was built by Hamptons super-developer Joe Farrell. It’s currently on the market for $43.5 million.
The sprawling estate is fit for the king and queen of Hip-Hop, lavishly equipped with a two-lane bowling alley, virtual golf, skateboard half-pipe, a rock-climbing wall, a full bar and recording studio.
It also boasts a 60-foot heated pool with an underwater stereo system, a tennis court, a spa facility with gym and a combination squash, racquetball and basketball court with moving walls and retractable hoop — plus an eight-car garage.
In addition to a 2,800-square-foot master suite, the place includes a separate two-bedroom apartment. The estate also has what’s called a “children’s performing area,” according to the listing on Corcoran.com — perfect for baby Ivy.
After 18 months of construction, Farrell moved his own family into the house in 2009 but has since rented it out for a short time each summer at record-breaking prices. The Jonas Brothers were rumored to have been interested in it but settled on another Hamptons rental instead.
In 2010, Sandcastle was famously rented for $500,000 for two weeks by Tampa, Fla., single mother Cheryl Mercuris, a direct-marketing whiz who wanted to plant herself in the Hamptons in order to bag a billionaire mate. She didn’t find the man, but she had some great parties, we are told.
She rented the palatial home again the following summer for the month of July but declined to reveal how much she paid.
Reps for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Farrell Building Company and Corcoran didn’t get back to us.
Stopping by Bagatelle for about 30 minutes to celebrate rapper pal and former rival Nas's latest album, Life Is Good, during the debut of the Moet Rose Lounge 2012 series, the new parents arrived just before midnight.
"They made their way through the packed restaurant to the VIP section," a partygoer tells PEOPLE. "The guys chatted away and enjoyed laughs, while Beyoncé danced to [the honoree's] forthcoming album."
Upon leaving the 200-person party, the A-list pair exited through a side entrance.
Well, the 6-month old got a leg up on learning the art of retail therapy when she stepped out was carried out by her very stylish mama, Beyoncé. And while Bey covered her daughter's face from the paparazzi, another shopper was quick to snap a pic of Her Highness, Queen Blue.
So how dang cute is she?! Prepare yourself for an "Awww!"
(Photo)
We've seen Blue before—when proud parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z posted a few select shots on Tumblr—but she's grown a lot in the months since then! And the chubby cheeked tot looks exactly like the perfect mix of her music royalty parents.
Guess that'll officially put all those nasty rumors to rest, eh?
The mama (rocking the same braids she did earlier this week while out with hubby Hov) and daughter duo hit up Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan, where a crafty onlooker snapped the picture that has quickly swept the internet.
Another lucky tweeter who spotted the twosome said, "It's cool. Just shopping next to Beyonce at Bergdorf, baby on her hip. No entourage. She winked at me, no s--t."
Well, here's what we can deduce from this all: From the near identical looks on Bey and Blue's faces as they stare at something (blingy, we assume), little miss Carter is going to have no problem wielding an AmEx later in life!
After thanking the First Lady in a letter of appreciation, posted online in April, Beyoncé, 30, has now recorded a video of her words – calling Mrs. Obama "the ultimate example of a truly strong African American woman."
"She is a caring mother, she's a loving wife, while at the same time, she is the First Lady," Beyoncé says. "No matter the pressure, and the stress of being under the microscope, she's humble, loving, and sincere."
She adds: "Michelle, thank you so much for every single thing that you do for us. I am proud to have my daughter grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to."
Mrs. Obama, 48, who has made no secret about being a fan of Beyoncé – both the woman and her music – responded on Twitter to the letter in April. "Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to," she wrote.
The following month, she took her daughters Sasha, 11, and Malia, 14, to a Beyoncé concert, and said that if she could be anyone else, she would be the pop star.
"If I had some gift, I’d be Beyoncé," she said. "I'd be some great singer." (Video)
The pop star has posted an ode to the "Novacane" singer on her blog, celebrating his decision to open up about a relationship he had with a man when he was 19.
"Be fearless, be honest, be generous," begins Beyoncé's free-verse poem about Ocean, whose latest album, Channel Orange, debuted on iTunes tonight in advance of its July 17 hard-copy release.
Beyoncé continued: "Be brave, be poetic, be open, be free, be yourself, be in love, be happy, be inspiration."
Little Blue Ivy's a lucky kid, isn't she? Mommy's a smart woman.
"Trying to figure out what to say to a million people...s--t, uhh world peace haha," Ocean tweeted yesterday, seemingly in reference to the well wishes he received after revealing via his Tumblr that his "first love" was another guy.
The New Orleans native prefaced the revealing post with this message: "We're all a bunch of golden million dollar babies. my hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of the bulls--t than we did. anyhow, what i'm about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you's section in my album credits, but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it'd be good to clarify."
"I don't have any secrest I need kept anymore," Ocean wrote afterward. "To my first love, I'm grateful for you."
And it sounds as if there are a host of people out there who are quite grateful to Ocean.
Still riding the wave of good vibes, he performed his new tune "Bad Religion" tonight on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon—with an assist from The Roots, naturally.
Mathew Knowles, who formerly managed the careers of the Destiny's Child girls, has confirmed there is a treasure trove of material his daughter and her bandmates recorded but never released, and he plans to include the cuts on two new albums later this year.
And he hopes the releases will prompt Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to reunite for a world tour.
He says, "I hope in the next five years that there is a reunion tour."
Kanye West leads the pack with seven.
Two of West and Jay-Z's collaborative songs are up for video of the year. Beyonce is also nominated twice in the category. The final nominee is Usher.
Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Usher are set to perform. And Whitney Houston's mother is part of a tribute for the late superstar that will include other singers.
Jamie Foxx, Quentin Tarantino and Tyler Perry will present awards. Samuel L. Jackson will host the show, which will be held Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
As Kanye West and Jay-Z performed their Watch the Throne U.K. show in Birmingham, the rap stars' ladyloves were spotted side by side and clearly enjoying each other's company.
Kim, decked out in a black top with her hair pulled back, could be seen dancing with a T-shirt-clad Beyoncé as both sported infectious grins.
Hmm. Could this be the start of a bootylicious friendship?
The new mum spent almost $40 million on a Bombardier Challenger 850 to let her husband know what a great dad he is to the couple's baby girl Blue Ivy.
A source tells blogger Perez Hilton, "The Bombardier Challenger 850 has a flash interior including a cream leather living room, a kitchen, a bedroom and two bathrooms.
"Beyonce thought this would be the perfect way to show Jay how much of a great dad he is."
The new mom, 30, joined by pals Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelly Rowland, looked on from the VIP section of the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy as the two rappers rocked through a three-hour set list Friday. Justin Bieber also attended the show, which included a 50-plus-minute remix of hit "N----- in Paris."
Not singing along: West's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, who didn't make it out to the first of three sold-out Watch the Throne tour stops in the City of Lights. Also missing: Jay-Z's other No. 1 fan, baby Blue Ivy Carter, nearly 5 months, who presumably stayed back at the hotel.
PEOPLE's reigning World's Most Beautiful Woman, donning a white shift dress, left the arena via the dock chute – the same covert way she came – to head to the hotel, reportedly on the Champs-Elysees.
Blue Sky Studios previously worked with Fox Animation on the "Ice Age" films, the "Rio" franchise as well as "Dr Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!"
In her first concert since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy in January, the superstar singer showed off her svelte post-baby bod Saturday night — a result of a strict diet and workout regimen.
"Y'all have no idea how hard I worked!" Beyoncé said on stage during her concert in Atlantic City, according to The Associated Press. "I had to lose 60 pounds. They had me on that treadmill. I ate lettuce!"
She added: "Tonight I'm gonna get chocolate wasted!"
Among those in the star-studded crowd were Gayle King, First Lady Michelle Obama and her two daughters, Sasha and Malia. "Michelle was jamming out to 'Crazy in Love,'" a concertgoer said. "When Beyoncé told the crowd to get up and jump, [Malia and Sasha] stood and started dancing and jumping. They were shouting when Beyoncé asked, 'Do girls run the world?'"
The First Lady and daughters Sasha, 10, and Malia, 13, were spotted cheering on the superstar during the second night of her concert series at Atlantic City's Revel Resorts, according to an AP report.
The youngest Obamas were animated and cheered during the show, and even sang along to "Love on Top," according to the report.
Before Saturday's show, Sasha and Malia were spotted splashing around the resort's pool. When the First Lady and her daughters arrived at the Revel Resorts cabana area – flanked by secret service officers – a white curtain was drawn to give them some privacy.
The First Lady and Beyoncé have a special connection, having worked together on Obama's Let's Move campaign. And in PEOPLE's latest issue, the First Lady says if she could be anyone else, she would be the pop star.
"If I had some gift, I’d be Beyoncé," Obama said. "I'd be some great singer."
And it was a ladies' only weekend in Atlantic City. On Saturday, President Obama was golfing outside of Washington, D.C.
It was first of four soldout shows marking the opening of the swank new beachfront resort — and, more significantly, the 30-year-old superstar's first performance since she and hubby Jay-Z welcomed daughter Blue Ivy Carter in January.
Blue's papa was on hand to see his wife return to work. (Other attendees included Smash star Megan Hilty, model Selita Ebanks and Beyonce's old Destiny's Child cohort Kelly Rowland.) But predictably, Beyonce didn't dwell on her personal life; the only reference to Blue in her two-hour set was during a video montage shown at the end, featuring a brief flash of the proud mama cradling her daughter.
The singer was all business — that is to say, warm and gracious, glamorous and relentless. Backed by an all-female band and a tireless posse of dancers and backup vocalists, Beyonce reasserted her unique pop persona; she was at once angel and seductress, cool diva and woman of the people.
She first appeared (after an opening set by the operatic R&B belter Luke James) in silhouette, a large screen hanging over the stage tracing her trim curves. For the first batch of songs — among them a feisty End of Time, a retro-soulful Love on Top and a giddy Crazy In Love— she wore a cropped, spangled top and micro-mini skirt. Several costumes followed, naturally — all showing plenty of leg, some offering a peak at the new mom's taut tummy.
The pace grew more languorous as Beyonce segued from a spoken-word segment about female sexuality into a sultry Naughty Girl. Girl power was, not surprisingly, a recurring theme, though the singer made a point of giving equal attention and affection to her male dancers and audience members. During Run the World (Girls) and Irreplaceable, she engaged the fans in playful competition; the latter became an exuberant singalong, with Beyonce leaving the first verse and chorus to her fans.
Another string of songs played down the flashy production, focusing on Beyonce and individual members of her band. She sat at the piano for an exuberant 1 + 1, while If I Were A Boy became a jangly guitar-pop number, in which she inserted a bit of the Goo Goo Dolls' Iris.
Toward the end, Beyonce made another artful transition — from the opening of Whitney Houston's megahit I Will Always Love You, performed in tribute to the late singer, to Halo. She closed the show, appropriately, with Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), at once reaffirming her solidarity with all her fans and confirming that this diva plans on sticking around for a good long time.
Her first show “ran rampant, functioning as an almost continuous high point,” according to Ben Ratliff of The New York Times. Highlights included “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Run the World (Girls),” “Halo,” “Countdown” and “1+1.” “With her all-female band and 10 dancers, she performed with serious stamina and rigor,” Ratliff mused.
Clad in fine form, Beyoncé, who confessed to a case of nerves prior to her first performance since giving birth to Blue Ivy, revealed her amazing post-baby body in custom-made costumes truly fit for a Queen B.
The inspiration for the sexy concert looks was “modern showgirl,” Ralph & Russo designer Tamara Ralph tells PEOPLE. The designers worked closely with the singer to create the four couture pieces worn during the sold-out shows. “Beyoncé wanted us to be really creative and create fun and edgy designs that had an ultra-glamorous feel to them,” Ralph adds.
A team of 20 couturiers worked around the clock to complete the looks, which were embellished with more than 500,000 crystals from Swarovski Elements, in just four weeks.
“The most elaborate design was the black and silver pinstripe vest,” (left) Ralph says, “as it has a corset base and sharp structural detailing which was constructed with stretch to allow for movement.” Perfect for the singer’s highly charged concert comeback.
“Beyoncé always delivers energetic performances and therefore we take into account the comfort and flexibility of each outfit and the ease of getting in and out of the pieces with quick costume changes,” adds co-designer Michael Russo. “It was an absolute pleasure to work with her to create exquisite pieces that dazzle on stage.” Tell us: What do you think of the sexy concert looks?
The Crazy In Love star took to the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday night for the first of four consecutive gigs at the newly-launched Revel resort, her first shows since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy in January.
She ran through a slew of her hits, including Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Irreplaceable, Halo and If I Were A Boy, and told the audience, "I gotta say, it feels so good to be back home on stage."
And partway through the show, Beyonce gave a nod to her idol Houston by belting out one of her biggest songs.
Beyonce's husband Jay-Z proudly watched on as his wife thrilled fans in the audience, and he took to his Twitter.com account to declare, "I'm gonna say this... Beyonce is the best performer in the world. Period."
Beyoncé has been a little busy this year, what with bringing daughter Blue Ivy into the world and all that goes along with it, but her maternity leave from showbiz effectively ends tonight, when the music superstar returns to the stage for the first time since giving birth.
And if you think you're excited, well, your nerves don't have anything on B's, as she shared in a behind-the-scenes video chronicling her concert return...
"It is exciting," she said of her series of Memorial Day weekend concerts at Atlantic City's Revel Casino and Hotel. "I feel a little nervous.
"I'm enjoying being a mother. It's like going back to my old job; it's a little strange, but it's important that you don't lose yourself and you still have your own passions. And I'm back to work, I'm back to business."
Jay-Z's better half goes on to share her prep work with fans in the video, struggling her way through her first vocal warmups and choreography sessions in months.
"I haven't sang in a year," she said, before putting fears to rest and busting out a pitch-perfect rendition of "Halo."
"What I'm trying to say with this show is, yes, I had a baby, but I'm even more grounded."
Beyoncé's three-night run begins tonight.
"Gosh. If I had some gift, I'd be Beyoncé," the first lady told People magazine in an interview scheduled to hit newsstands Friday.
"I'd be some great singer," Mrs. Obama added. "The power of music, being able to play an instrument ... It looks like musicians just have the most fun."
Beyoncé, 30, and her hip-hop mogul husband Jay-Z, 42, are both ardent supporters of President Barack Obama and his wife.
The first lady, 48, added that her husband has a fondness for singing and enjoys belting out a tune "all the time. Sometimes I can't get him to stop," she said.
"He loves it in the shower in the morning, sings to the kids. But it's not a song. He'll sing one line of something romantic or cute," she added.
Best Collaboration
• Beyoncé featuring J. Cole, "Party"
• Big Sean featuring Kanye West & Roscoe Dash, "Marvin & Chardonnay"
• DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne, "I'm On One"
• Drake featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga, "The Motto"
• The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
• Wale featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"
Video of the Year
• Beyoncé, "Countdown"
• Beyoncé, "Love On Top"
• The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West), "N---as in Paris"
• The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
• Usher, "Climax"
Video Director of the Year
• Beyoncé & Alan Ferguson
• Benny Boom
• Chris Brown & Godfrey Tabarez
• Kanye West
• Hype Williams
Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award
• Beyoncé, "Love on Top"
• Chris Brown, "Turn Up the Music"
• Drake featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga, "The Motto"
• Mindless Behavior, "Hello"
• The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"
• Wale featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"
R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
• Beyoncé
• Flo Rida
• Nicki Minaj
• Pitbull
• Kanye West
R&B/Hip-Hop Song
• "Love on Top," Beyoncé
• "Take Care," Drake featuring Rihanna
• "Wild Ones," Flo Rida featuring Sia
• "Without You," David Guetta featuring Usher
• "Starships," Nicki Minaj
Editors at Working Mother magazine have compiled a top 10 list of females who are leading the way in their chosen careers to mark America's Mother's Day on Sunday, and superstar Beyonce and Hollywood beauty Jolie have both made the cut, alongside comedienne Melissa McCarthy.
The Crazy in Love hitmaker became a first-time mum in January with the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy, while Jolie schedules her work commitments around her brood of six, and Bridesmaids star McCarthy is a mother to young daughters Vivian and Georgette.
Jennifer Owens, Working Mother Media's Editorial Director, tells UsMagazine.com, "(They) are just a few of the mums making a major impact right now. All of the power women on our list have at least one child 18 or younger, and all are based in the U.S."
Other noted mothers to make the list include The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins and TV presenter Ann Curry.
"I definitely want to have more," she told "Entertainment Tonight" last night at the Met Costume Institute Gala. "I don't know how many. God knows -- I don't know yet."
She said, however, that fans shouldn't be on baby bump watch just yet.
"I don't know about soon," she said, laughing. "But someday."
Beyonce reveals that being a mom to 4-month-old Blue Ivy Carter has given her a new sense of purpose, in addition to making music.
"I have such a full life," Beyonce says. "I feel like now I know the reason that I was born."
Beyonce stunned at last night's gala in a sheer Givenchy Haute Couture gown with strategically placed rhinestones covering her bits. The revealing dress showed that the star is back to her pre-pregnancy body just months after giving birth.
"I've been working so hard. There are no secrets, just discipline," says Beyonce, who is set to play three concerts over Memorial Day Weekend in Atlantic City. "I haven't had much time in the gym. [But] I've been rehearsing. I have a show coming up and it's my first show in a year."
The usually-private pop superstar has become more open about her personal life since becoming a mum to daughter Blue Ivy in January, introducing her baby girl to the world with a series of pictures on a specially-dedicated Tumblr.com page, and showing off snaps of her and Jay-Z through the years on her official website.
But her latest photo update is her most revealing to date - the Crazy In Love hitmaker is shown without make-up as she gazes seductively into the camera, seemingly wearing nothing but Jay-Z's diamond and platinum Roc-A-Fella Records necklace, which she holds between her lips as her curly brown hair falls on her breast to preserve her dignity.
It is not known when the picture was taken, but Jay-Z famously rapped, "Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain" on the Public Service Announcement interlude from his 2003 release The Black Album.
"I was playing in my mother's makeup," she tells PEOPLE. "I had blue eye shadow and red lips, and I put crazy blush on. I looked like a clown, but I thought I was so beautiful."
Her routine has come a long way since then – the singer often does her own makeup for appearances – but her love for the basics remains.
Asked what she wears to look awake after sleepless nights spent with baby Blue, she replies, "Lip gloss – I love L'Oréal's Infallible 8 HR Le Gloss in Coral Sands – and a little bit of blush."
Growing up around her mom Tina Knowles's salon, Beyoncé learned a lot about beauty. "I like to experiment [with my hair]," she says. "I love playing around with highlights or bleaching the tips. I can cut and style my own hair."
In fact, she recently gave herself a trim, cutting two inches off her ends. "I just parted it in the middle and chh-chh-chh," she reveals.
But it's inner beauty that she values most – and she hopes her daughter will learn to do the same. "My biggest thing is to teach [Blue] not to focus on the aesthetic," she says. "It's really about who you are, and the human being, that makes you beautiful."
The Secret of Old Mascara
Still, being a superstar means having to focus on the physical. When asked if she's comfortable leaving the house without makeup, Beyoncé says, "Every day in my life is a part of my history, and I've worked really hard on my career and my life. So I make sure I wouldn't be upset if somebody saw me."
That means her standard lip gloss and blush, plus moisturizer – "I don't have to spend that much time on my skin," she admits – and sometimes, mascara.
"I'm pretty good at throwing out the expired stuff, but I hold on to my mascara for a long time," she says. "I actually prefer old mascara. It makes your lashes thicker and longer."
But regardless of who's seeing her and where, the star is feeling better than ever. "I have embraced my flaws," she says. "And I feel more confident."
The pop superstar and new mama is going to need to clear room on her shelf among those 16 (count 'em) Grammys she already calls her own, as B is the newly named recipient of a prestigious magazine prize handed out by the New York Association of Black Journalists.
Say what?
It's unclear as of yet whether the 30-year-old will be on hand to pick up the award when it's handed out at the May 15 banquet gala in New York, but the honoree has every right to be, taking home the first-place honor in the NABJ's arts and entertainment magazine category.
So what magnum opus penned by Jay-Z's better half nabbed her the prize?
Well, last summer, in the run-up to the release of 4, one stop on Beyoncé's promotional rounds included a first-person article she penned for Essence. The story, titled "Eat, Play, Love," appeared in the July 2011 issue and featured the singer discussing how taking a break from her music career reinvigorated and reprioritized her life.
Unsurprisingly, the organization choosing Beyoncé as one of the year's top journalists (40 will be honored at the event) did not go uncriticized, with some arguing that the selection devalued the prize.
However, the president of the New York chapter of the group, Michael Feeney, defended the decision, saying Beyoncé had "won fair and square."
"I believe it was selected on content and the writing and not on her celebrity."
As it happens, the piece is still available in full to read on the magazine's website, so critics and fans still have a chance to judge for themselves. Congrats, B!
"I did have a fresh eyebrow wax," PEOPLE's 2012 Most Beautiful Woman says with a laugh.
"I got my nails done, I got my feet done, had my hair done, and I had my little lip gloss."
But, in the end, Blue Ivy's birth trumped all the new mom's primping and prepping to meet her baby girl.
"I didn't feel that I looked beautiful during birth, but who does? After being pumped with all those fluids and gaining so much weight ... I barely recognized myself," she explains.
"But after many hours of labor, I could care less about anything but my child. I didn't care how I looked."
The focus, she adds, was shifted to "the miracle" that she and husband Jay-Z welcomed into the world.
"I felt more powerful than I've ever felt in my life," Knowles shares. "I felt connected to my body. I felt like I knew my purpose in the world."
Losing the Baby Weight
The singer says she gained 50 pounds during her pregnancy – putting on the last 20 during the final month leading up to the delivery – and was determined to bounce back after baby as soon as possible.
"I lost most of my weight from breastfeeding and I encourage women to do it; It's just so good for the baby and good for yourself," Knowles, who breastfed Blue for 10 weeks, says.
Then, "about a month after" giving birth, the new mom tackled the remaining pounds with a strict diet and exercise routine.
"I counted calories. I worked out maybe three to four times a week," she shares. "I did a lot of walking in the beginning and now I'm running. But I had to work my way up. I couldn't just go right from being pregnant to running."
All the hard work – including "staying away from anything delicious" and no cheat days – has paid off.
"I'm proud that my waist came back so fast. I'm proud of that and happy, but that was mostly from the breastfeeding," the singer explains.
And not only is Knowles just "three to four pounds" away from her pre-pregnancy weight, but she has also acquired a new softness about her voluptuous body.
"My hormones are still in my body. Your body produces the hormones that make your body soft," she says. "It's just magical. It makes me so proud to be a woman because it's just unexplainable what happens to your body – it's incredible."
For more of Beyoncé’s exclusive interview, pick up this week’s special issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.
The superstar mother of darling daughter Blue Ivy has opened up about how she prepared for the birth of her baby (hint: kinda like preparing to walk the red carpet), how she felt after welcoming her and Jay-Z's "miracle" into the world, and the question on every mother's tabloid's mind: Just how did she get her postbaby bod into such taut shape so quickly?
First things first: Bey made sure that before she stepped foot in the hospital, she not only felt her best, but looked it, too.
"I did have a fresh eyebrow wax," the newly named Most Beautiful Woman told People. "I got my nails done, I got my feet done, had my hair done, and I had my little lip gloss."
Of course, all that fell by the wayside once she got down to the business of birth.
"I didn't feel that I looked beautiful during birth, but who does? After being pumped with all those fluids and gaining so much weight...I barely recognized myself. But after many hours of labor, I could care less about anything but my child. I didn't care how I looked."
As for how she felt, however...
"I felt more powerful than I've ever felt in my life," the 30-year-old told the mag. "I felt connected to my body. I felt like I knew my purpose in the world."
Meanwhile, as for her enviable physique, Beyoncé admitted to gaining about 50 pounds during her pregnancy, but says she's now, nearly four months after Blue's arrival, just "three to four pounds" away from her prebaby weight. And there's no secret as to how—just good old-fashioned hard work.
"I lost most of my weight from breast-feeding and I encourage women to do it; It's just so good for the baby and good for yourself," she said, noting that she breast-fed Blue for 10 weeks.
From there, she went the old-fashioned route, counting calories and working out "three to four times a week." That, and "staying away from anything delicious."
Still, if her body's not quite as hard as it was before, it's a small price she's only too happy to pay.
"Your body produces the hormones that make your body soft," she said. "It's just magical. It makes me so proud to be a woman because it's just unexplainable what happens to your body—it's incredible."
But even PEOPLE’s 2012 Most Beautiful Woman was caught off guard when, while pregnant with her first child, whispers started swirling that she and husband Jay-Z had settled on a surrogate to carry their daughter.
“That was crazy. It wasn’t hurtful, it was just crazy,” the songstress, 30, tells PEOPLE. “[I thought] ‘Where did they come up with this?’”
But perhaps the person most affected by the surrogacy speculation was not the expectant mom herself, but rather her own mother, Tina Knowles.
“I thought it was very unfair and very cruel that someone would think that someone would be that diabolical to keep up a charade like that for nine months,” she says. ”As a mother it was painful for me to hear the crazy rumors. And I even had people ask me, which was so ridiculous.”
Alluding to an Australian interview in which it was later suggested that Beyoncé had been sporting a prosthetic bump, Knowles says, “It was a fabric that folded — does fabric not fold? Oh my gosh, so stupid.”
Fortunately, the protective mom adds, her daughter’s global fan following offered plenty of support. “There was so much love and well wishes from all over the world — it made it easier to deal with the stupid rumors.”
But the dust didn’t settle once the couple welcomed their baby girl.
Amidst the joy of welcoming Blue Ivy on Jan. 7, the new parents were said to have upset the hospital with their high list of security demands — a rumor that Beyoncé clarifies is “so crazy” and “ridiculous."
For more of Beyoncé’s exclusive interview, pick up this week’s special issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.
Crowned by People as the World’s Most Beautiful Woman, the singer tells the magazine that she has actually become far more laidback about her appearance since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy on Jan. 7.
"I never thought there would be a day when I wouldn't wear heels. Now that I have a child, I walk around holding her all day, I'm buying loafers and oxfords. I love them, because they're comfortable," she says. "And shorter heels too. I'd always thought, 'The higher the heel, the sexier.' But now I'm like, 'These are really sexy.'"
"I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," says PEOPLE's 2012 World's Most Beautiful Woman. "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth."
The "Crazy in Love" singer, 30, and her husband of four years, Jay-Z, 42, have gone gaga for Blue, born Jan. 7 in New York City. "She's just the cutest thing," gushes Beyoncé, who croons one-of-a-kind tunes to her daughter and professes to "love" changing diapers.
So who does her daughter most resemble? "She looks like Blue," says Beyoncé, who is back to her pre-pregnancy weight and gearing up for her first post-baby concerts, Memorial Day weekend at the Revel Atlantic City. "She's her own person."
"The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy," she adds. "The word 'love' means something completely different now."
For more of Beyoncé's exclusive interview – in which she shares her beauty secrets, reveals how she lost the baby weight and sets the record straight on all the rumors – pick up this week's special issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
"Beyoncé looked amazing and was having a great time with her friends," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "She was very laid back, smiling and in a great mood."
Off the dance floor, Beyoncé, who gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter just three and a half months ago, chatted and shared some laughs with her pals while sipping on vodka drinks at a corner VIP booth. At one point, Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. came to the table to say hello. The girls night out wrapped up around 3 a.m.
The superstar recently launched a competition to find the best remix of her track End Of Time, and promised to include the winning version on her upcoming 4: The Remix album.
Polish producer Radzimir Debski, aka Jimek, saw off competition from thousands of participants to take first place, and he was delighted when Beyonce used the internet videophone service to tell him the good news.
During their Skype call, which Beyonce has posted on her website, excited Debski tells the singer, "That's so cool! I'm so grateful that you found the time... because you don't have to do this."
Beyonce gushes, "You did a fantastic job. I'm very grateful that so many people participated, but you were incredible. We were all very impressed, and you're very talented. I wish you all the success in the world. Stay as humble as you are."
As well as a place on Beyonce's upcoming EP, Debski has also scooped a cash prize of $4,000.
The "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" songbird published a hand-written mash note to the First Lady on her Tumblr page (via Politico) recently, calling Obama "the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American woman.
"She is a caring mother, she's a loving wife, while at the same time, she is the FIRST LADY!!!!!," Beyonce's gush-fest continued. "No matter the pressure, and the stress of being under the microscope - she's humble, loving and sincere."
The singer wrapped up the missive by calling Obama a role model for her daughter, Blue Ivy.
"Michelle, thank you so much for every single thing that u do for us -- I am proud to have my daughter grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to."
The singer and the First Couple have something of a history together. Beyonce performed the Etta James staple "At Last" for the Obamas at the Neighborhood Ball on inauguration night in 2009, and performed at the White House State Dinner that hosted Mexico's president Felipe Calderon in 2010.
The singer seemed delighted during a solo jet ski outing earlier this week, and struck a pose for Jay-Z, who was snapping pictures on the beach, by holding her ponytailed hair high above her head.
After giving birth to Blue Ivy in January, Beyoncé has been enjoying some well-deserved family vacation time before getting back to work with concerts scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in Atlantic City.
The 30-year-old is one hot mama.
Sure, the couple happily brought their bundle of joy, Blue Ivy, along with them for a family vacay in St. Barts over the Easter holiday weekend. But like any new parents, sometimes a break from diaper duty is most definitely needed.
On Monday, Bey and Jay spent a bit of quality time together by throwing on their swimwear (matching, no less!), hitting the beach and soaking in the sun.
But don't feel bad for baby Blue. Earlier in the day, she accompanied her folks on a luxury yacht for a casual cruise in the Caribbean.
So, if anything, the tiny tyke may have actually enjoyed having a little "me time" herself while mommy and daddy took in the sand and surf. Minus a nanny or two, or course.
Look ma, I'm on a boat.
The ultra-private music mogul launched a special Tumblr page Thursday featuring personal photos. (Beyoncé's big launch is Beyonce.com, and the Tumblr is part of the site.) In a message to fans, she writes, "it's been a long time coming – but I finally have my own place on the web."
Besides an artful gallery of stylish photos, the multi-media site includes sections on "The Latest" (with a pre-sale announcement for Revel), "Music," "Vault" (which she calls "the heart of my site"), "Beyhive" (for the official fan collective), "Performance" (listing her Atlantic City concerts on May 25-27) and "I Am" (offering a private message that clicks onto more photos).
Designer Matthew Siskin earlier announced on Twitter that he was working on the page, declaring, "I'm not sleeping till we're done."
The couple's first foray into Tumblr came shortly after the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
When she turned 4-weeks-old, Jay-Z and Beyoncé shared the first photos of her, and have kept her under wraps since when stepping out. (beyonce.tumblr.com)
The 30-year-old singer cradled her 11-week-old daughter in a fur sling (don't alert PETA yet, we're not sure if it's real or fake) Tuesday in New York City.
Jay-Z's wife paired her monochromatic gray sweater and skinny jeans with oversize sunglasses and bright yellow pumps…
We couldn't tell what baby Blue was wearing underneath that fur sling, but without a doubt it was something fashionable.
Earlier this month, Bey and Blue wore coordinating cat and mouse shoes. While mom's Charlotte Olympia leopard-print kitty shoes retail for $660, Blue's sensible Marc Jacobs mouse slippers sell for a cool $66.
Beyoncé arrived at a fundraising event for Michelle Obama in Manhattan yesterday wearing a body-hugging navy blue dress from designer Victoria Beckham. The slim-fitting dress showed off the songstress' toned stomach and hips, while a zipper in the back showed off her shapely rear.
According to Star magazine, Beyoncé has had trainer Marco Borges living with her to guide her through two-a-day workouts at both 5am and 5pm. A source told the magazine that the singer has been "living on protein shakes, egg-white omelettes, pineapple chunks and lots of ice-cold water" in a bid to lose 40 pounds and "have a better body than ever."
At the Obama fundraiser, Beyoncé also notably stuck to her favorite hue with a navy blue dress, turquoise nails, and dark blue shoes, perhaps in a visual nod to daughter Blue Ivy.
The adorable mother-daughter took a stroll in New York City Tuesday wearing the cutest coordinating cat and mouse flats.
While Bey, 30, rocked a $660 pair of Charlotte Olympia leopard-print kitty shoes with her pale-pink cropped pants and jacket ensemble, little Blue donned tiny gold $66 Little Marc Jacobs mouse slippers with black socks and a white outfit.
So will Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter also be following in her parents' footsteps career-wise? BFF Gwyneth Paltrow thinks so!
"For sure, she is going to be an entertainer," the actress told Hollywood Life. "She just has this glow around her like her mother."
The mother-daughter duo was joined by grandma Tina Knowles as they strolled through their Tribeca neighborhood. Baby's first walking tour? How adorable!
The two-month-old girl was well bundled up for their sunny afternoon stroll, as Beyoncé took care to shield her daughter's face from the ever-trailing paparazzi.
We'll just have to bide our time until we get another look at the cuteness. Well played, protective mama. Well played.
It was a super-private bash, with only about 20 guests attending. Thicke and his friends were blocked off by security guards, as he didn't rent out the whole venue, and they all enjoyed Armand de Brignac. He did, however, treat fellow diners at the hip restaurant to some tunes, playing deejay for the whole dining room from his iPod.
One VIP-only experience, courtesy new mom Beyoncé? The singer showed off pictures of daughter Blue Ivy during the three-hour dinner party.
The top music couple jammed to the singer-songwriter in the VIP section of SOB's, a small club that houses a few hundred people.
The-Dream co-wrote and co-produced Beyonce's massive hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." He also worked his magic on Rihanna's "Umbrella," Justin Bieber's "Baby" and "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey.
He performed a number of his own hits Sunday night, including "Shawty Is a 10," ''Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl." He'll release his fourth album, "Love IV MMXII," later this year.
The Grammy winner thanked the crowd for coming out, saying: "I know some of ya'll got kids at home."
Beyonce and Jay-Z have a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, who was born in January.
Sources tell Us Weekly that Beyonce, Jay-Z, and their 7-week-old daughter headed to lunch at restaurant Sant Ambroeus on Saturday. When young Carter got hungry, Beyonce was not shy about feeding the infant at the table rather then retreating to a secluded area.
Photographers caught up with the family as they left the restaurant. Beyonce wore a cap and aviator sunglasses, and held her daughter close to her in a Baby Bjorn, a scarf wrapped tightly around it to keep Carter's face from being seen.
Gwyneth Paltrow recently gushed about her friends' baby, calling Blue Ivy Carter "stunning."
"For sure, she is going to be an entertainer," Paltrow told Hollywood Life. "She just has this glow around her like her mother ... Beyonce is doing great. She’s just a natural at being a mom."
Beyoncé carried her infant daughter in a leopard-print wrap for their latest stroll in New York City on Sunday. The new mom, 30, was beaming as she enjoyed her second outing in as many days with her 7-week-old baby girl. On Saturday, they were spotted out to lunch together in the West Village.
"We welcome you to share in our joy," the singer and husband Jay-Z said recently, sharing the first photos of Blue Ivy since her birth on Jan. 7. "We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."
According to Star, the pop diva’s trainer, Marco Borges, is living in Beyonce and Jay-Z's home to whip the new mom into shape. The magazine reports that Beyonce has already lost 14 of the 40 pounds she gained while pregnant with daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who was born Jan. 7.
A source tells the magazine, "Beyonce and Marco are up at 5 a.m. for a two-hour workout, and they do it again at 5 p.m. They do a mix of cardio, Pilates, plyometrics, yoga and, of course, dance."
At the same time, the source says that Beyonce is carefully watching what she eats and is "living on protein shakes, egg-white omelettes, pineapple chunks and lots of ice-cold water."
Beyonce was seen out for the first time since giving birth earlier this month, looking fabulous in a ruched red dress that took full advantage of her curvy figure. The source says that Beyonce is excited to lose even more of her baby weight.
"She’s exhausted but totally dedicated," explains the source. "Beyonce’s vowed to have a better body than ever before… and she’s a woman of her word."
New parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z left adorable (and newly Tumblr-ized!) baby Blue Ivy at home to hit up the Knicks-Nets game last night at Madison Square Garden, posing for pics together for the first time since welcoming their new bundle of joy.
Hey, even doting A-list parents need a date night every now and then, right?
The chill couple were spotted courtside cozying up to each other and taking in all the action. And although we're betting they were rooting for the Nets (of which Jay-Z is a part owner), we're pretty sure they were blown away by Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin, who ended the game with 21 points and nine assists.
(Jay-Z still had the last whoop, though: The Nets trumped the Knicks 100-92.)
Bey looked effortlessly chic in a relaxed white tee (which she paired with a canary blazer), skinny jeans and sky-high geometric-print platforms. She also rocked gold hoop earrings and major bling on her fingers, with fingernails painted—what else?—sparkly blue.
This is the first time the couple's been photographed post–Blue Ivy, but it isn't the first time they've stepped out together since her birth. Bey showed her hubby loads of support earlier this month when she attended his benefit show at Carnegie Hall, and even kicked back at the after-party at his 40/40 Club.
The rapper-mogul is coming off a Grammy victory last week, taking home the Best Rap Performance award with Kanye West for "Otis," while Bey recently announced plans to release two albums in 2012.
With such busy, overachieving parents, we're just waiting for Blue Ivy to finally get into the family business! After all, she's already hit the Billboard charts, and her name is all trademarked and good to go.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith: You've got some competition for the showbiz-brood crown!
Ryan Tedder, the frontman of band OneRepublic who also penned Beyonce's hit "Halo," tells Billboard that he is sending the star new material -- specifically songs about parenthood.
"The conversations about her next album literally just started and there [are] two projects happening," he says. "All I can say is you kind of feed her the best that you have and she's this phenomenal filter and she takes it all in."
While he won't elaborate on Beyonce's projects, he assures fans that they will be seeing a lot of the new mother in the upcoming year.
Meanwhile, it looks like Jay-Z is back to work as well.
In December, he told MTV News that, assuming his Watch the Throne tour with Kanye West concluded well, he planned to work on a solo project in 2012 as well as on a new album with West.
"We — I say 'we' because I'm in Throne mode — we're in a great place creatively," Jay-Z said. "You might see a Jay, then Kanye and a Throne album next year."
Pharell, The Neptunes producer who often collaborates with Jay-Z, recently told MTV News that he is working with Jay-Z on a new project.
"We're working on something, it's crazy," he teased, though he wouldn't go into further details. "You know, he's very discreet."
Jay-Z released the track "Glory" about his daughter just days after her birth. Because the track included Blue Ivy Carter's cooing, she became the youngest person ever to have a song on the Billboard charts.
Jay-Z also performed a two-night event at Carnegie Hall earlier this month, to benefit the United Way and his own charity, the Shawn Carter Foundation.
Born last month, the little one – who has a full head of dark hair – is shown on her own and also being cradled by each of her famous parents, who are clearly beaming with joy.
A handwritten note posted to HelloBlueIvyCarter reads, "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives." The note is signed "The Carter Family." (Jay-Z's real name is Shawn Carter.)
Just this week Beyoncé, 30, made her first post-baby appearance to celebrate husband Jay-Z's double concert dates at Carnegie Hall.
“You see the blue nails. You see the IV tattoo on her finger. It’s clear that she was bringing Blue along with her because she doesn’t want to be away from her for a second,” Beyoncé’s longtime manicurist, Lisa Logan, tells PEOPLE of her Monday manicure.
Logan, who painted the singer’s fingernails with Nails Inc.’s new “Baker Street” polish (the star accented the look with a two-finger ring by Bing Bang for WeSC), says the whole experience felt serendipitous. “I don’t roll with less than 200 bottles of polish on any given day,” she explains. “When I pulled all of my colors out, [Baker Street] and two other colors were sitting at the top of the pile, and [Beyoncé] said, ‘I want this!’ She didn’t even look or blink at the other colors. She was like, ‘Oh no, I want this,’” Logan recalls. “Ironically, when I came in, the first thing she asked me for was Minx. I always have Minx nails, [but] this was the one day I didn’t have them on me!”
So how is the newly manicured mom adjusting to motherhood? “Amazingly,” Logan says. “When I see her, I’m like, ‘Girl, you’re glowing.’ She’s so elated. Motherhood is written all over her face. She’s owning it and wearing it well.”
"She's doing great," a beaming Tina Knowles told PEOPLE at the Runway to Win fundraising reception for Barack Obama in New York. "She's beautiful."
As for her duties as a doting grandma, Knowles calls them "amazing," adding, "It's the second best job I've ever had."
Although her adoration for the new addition to her family was certainly instantaneous, Knowles is waiting to decide which parent little Blue resembles most.
"She's only a month old," she says. "So we have to give her a minute."
Tina wasn't the only Knowles out and about this week. Beyoncé stepped out two nights in a row to support husband Jay-Z, who performed a pair of shows at Carnegie Hall.
Beyoncé gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy only a month ago. But in her first two nights out on the town, she’s picked up right where she left off — as one of the world’s most gorgeous and stylish women.
On Monday, she turned heads at husband Jay-Z’s Carnegie Hall concert in a hip-hugging Alice by Temperley dress and a pair of Christian Louboutins. Then on Tuesday, for Jay’s encore show, she sported a sexy, skintight black sequin cocktail dress by Monique Lhuillier.
She looked ravishing in both dresses. But tell us, which was your favorite look?
Fox’s recently minted competition series had a major shakeup last week, with judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paul Abdul — along with host Steve Jones — getting the heave-ho. And while the rumor mill swirled with scuttlebutt about Cowell offering ”Single Ladies” singer Knowles an astronomical sum to come aboard, the famously cantankerous Brit says it’s not happening.
“I have no idea where this rumour came from,” Cowell said in an interview with “Extra.” “I read it online that I offered her $100 million a year. It’s complete nonsense.”
Cowell also revealed that executives at Fox began talking to him about a shakeup “at the beginning of the year— and we were told it had to happen straight away.”
He also took responsibility for the perception that “X Factor” has been a lukewarm success, admitting that his declaration that the show would be bigger than his last gig, ”American Idol,” set the bar too high.
“It’s only because I opened my big mouth and said we were going to get 20 million viewers,” Cowell said. “If I hadn’t said that, everybody would be saying the show was a huge success.”
Just a day after the "Love on Top" songbird made her postnatal debut by joining hubby Jay-Z for the opening night of his Carnegie Hall benefit concerts, Beyoncé stepped out again in New York City in a sequin-embellished Monique Lhullier cocktail dress.
So, where was the superstar chanteuse headed this time?
Once again she was out in support of her man, attending the closing show of Jay-Z's two-night stand at Carnegie Hall, this time rocking strappy Gucci stilettos, a black suede Chanel purse and Lorraine Schwartz jewels for the occasion.
And lest we not forget her royal blue nails and massive blue rock, seemingly in honor of her daughter, born just a month ago.
Now the countdown's on for baby Blue's public debut. We can't wait.
So what did the radiant-in-red singer do to honor her new daughter?
Let's just say, she nailed it.
"Check out Beyonce blue nails called #Baker street by @Nailsinc I love this color!!!" tweeted celeb manicurist Lisa Logan, along with a close-up of the pop star's royal-blue manicure—which, of course, meshed perfectly with the giant blue rock on her index finger and the gold two-finger ring yoking her middle and ring fingers together.
And Beyoncé definitely appeared to be showing off her own natural nails—no sharp-edged acrylics when there's a new baby in the house!
Having avoided the spotlight since giving birth on Jan. 7, she skipped Jay-Z's benefit concert at Carnegie Hall last night but made it to the afterparty at her hubby's 40/40 Club.
The superstar couple lodged its petition at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on January 26, just weeks after becoming mum and dad to their first child.
The filing, submitted by Beyonce's company BGK Trademark Holdings, is currently pending but is expected to be approved, according to the Washington Post.
Authorities have already rejected two applications from firms who have attempted to cash in on the name, insisting it belongs to a "very famous infant".
Bey-Bey made her first public appearance Monday night to celebrate hubby Jay-Z's two anticipated shows at Carnegie Hall to benefit United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.
The curvaceous beauty was all smiles and looked absolutely gorgeous in a red, long-sleeve Alice Temperly dress, which she accessorized with Ofira & Lorraine Schwartz jewels, an Alexander McQueen clutch and a pair of seriously fierce embroidered Christian Louboutin platform pumps.
Despite outlets reporting exclusive interviews, B has not made any appearances or given any interviews since her daughter Blue Ivy Carter was born. She did, however, make a personal statement on her blog after singer Etta James passed away.
But now that she's come out, maybe Beyoncé is ready to gush about her new little girl just like her BFF did?
Word on the street that one of the ladies he's approached to fill one of the judges' seats is none other than new mom Beyonce, and he's offering a LOT of money if she says yes.
According to Media Takeout, an insider says that Cowell wants an extremely famous current artist on the judging panel. "He wants a big name female star on the panel. Mariah [Carey] is good, but she's not that hot today," the source says. "He wants Beyonce because that would immediately give him the bounce needed to beat 'American Idol.'"
If Beyonce says yes, she could make $500 million dollars. Yes, we said $500 MILLION. The offer is reportedly a five-year contract that would see her making $100 million a year.
So, what do you think? Beyonce would certainly draw viewers and give the judging panel a little more cachet, but will she really say yes? It's a big commitment, especially for a new mom at the height of her stardom.
The creator and longtime face of Soul Train may be gone, but he made a lasting impact on pop culture with his R&B-championing song-and-dance show and subsequent Soul Train Music Awards.
Over the show's 35 years on the air, some of the biggest names in music hit the stage that Cornelius built, from Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to R. Kelly and T.I.. It's pretty much impossible to narrow it down, but here are five other acts who boarded the train early in their careers—and rode it right to superstardom:
(Video) 1. Mariah Carey: Does this young lady look familiar to you? A 21-year-old Mimi first appeared on Soul Train in 1991 to perform her career-altering hit, "Emotions," backup dancers getting funky alongside her. Do you remember the days when Carey dressed in head-to-toe black? Neither do we!
(Video) 2. James Brown: At the height of his solo powers, Brown was a guest on Soul Train several times in 1973 and 1974, singing soon-to-be classics like "Hot Pants" and "Sex Machine" and exuding raw primal heat.
(Video) 3. Destiny's Child: Back when there were four of them, that is! Check out a practically unrecognizable Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland introducing themselves to host Mystro Clark (Cornelius stepped down permanently in 1993) shortly before their debut album dropped in 1998.
(Video) 4. The Jackson 5: That hair! Those pants! The history-making siblings—and especially barely 14-year-old Michael Jackson—were a runaway hit on Soul Train in 1972. The quintet appeared once more all together, after which Michael made several more solo appearances.
(Video) 5. Gladys Knight & the Pips: Knight and her merry men were already big deals when they appeared on the first ever episode of Soul Train, a show of good faith that Cornelius never forgot. They performed the fittingly titled "Friendship Train" on that inaugural show—and music television was never the same.
Lecturer Kevin Allred has signed up to teach Politicising Beyonce as part of the school's Women's and Gender Studies curriculum.
The class offers New Jersey students the chance to watch the pop star's music videos and explore how the Single Ladies hitmaker's image and music has impacted the world.
An overview of the course on the university's website reads, "The performer’s music and career are used as lenses to explore American race, gender, and sexual politics... Course topics include the extent of Beyonce’s control over her own aesthetic, whether her often half-naked body is empowered or stereotypical, and her more racy performances as her alter ego, Sasha Fierce."
The course includes class discussions, which "often lead to other vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Lady Gaga, and contemporary musicians who embrace the soul singing tradition like Adele and the late Amy Winehouse."
Beyonce's husband is also the subject of his own higher education course - Georgetown University is currently offering students the chance to take the Sociology of Hip-Hop: Jay-Z.
Only a handful of artists broke onto the list that sought to name the recording industry's most influential people and was dominated by businessmen and women. The selection was determined by a combination of money, market share, Billboard chart data and other information, and a team of 15 magazine editors analyzed the results to produce the list.
Both Jay-Z and Beyonce made it due to numerous ventures outside their singing careers including Jay-Z's Roc Nation music, management and entertainment company and Beyonce's sponsorship deals with brands such as L'Oreal. Collectively, they were placed at No. 13 on the Power 100 list.
Azoff has been at the helm of Live Nation Entertainment, a ticket sales and concert company, since 2008 and previously represented artists such as Christina Aguilera and Van Halen.
Just behind Azoff at No. 2 was Coran Capshaw, the founder and partner of Red Light Management, who helps run the careers of groups such as the Dave Matthews Band. Rounding out the top three was Universal Music Group's chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.
Others on the list included Creative Artists Agency's managing partner and head of music Rob Light at No. 7 and Interscope Geffen A&M Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine at No. 10.
Rock band U2 came in at No. 27 along with their manager Paul McGuinness based on their ability to sell more than 7 million tickets to their last tour along with their prolific chart career. Fellow rocker Jon Bon Jovi clocked in at No. 50.
Country music star Taylor Swift, 22, made the list at No. 78 for being a "branding powerhouse" with her own management company and lucrative contracts with companies such as CoverGirl. Pop sensation Lady Gaga followed Swift at No. 84, picked for the sway she holds over millions of loyal followers on Facebook and Twitter.
The list held some surprises as "The X Factor" creator and television mogul Simon Cowell ranked last at No. 100, beaten by his former "American Idol" colleague, host Ryan Seacrest, who ranked No. 64.
Seacrest was placed higher due to his numerous ventures including his syndicated daily radio show, "American Idol" hosting gig, production company at NBC Universal and his newest venture to reshape HDNet as a pop culture TV network in collaboration with billionaire Mark Cuban, Creative Artists Agency and live entertainment company, AEG.
The full list can be viewed at Billboard.biz and in the upcoming issue of Billboard Magazine, on newsstands January 30.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that that the OWN mogul was the godmother of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter.
So will little Blue be on the receiving end of ponies, cars and islands?
Winfrey's BFF, Gayle King, confirms that these rumors are...
(Video)
So false!
"Let me just say, if [this] is true, it is news to her," King said Friday morning on CBS This Morning. "You know, she was heading to South Africa when the baby was born."
A separate source close to the power couple's camp also tells E! News that this is not true.
No need to worry, though. Winfrey is pals with Beyoncé and Jay-Z, so Blue should still get first dibs on Winfrey's annual Favorite Things list.
And who knows? Blue already made her debut on the Billboard charts—she'll be ready for her own talk show in no time.
The music power couple chose Winfrey for the role because they did not want to select a blood relative, a source told the gossip website Media Take Out.
Jay-Z's best friend and road manager, Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith, was asked to be the child's godfather, the gossip site reported.
The cable network CEO has been a close friend to the pair and reportedly sent baby Blue a trunk full of books after her birth.
Beyonce, 30, and Jay-Z, 42, welcomed their first child in New York on January 7th.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have reportedly chosen talk show queen Oprah Winfrey as the godmother for their new daughter, Blue Ivy, according to a new report.
Jay-Z released a hit track "Glory" to celebrate the arrival of their firstborn, in which he revealed that Beyonce had previously suffered a miscarriage.
"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic. We was afraid you'd disappear, but nah, baby, you magic (voila)," he rapped in the single, that debuted at number 74 on Billboard's chart of the top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
The couple married in April 2008.
Don't believe us?
Just ask Beyonce's Destiny's Child bandmate and bestie Kelly Rowland...
"She's absolutely beautiful!" Rowland gushed to us at last night's Hpnotiq Harmonie and Live Louder 2012 Kickoff cocktail party at the W hotel in Hollywood. "And I say that with such a huge grin! I'm so excited."
Rowland debunked reports that she and Destiny's Child pal Michelle Williams serenaded little Blue when the two recently met the 2-week-old. "We all just stared at her," she smiled. "I just stared at her. She is so beautiful."
The singer stayed mum on what kind of baby gifts she got the little one. "That's between me and Blue," she said. "But you best believe her auntie will have her dressed to impress."
And yes, Rowland agrees that baby Blue will have some serious skills when it comes to singing. "She was on her dad's record ["Glory"]," she laughed. "Her first feature is like two days old! So yeah, she's musical." (Video)
"This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time," Beyoncé, who played James in the movie Cadillac Records, posted in a message on her website. "I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime."
Speaking of her role in the 2008 film, the new mom adds, "Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter."
In a final tip of the hat, Beyoncé says, "She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed."
Also adding to the chorus of praise for the greatly admired singer: Pink. On her Twitter page, the pop star wrote: "RIP to the late and great Etta James. Your voice and your fight inspired me and many. I love that through recordings, people can live forever."
Alba tells CNN's A.J. Hammer that her decision, made with husband Cash Warren, to sell the first photos of daughter Honor Marie Warren in 2008 was the right move. Alba reportedly received $1.5 million form OK! magazine for the deal.
"For our family, we just wanted to control the experience," Alba explained. "We put the money that the picture made into a bank account for Honor to do whatever she wants to do with. It's her picture, it's her birth, and we didn't want it to be like a weird thing when we were walking out of the house for the first time."
Alba says that selling the first picture cut down on paparazzi feverishly trying to snap pics of the newborn.
"If there's a price tag on your child -- which is so bizarre -- people will go to crazy lengths," said Alba. "We wanted to avoid that hysteria."
Alba also reveals that shooting the images for OK! magazine was a great experience.
"We were friends with the photographer. It was just a nice day in the house. We'll have those beautiful pictures forever," Alba said. "You can give the money to charity and to your baby and that's it."
But Alba isn't trying to force the decision on Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
"To each his own," she said. "The biggest thing is having a healthy baby ... I'm sure Beyoncé will make the best decision for her family."
Alba has recently launched a line of eco-friendly household products, called The Honest Company, inspired by wanting to use the safest products around her two daughters.
Star U.K. is reporting that they got an exclusive interview with Beyoncé, who allegedly told them, "Nothing can describe the feeling. You have the instant connection once you know your child is growing inside you, but when you hold it for the first time, the words can't be found."
Or did she?
Let's just say Blue Ivy's baby photos aren't the only fabrications floating around the Internet.
Although we don't discredit that Beyoncé would feel such strong and intimate feelings for her newborn daughter, she's definitely not sharing them with Star. Or anybody else for that matter.
Her rep confirms to E! News that "Beyoncé has not done any interviews. This is fake."
She's probably too busy admiring her baby's beautiful face while listening to her heavenly voice on daddy's latest track "Glory."
The superstar singer and her husband Jay-Z welcomed their first child, daughter Blue Ivy, at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on January 7.
However, other parents at the maternity unit claimed their bodyguards caused problems by refusing access to other patients and their families.
Beyonce has now spoken about the drama for the first time, insisting she was just trying to make sure her baby was kept safe.
According to Britain's Star magazine, she says, "Everybody who we wanted to see her, saw her. Security was very tight, but not just for the sake of it, it was for the security of our daughter."
The R&B star goes on to insist her new baby will have a normal childhood, despite being born into such a famous family.
She adds, "At home, she'll be part of a normal, loving family with a loving mum, a loving dad, a loving aunt and loving grandparents, just like any other kid."
"She's doing fabulous," Michelle Williams told PEOPLE on the red carpet at the taping of the 2012 BET Honors in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
"She was born to be a mother," Kelly Rowland added at the show, which will air Feb. 13. She's wonderful."
According to Williams, Beyoncé has what it takes to be a great mother to baby Blue. "She has such compassion for people and humanity, period," she said.
Still, Williams admits that the ladies of Destiny's Child never thought their frontwoman would be the first to become a mom.
"We were very shocked. We were laughing with each other the other day and she was like, 'Can y'all believe it? I was the anti – like no children for me,' and she's the first one [of us to have a baby]," Williams said. "So it was so amazing to see her."
Williams, who already spent time with "the bundle of joy," says Beyoncé and Jay-Z's little chart topper just might be the most stylish baby on the scene.
After all, she has Kelly and Michelle looking after her!
Previously published results from Bryan Lessard, a 24-year-old researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, were recently announced on the species that had been sitting in a fly collection since it was captured in 1981 — the same year pop diva Beyonce was born.
He says he wanted to pay respect to the insect's beauty by naming it Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae.
Lessard said Beyonce would be "in the nature history books forever" and that the fly now bearing her name is "pretty bootylicious" with its golden backside.
"Bootylicious" was the title of a song by Beyonce's previous group, Destiny's Child.
It's unknown if the rare species is a bloodsucker like many female horse flies. Lessard says he was unable to find any live specimens when he went looking in 2010 in northeast Queensland's Atherton Tablelands, where it was captured three decades ago. However, at least one member of the public has alerted him that he was recently bitten by what's locally called the "gold bum fly."
The description of the fly was earlier published in the Australian Journal of Entomology, but the results were announced last week.
Lessard says he hasn't heard from Beyonce, who recently gave birth to her first child, but he is a fan and hopes she will take his scientific gesture as a compliment. He also said the name was picked to help draw attention to the importance of his field and the need for more researchers to catalog and study insects.
Horse flies are "vital pollinators of native plants, not just in Australia, but all over the world," Lessard said. "It's extremely important to name all the undescribed species so we can measure our human impact on the environment and hopefully protect it for future generations to enjoy."
But that doesn't mean she won't be getting gifts...
We polled stars at yesterday's 2012 People's Choice Awards to see what your favorite Hollywood celebs would get baby Blue and her famous parents.
For Kathy Griffin, it would have started in the delivery room.
"I would buy her an entire hospital," she cracked. "I'm sorry, but the way Jay-Z only bought one floor of a hospital? Not on my watch! She gets the entire hospital and some ambulances as well."
On a more practical note, she added, "I would buy Beyoncé probably like a Swarovski Baby Bjorn or Louis Vuitton Baby Bjorn. It's gotta be over the top."
"I'd buy her a little Chanel jumpsuit," Chloe Moretz said.
Lucy Hale says she'd hop the pond to British clothing brand All Saints for some baby gear. "I want to buy someone the baby leather jacket," she said. "It's unbelievable. It's so cute."
"That would be a very daunting task," smiled Once Upon a Time's Jennifer Morrison. "Maybe like a little tiny tap shoes. I mean that baby is going to be dancing in three months."
"Something blue, like a cute little blue pacifier or cute little blue gloves," said DWTS pro Cheryl Burke. "Definitely something blue. I like to keep it simple."
Tell that to Kathy Griffin.
TMZ has obtained photos of the room where Blue Ivy came into this world, and it's baller. There are 4 flat screen TV's, state of the art electronics, a kitchenette, nice art, mahogany walls and plush furnishings. And take a look at the bed where Jay Z got some shut eye!
Sources connected with the hospital tell TMZ ... the suite was not constructed specifically for Beyonce, but it was always intended that Beyonce would be the first patient to use it.
They had received two complaints about Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital, one made anonymously, the other from someone who had learned about the matter through the media, a health department spokesman said. Officials reviewed the complaints and dismissed them Wednesday night, spokesman Jeffrey Gordon said without elaborating.
The hospital, a popular choice for the rich and famous from late philanthropist Brooke Astor to "30 Rock" star Tina Fey, said it was conducting its own probe.
Beyonce gave birth to the couple's baby, Blue Ivy Carter, at the hospital on Saturday.
Media reports said Beyonce and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, paid $1 million to take over a floor and their security guard blocked parents from the neonatal unit for hours. The hospital denied the reports, saying the couple paid the standard rate for an executive suite without disclosing what that is.
One new mother, Rozz Nash-Coulon, told The Associated Press that her twins, born Dec. 28, were in the neonatal unit and, starting Friday, intense security measures made it a struggle to see them as guards directed hallway traffic.
"Once they checked in there was high security everywhere," she said Monday. "It looked like the president was on our floor. The hospital's security cameras were taped over. Internal windows from the hallways into the ward were blacked out."
The hospital's executive director was heading up its own inquiry into the complaints, hospital spokeswoman Barbara Osborn said. The hospital was interviewing parents who had children in the newborn wing when Jay-Z and Beyonce were there, she said.
"We have spoken to seven out of the 10," she said. "None have reported being stopped from seeing their babies."
She confirmed that security cameras were briefly taped over when the Carter family was being moved, "but only when a security guard was present" on the fourth floor, where the neonatal unit is located. She declined to say why they were taped over.
She said that other parents at the unit did notice "enhanced security." But she said none felt restricted from accessing the unit or any other at the hospital.
Jay-Z confirmed the birth of the couple's daughter in a song released on his social website Life and Times on Monday.
The rooms featured "mahogany walls" and were empty for about a month leading up to Blue Ivy's birth on Jan. 7. A hospital source says the power couple "paid to have it constructed just for them," calling the two suites "amazing."
Hospital officials released a statement amid reports that the couple paid $1.3 million to rent an entire maternity floor. "Simply not true," the hospital said, adding that the family was "housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations."
The New York State Health Department has confirmed it's looking into complaints concerning the treatment of maternity patients and their families during Beyoncé's controversial stay at Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital this weekend.
But don't go calling it an investigation...
"We've received two complaints that we're looking into today," Moran tells E! News. "Neither of them was from people who were involved in the situation. One was from someone who read about it in the media and the other was anonymous. So we have no person we can interview or talk to about it. But at this point, we are reviewing the situation."
After the R&B diva welcomed Blue on Saturday night, the New York Daily News reported on the frustrations of a Brooklyn man who claimed he was barred from seeing his premature newborn twins in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit due to the efforts of Beyoncé's security team.
More criticism followed from other patients and expectant moms who alleged that the celebrity presence was disruptive to care, especially since the couple rented out a four-star "executive suite" for the occasion.
Regarding reports that some patients may have been blocked from accessing certain parts of the ward, Moran added: "If someone brought us a complaint that their health or safety was in jeopardy, we'd look into that."
A Lenox Hill spokesman declined to comment on the matter of the Health Department getting involved. The hospital has vehemently denied the allegations since they first surfaced a few days ago.
In a statement given to E! News on Monday, spokesman Frank Danza said the hospital has received no complaints from parents about anyone being prohibited from the neonatal intensive unit.
He noted that officials were making "every effort to ensure minimal disruption," and that patient privacy is taken very seriously. Danza also dismissed reports that Beyoncé and Jay-Z had rented out an entire floor.
The cries and coos of Blue Ivy Carter, who entered the world in New York on Jan. 7, are featured on the new single “Glory“ released by proud dad Jay-Z on Monday.
The track made its debut on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart this week at No. 74 — the chart’s highest new entry — with the newborn credited as “featuring B.I.C.”, Billboard said on Wednesday.
For fans old enough to remember Stevie Wonder’s 1977 ode to his new daughter Aisha “Isn’t She Lovely”, which also featured the baby’s gurgles, Billboard had a simple explanation.
“Isn’t She Lovely” was released almost two years after Aisha was born and she wasn’t officially credited on the song, Billboard said.
Jay-Z, 42, released “Glory” just 48 hours after the birth of the music industry power couple’s first baby. He also revealed in the lyrics that Beyonce, 30, suffered at least one miscarriage in the past.
The superstars have been faced with mounting criticism by new parents and pundits alike after taking over an entire security-saturated wing at the city's Lenox Hill Hospital to welcome daughter Blue Ivy Carter into the world over the weekend. But now they found something of an unlikely defender.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
While holding a press conference Tuesday (which, thankfully, was not to discuss Beyoncé's baby), Bloomberg was asked about the star treatment the duo received—by several accounts, to the detriment of their fellow new parents at the hospital.
"Let's step back a little bit here," Bloomberg told reporters, cautioning people against criticizing the private facility for renting out floors or wings, while admitting that a city-run hospital would never allow the practice to occur.
"If [the hospital] got paid a lot of money and it let them provide services to other people who don't have insurance or can't afford it, I'm not so sure it's a bad thing," he said. "Full-paying patients are very valuable to hospitals in this day and age."
Lenox Hill did get paid a lot of money, although the exact amount is not known. Though the rumored price tag for the Carter family's stay is $1.3 million, the hospital has denied that figure and said the couple paid the standard rate—without clarifying what that rate was.
The mayor then went on to say that the special suite afforded to the music superstars no doubt allowed the hospital to subsidize the care of other patients and will likely serve as "an enormous revenue source" in this budget-tightening time.
And what about the reports that Beyoncé and Jay's strong-armed security team kept other overjoyed new parents from seeing their newborns by blocking off the entrance to the neonatal unit for several hours?
Well, even the mayor's magnanimity only goes so far.
Though he made clear that he wasn't clear on the specifics of the duo's stay, saying, "it's been an awful long time since I've been in a maternity ward," and "I don't think I'm the person that can tell you what goes on in this day and age," he did condemn the notion of closing off maternity wards—if that's indeed what happened.
"I don't think you should keep people from seeing their babies, or whatever, but have different services for people are full-paying patients. It's easy to go and criticize, but somebody's got to pay."
Lenox Hill Hospital's executive director Frank Danza also spoke out yesterday, in addition to denying the seven-figure price tag on their stay, clarified the rumors surrounding their security measures.
"No security plan that we or the Carters' security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access" to their children, he said, adding that despite the media chatter, the hospital had not received any complaints from their patients that day.
Meanwhile, critics may be pleased to know that not every celebrity who checks into Lenox Hill gets the star treatment.
"My celebrity treatment at Lenox Hill involved taking a group breastfeeding class in a closet," Tina Fey, who became a mom for the second time over the summer, joked on the Today show this morning.
"The nurses at Lenox Hill are fantastic. They are the best. It's a New York City hospital room! There's like an ATM machine in the corner. It's not fancy."
Just three days after the couple welcomed daughter Blue Ivy Carter, the U.K. X Factor judge popped into upscale kids boutique, Lucky Wang, in New York City to snap up a green long-sleeved onesie ($24) featuring Bob Marley’s iconic image.
It seems the former Destiny’s Child member was able to figure out what to get the world’s most famous baby despite confessing she had no clue a few months ago.
“I have no idea what I’m going to buy Beyoncé at the baby shower because Jay is going to buy that little girl every single thing possible,” Rowland told Bang Showbiz last November.
The family left under cover of darkness at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the New York Daily News reports.
Observers noted a procession of vehicles with blacked-out windows leaving from the hospital’s side gate, reports the newspaper. Two black SUVs helped facilitate the departure, with one blocking traffic so the other could move unobstructed.
The superstar couple's 7-lb daughter was born Saturday. They called the birth "emotional and extremely peaceful," adding, "we are in heaven."
"It was the best experience of both of our lives," Beyoncé and Jay-Z – who has already released a song devoted to his baby girl – said. "We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."
Called "Glory," the song released on Jay-Z's social website, LifeandTimes.com, followed the birth in New York on Saturday of daughter Blue Ivy Carter -- the first child of the music power couple.
"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic, we was afraid you disappeared," Jay-Z, 42, rapped midway through the song. He also spoke of "false alarms and false starts ... all the pain of the last time, prayed so hard it was the last time."
"The most amazing feeling I feel, Words can't describe what a feeling, for real, Baby I'll paint the sky blue, My greatest creation was you," the "Watch The Throne" singer rapped.
The baby's name, Blue Ivy Carter, was confirmed by fellow friend and actress Gwyneth Paltrow on Twitter and swiftly became a trending topic on the social media site.
Beyonce, now 30, and Jay-Z married in 2008, and the "Single Ladies" singer was reported multiple times in the past two years to have been pregnant.
But Jay-Z's lyrics in the new song Monday were thought to be the first time the couple had publicly spoken of previous pregnancies and a miscarriage.
In an official announcement Monday the couple said that Blue Ivy Carter was born Saturday.
"Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.
"We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support. Beyonce & JAY Z," the statement said.
Beyonce revealed her baby bump at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, saying little but embracing her growing belly during an onstage performance.
The former Destiny's Child singer has forged a Grammy-winning solo career with hits such as "Halo." Brooklyn native Jay-Z has built a successful brand from his music career, Roc Nation music management company, Rocawear clothing line and investments.
His most recent collaboration, with Kanye West on the album "Watch The Throne," earned him four Grammy nominations this year.
Veronica Alexandra, owner of Blue Ivy, tells TMZ she's been getting phone calls, texts and Facebook posts from friends ever since the baby's name was announced. She jokingly feels Beyonce must have known about her company, because before this weekend ... her site came up first when someone Googled "Blue Ivy."
Alexandra says she'd LOVE to plan all of Blue Ivy's milestone celebrations and thinks B.I. should even be the face of the company. She tells us, "Clearly great minds think alike, and who better than our Blue Ivy to plan events for B&J's Blue Ivy!?"
We think mommy and daddy might have something to say about that.
Sources at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC tell TMZ ... the mothers have been gathering at a breastfeeding class at the hospital ... and in between latching techniques, they've been griping about the way they've been treated during the celebrity lockdown.
We're told the mothers feel they've been "neglected" by hospital staff ... and now they're discussing the possibility of filing a lawsuit against LHH.
According to NYDailyNews.com, Bey and Jay-Z dropped $1.3 mil to seal off a private wing of the hospital ... with private security roaming all over the place.
Our sources say several mothers have been seen arguing with Bey's security people ... accusing the hired muscle of being "extremely rude."
Still, we're told the mothers are not mad at Bey and Jay -- directing the blame solely at the people who run the hospital.
One source tells us, "Someone at the hospital should be protecting us patients."
We've placed calls to the hospital -- so far, no response.
A rep for Lenox Hill Hospital just released a statement, claiming, "The suggestion that the couple paid $1.3 million to rent an entire maternity floor is simply not true."
The rep adds, "The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations."
According to the rep, "The family does have its own security detail on site. However, the hospital has been and continues to be in control of managing all security at the facility. We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the births of their own children over the past three days."
TMZ broke the story ... moms at Lenox Hill are considering filing a lawsuit against the hospital, claiming they were treated like 2nd class citizens when Beyonce rolled in this weekend.
There were reports the singer birthed Blue with the help of a scalpel -- but Bey and Jay-Z released a joint statement moments ago, claiming, Blue "was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives."
The couple adds, "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."
So why didn't Michelle Williams, a member of Destiny's Child, Tweet congratulations to Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the arrival of their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, over the weekend?
Because she'd rather do it in person.
"Let's get ONE thing straight....I do NOT have to say congrats to someone when they're NOT on twitter...ESPECIALLY when I talk or email them all the time....or when I'll be physically present as well," Williams wrote in response to a user (whose page is NSFW) who suggested she needed to send a message of congratulations on the social networking site.
"My friendship with people aren't always for twitter display," Williams continued. "Respect that and get a LIFE!!! Enjoy this FINE day!!! God bless!!!!"
In a follow-up Tweet, Williams said, "This is a beautiful, precious, private time between two people and excitement is to be expected but NOT disrespect!"
And to end the mini-rant, Williams used this hash tag: "#churchdismissed."
Jay-Z posted the latest track, "Glory feat. B.I.C.," (listen below) on his Life + Times website Monday. The rap concludes with sounds of a newborn crying.
Elsewhere during the cut, Jay makes some heartbreaking, as well as some sweet, revelations. "Last time, the miscarriage was so tragic," he raps. "We was afraid you disappeared, but nah, dear, you magic."
Another verse reveals that Blue Ivy, a.k.a. "the most beautiful girl in the world," was "made in Paris," just before Knowles "shot an album package."
"People haven't ever seen Jay this happy or proud," a source tells PEOPLE.
And you can hear that joy all throughout the song: "The most amazing feeling I feel," he raps. "Words can't describe what I'm feeling for real / Baby, I paint the sky blue / My greatest creation was you."
This was the case over the holidays, when, in anticipation of the baby's birth, the parents-to-be sent pals blue Christmas gifts, a source tells PEOPLE.
Sources and fans suggest the couple chose the name "Ivy" because of the number 4 or Roman numeral IV, which is significant in Beyoncé and Jay-Z's relationship.
Beyoncé's birthday is Sept. 4, while Jay-Z's is Dec. 4; the two married on April 4 in 2008; they reportedly have matching "IV" tattoos on their wedding fingers; and Beyoncé named her latest album 4.
And the significance of the baby's first name, Blue? Well, Jay-Z has three albums with the word "blueprint" in their titles: The Blueprint was released in 2001; The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, in 2002; and The Blueprint 3, in 2009.
In lyrics, Jay-Z has rarely been coy about proclaiming himself the best rapper ever. "I'm the Blueprint, I'm like the map for 'em," he said in "A Star Is Born," from The Blueprint 3.
Fans have also chimed in on the name. "Blueprint was the hottest album ever sold by Jay-Z! their child's name makes a lot of sense!" Tweeted @kisssmyDIAMONDS
And Tweeted @omgitsralph: "There's a meaning in Ivy Blue. IVy = a roman numeral for 4 which is Beyoncé's favorite number and BLUE for Jay-Z's Blueprint albums. Wow."
Perhaps at some point the parents will make clear why they chose the name.
Until then, there's one thing the family is clear about, as proud aunt Solange declared on Twitter on Sunday. Blue Ivy, she said, is "the most beautiful girl in the world."
"We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012," the couple said, confirming the news in a joint statement Monday. "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful – we are in heaven."
"She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs.," the statement adds, dispelling rumors that the birth was by scheduled cesarean.
"It was the best experience of both of our lives," continue Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who has already released a song devoted to his baby girl. "We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."
Following Knowles's highly publicized childbirth, rumors swirled about special perks she received at New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital, including having a floor to herself.
"The suggestion that the couple paid $1.3 million to rent an entire maternity floor is simply not true," Lenox Hill Hospital Executive Director Frank Danza said in a statement Monday.
"The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations. Our executive suites are available for any patient, including the food service and amenities provided to the Carter family."
In response to reports that Beyoncé and Jay-Z's presence has stopped visitors from being able to see relatives and even disrupted a father's visit with his newborn twins in the neonatal intensive care unit, Danza says such stories are untrue.
"We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the births of their own children over the past three days," he explains.
"No security plan that we or the Carters' security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access to the NICU, and to date, no families have complained to the hospital about being denied access to the NICU."
Neil Coulon tells the NY Daily News he has been repeatedly kept out of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by the couple's security. He also claims his relatives were booted out of the waiting room by bodyguards wearing headsets.
He tells the paper, "Three times they stopped me from entering or exiting the NICU and it happened once on Friday -- just because they wanted to use the hallway."
A rep for the hospital told the NYDN she hadn't personally heard of any complaints. We reached out for comment as well ... haven't heard back.
According to our sources, the hospital held a meeting leading up to the delivery to discuss a security plan for the birth. We're told the meeting between execs and security was held Friday afternoon and strict security was in place almost immediately, preparing for Beyonce's late night delivery.
The goal, keeping Beyonce's delivery under wraps, succeeded admirably -- no pictures of Bey or hubby Jay-Z entering or exiting the hospital have emerged ... and she hasn't been seen at all since Thursday.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed a daughter Saturday night in New York, the little one's arrival coming via scheduled C-section, mutliple sources confirm to E! News
And the pop 'n' hip-hop princess' name? Drumroll, please...
Blue Ivy Carter! (At least that's what Jay-Z is telling pals at this point—the couple's reps have not immediately responded to calls seeking comment.)
Friend and music mogul Russell Simmons was among the first to celebrate the arrival, tweeting the new parents: "congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z."
Rihanna gave baby Blue a warm welcome, tweeting: "Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih."
Hey, we're happy to find out this much, considering Blue's parents didn't even confirm to the world that they were married until...Wait? Did they ever really confirm it? (Public records ultimately told the tale.)
Anyway, the "Crazy in Love" duo tied the knot in April 2008 after roughly six years of dating. Considering they waited another three years to have a baby, you can tell this is one couple that thinks things through!
Beyoncé memorably revealed that she was pregnant onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.
And her hubby certainly seems to be in the right head space, telling E! News in November that he hoped to be the kind of father whose children could talk to him about anything.
"Your child could come to you and have any type of conversation. I always hope for that kind of open relationship," he said.
Just imagine the rap sessions father and daughter will be having a few years from now!
The singer stepped out Thursday wearing jeans, gold heels, a black blazer and a flowing scarf covering her ample tummy as she was photographed for the first time since the Internet reached a fever pitch with inferences that she'd secretly delivered.
The photos may finally silence chatter that the singer and husband Jay-Z (who was snapped himself in N.Y.C. on Wednesday) checked into a New York hospital where she gave birth to a baby girl named Tiana-May Carter over the holiday weekend.
The couple was also spotted out – but weren't caught on camera – feasting on oysters and friend chicken at Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve.
Beyoncé, said an onlooker, "looked amazing. She wore sky-high heels. It was really impressive for an enormously pregnant woman. She looked like she was about to give birth."
And, indeed, it appears she still is.
On New Year's Eve, the singer, 30, ate for two at Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn, where she and husband Jay-Z feasted on fried chicken and oysters.
"She was definitely a pregnant lady that night," said an onlooker. "They sat side by side and had a cozy and intimate dinner. They seemed to be having a lovely time."
And although the soon-to-be mom is due any day now, an uncomfortable baby bump is not getting in the way of her sense of style. ??
"She looked amazing. She wore sky-high heels. It was really impressive for an enormously pregnant woman," adds the source. "She looked like she was about to give birth."
The couple greeted excited fans on their way out of the restaurant, presumably before heading to a New Year's shindig at Beyoncé's sister Solange's apartment.
And pregnant Beyoncé in heels got huge props from her sibling. Tweeted Solange: "Shout out to my sister for being THE cutest pregnant woman ever!"
Blogs and Twitter are in a fever pitch with rumors, gossip, tips, inferences and even bad Photoshopping all about one thing: whether Beyoncé" and husband Jay-Z have welcomed their baby girl.
No matter that the couple and their reps have maintained total silence and that no credible reports exist. The Beyoncé Baby Watch has become a cyber-event unto itself.
It all started with the Twitter explosion when the singer announced her pregnancy at the MTV Video Music Awards last summer, setting a world record of 8,868 Tweets per second (TPS).
After a surreal moment when conspiracy theorists were convinced the baby news was an elaborate hoax involving a prosthetic belly – all, of course, denied by Beyoncé – the Web picked up steam as the due date neared.
In recent days, blogs and Twitter pages seemed certain that Beyoncé not only checked into a New York hospital, but that she actually gave birth.
The Internet has even named the couple's first-born, Tiana-May Carter, after Disney's first black princess, Tiana, in The Princess and the Frog.
And in one of the more unsettling posts, somebody shared what was purported to be a baby photo. We certainly hope not. This would be one ugly kid.
According to the website Media Takeout, the staff at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital on the Upper West Side has been informed that an exceptionally high-profile patient will check in today to give birth. The hospital staff believes that the mom-to-be is none other than Beyoncé.
Nurses shared with the site that while the identity of the patient has yet to be confirmed, whoever she is, she booked an entire half of the hospital's "labor and delivery suite," where Alicia Keys gave birth to baby Egypt. The suite is known for its luxurious accommodations and, according to Media Takeout, offers enough room for three deliveries and up to a dozen guests overnight.
Simple math is further fueling the rumors that the famous patient is Beyoncé.
In a scene on the superstar's "Live at Roseland: Elements of 4" DVD, Beyoncé says, "Hello! It's September 23rd … Right now I’m actually shooting the video for 'Countdown' and I’m six months pregnant, pretending that my stomach is flat in body suits."
This means that Beyoncé rounded the nine months mark days ago.
2. "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars: Joy Williams and John Paul White aren't a couple, but they radiate passion and chemistry on their debut album — all through a batch of understated, mellow tunes that blend country with folk, acoustic pop and whatever else that gives them their intangible appeal. Their songs about aching love and broken dreams catch your ear, but it's their irresistible harmonies that will make your heart leap.
3. "4," Beyonce: On paper, some may look at "4'' as a disappointment; it had no big smash singles compared with Beyonce's past albums, and underperformed commercially. Artistically, though, it was a triumph. While she still had pulsating beats on songs like "Countdown" and "End of Time," Beyonce dialed down her typical bombast for ballads, and midtempo grooves still smoldered as she relied more on passion than girl power.
4. "Watch the Throne," Jay-Z and Kanye West: While the first single, "Otis," suggested an album full of "how rich am I" rhymes from rap's most outsized figures, the album provided a much deeper narrative, as Kanye and Jay-Z mused on racism, black-on-black crime, fatherhood and other issues for an excellent album that was so much more than another vanity collaboration.
5. "Nostalgia, Ultra," Frank Ocean: Although Frank Ocean may be one of the most buzzed about new artists of 2011, you won't find his debut album in the stores, on iTunes or Amazon.com. He released it on the Internet out of frustration that it wasn't getting any traction at his label, Def Jam. We're hoping the label dragged its feet on this brilliant debut because of valid issues (maybe they were waiting on that "Hotel California" sample clearance). But it's a sad commentary on the failing label system that the young Ocean crafted a sonically rich album that shows him as hilarious, heartfelt, cocky, insecure and most important, thoughtful — and it apparently fell on deaf ears.
6. "The Movie," Betty Wright and the Roots: This soul veteran showed how real R&B should be done with her first album in 10 years. "The Movie" plays more like a lesson in music-making, celebrating classic soul with songs that are unapologetically "grown-folks music." Yet, she smartly utilizes The Roots, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne and other young stars (and even raps a little herself), hopefully showing that generation that great music doesn't have to be disposable — and can be timeless.
7. "Hell on Heels," Pistol Annies: Country music hasn't had a trio of chicks this raucous since, well, the Dixie Chicks — and the Pistol Annies delivered a well-needed dose of bad attitude. The trio of Miranda Lambert and friends Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe were the anti-Taylor Swift, with songs about pill-popping, man-stealing, family feuds and other sordid tales, told with a sharp tongue and witty tone. We hope Lambert's side project grows into something more regular.
8. "Undun," The Roots: The hip-hop band has always had more goals than just making good music, and fresh off last year's activist album "Wake Up!" with John Legend, they bring us "Undun," the story of a drug dealer whose fate is already sealed: The album just gives us a three-dimensional portrait of him and why he ended up where he did. The grooves veer from frenetic to poignant, and the album is another example of why The Roots remain among music's most innovative storytellers.
9. "Own the Night," Lady Antebellum: They may not have come up with another song that resonated quite like 2010's "Need You Now," but Lady Antebellum still has plenty of musical magic left. Their harmonies are as smooth as ever, and the tales behind the tunes are just as captivating.
10. "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two," Beastie Boys: The future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are still serving up funky hip-hop grooves with the right blend of wackiness, and "Hot Sauce Committee, Part II" is the best example of that in years, with songs like "Funky Donkey" and "Lee Majors Come Again."
Honorable mentions: "Metals," Feist; "El Camino," The Black Keys; "Paper Airplane," Alison Krauss and Union Station; "Got to Get Back!" the Bo-Keys; "Break of Dawn," Goapele.
The pop superstar's mother filed for divorce from manager Mathew in 2009 just weeks after he was accused of fathering a lovechild with another woman.
The divorce case was dismissed last year after both parties failed to appear at a court hearing, but the former couple's split has now been made official.
A final decree of divorce was issued last month in Texas, according to TMZ.com.
In the divorce documents, Tina declared the marriage crumbled because of "discord or conflict of personalities" which "prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation."
According to public records, Beyonce dropped $465,000 on a tiny cabana in a glitzy Miami condo complex back in 2002 -- it only measured 190 square feet ... and contained one 1/2 bathroom.
The place is basically a small little beachfront room, from which Beyonce could walk to and from the sand and the pool.
It's highly likely Beyonce owned a bigger condo in the complex ... and used the cabana so she could change and use her own private restroom without having to schlep all the way back through the building.
But that was BEFORE November 9th ... when B sold the cabana for $110,000 ... a tad below her $135,000 asking price ... and $355,000 LESS than she paid for it.
Tough loss ... but we're guessing she'll be able to get by somehow.
We called Beyonce for comment -- so far, no response.
The Crazy in Love singer was hit with a lawsuit in April from bosses at Gate Five, alleging she inadvertently put 70 staff out of work after "abruptly abandoning" her project with the company.
Gate Five owners claim they were preparing to release a game called Starpower: Beyonce, but it fell through when she walked away from the deal last year.
On Tuesday, lawyers for the singer applied to have the case thrown out at Manhattan Supreme Court in New York, but judge Charles Ramos rejected the request and ruled Gate Five can press ahead with the lawsuit.
The Irreplaceable singer revealed her baby news at the MTV Video Music Awards in August and she has been dogged by rumours suggesting she's faking the baby bump ever since.
Gossips went crazy when footage from an Australian chat show hit the internet and appeared to show the singer's bump crumple like a piece of fabric as she sat down.
But Beyonce is refusing to let the comments upset her.
She says, "There's some things that a so far (fetched) that it doesn't even upset you. (But) my mother, she's like, 'Nobody's talking about my grandbaby (like that). My grandbaby's not even here yet... I don't like it!'
"I'm like, 'Calm down mom, it's OK, it's really silly.' My mom is really protective and so is my sister, but I'm cool. It's so ridiculous and over the top."
“I’ve been really conscious and I’ve been trying my best not to lose control,” she says of her pregnancy eating habits on Friday night’s 20/20.
“Because I’ve met so many people that say, ‘My second baby, my third baby, I’ve learned my lesson.’ So I haven’t been going crazy.”
She added, “It’s important that I don’t lose myself … I believe that life doesn’t stop.”
She also dismissed rumors of wacky cravings involving ketchup, hot sauce and ice cream, saying her desires don’t involve “anything crazy.”
“I was on a plane and the flight attendant came and was like, ‘I have your hot sauce and pickles and bananas.’ And I’m like, ‘That is absolutely disgusting, what are you doing?’ He’s like, ‘I read it on the Internet,’” she says.
The expectant first-time mom admits she knows things won’t be perfect, but says she can handle whatever comes her way.
“It’s exciting! I know it’s gonna be difficult at times,” she says. “I know that, like my mother, I’m gonna get on my child’s nerves [but] I’m just ready. I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Though she doesn’t exactly respond to reports to PEOPLE that she is having a girl, Knowles does share that she’s not picky about the child’s sex.
“I don’t care. I just want — I’m just like everyone else. And now I know why people say that, it’s true. I just want [a healthy baby],” she said.
We confirmed with the realtor that J&B took a walk-through the 9,491 square-foot ocean-front pad last week -- but it's unclear if the couple is interested in making an offer.
According to official records, Ricky's trying to score a hefty profit on the estate -- because he bought it in 2005 for $10,000,000 .. and now he's listed the house at $12.5 mil.
The place is pretty sick -- boasting 7 beds, 10 baths, a swimming pool ... and it's located in one of the ritziest parts of Miami Beach, close to Miami Heat superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
As for Ricky, neighbors tell us he was a great neighbor -- and they're sad to see him leave.
Best Long Form Music Video
"I Am...World Tour," Beyoncé
"Foo Fighters: Back And Forth," Foo Fighters
"Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon," Kings of Leon
"Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest," A Tribe Called Quest
"Nine Types of Light," TV On The Radio
The singer, who’s due to give birth to her first child with husband Jay-Z early next year, puts on voices, laughs and jokes over her baby bump in new behind-the-scenes footage taken on the set of her “Countdown” video on Sept. 23.Watch here:
Putting on a gravelly, Muppets-like voice and rubbing her belly, she chants, “Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby!” while holding up the day’s New York Daily News, which has a photo of her on the cover along with the headline — you guessed it — “Oh, baby!”
With a sparkling smile and a higher-pitched voice, she tells the camera with a giggle, “Right now I’m actually shooting the video … And I’m six months pregnant pretending that my stomach is flat in bodysuits!”
“But thank god, you can’t really tell from the front,” she adds, turning sideways to show the full size of her growing bump. “But we’re not turning to the side.”
She then laughingly finishes with, “Oh baby, oh baby!”
The second half of the program, shot during a four-night stand in August, is a nearly complete run-through of her most recent album, the possibly underrated "4." Fan reaction to the record hasn't been as enthusiastic as it was for Beyonce's earlier albums, which doesn't stop her from introducing it (without any real elaboration) as "my most defining moment."
Preceding this is a 30-minute medley/monologue billed as "The Journey B 4," in which the pre-2011 greatest hits of Beyonce's and Destiny's Child are excerpted mostly in half-minute snippets, interrupted by a self-serving stream of fact- and figure-filled historical commentary. It's sort of like the inevitable middle act in a Diana Ross show dedicated to paying lip service to the Supremes.
It's all highly impressive, and almost all a little annoying, if solipsism isn't your thing. Say this for Beyonce though: Even at her most egotistical, she's strangely never less than utterly likable. She might actually be the world's most good-natured megalomaniac.
Part 1 was probably more fun to experience at Manhattan's Roseland ballroom than it is to watch on home video -- especially if you already own a copy of "I Am… Yours - An Intimate Performance in the Encore Theater," a 2009 DVD filmed in Vegas that included a scripted Destiny's Child mega-medley almost identical to this disc's.
In the intervening two years, apparently no one told her she needed a script doctor to reshape a life story that goes a little like this:
"And the hits just kept on coming! But the success just wasn't enough to keep Destiny's Child together… With a lot of success comes a lot of negativity… Now it's 2002, and I just finished co-starring in my first No. 1 movie, 'Austin Powers'… They told me I didn't have one hit single (on 'Dangerously in Love'). I guess they were right. I had five!... All the hard work (portraying Etta James) paid off, since it got me my second Golden Globe nomination… " And then this: "What do you do after 16 Grammys and millions of records sold? Whatever makes you happy!"
Repeated triumphs over show-biz adversity aside, no one will be mistaking this for an Elaine Stritch one-woman show.
Part 2 proves far more satisfying, even though Beyonce may be overestimating "4" as the culmination of her career to date, if only because the tunes all last more than a minute each and there is no further boasting about the accolades she has earned from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Liberated from the lousy patter to pay tribute to songs instead of herself, she is… fairly glorious. Naturally.
Almost across the board, the live versions of the "4" material are more invigorating than the studio equivalents, with Beyonce's's eight-piece all-female band making everything sound like the great cross-pollination of contemporary urban and '70s soul you'd hope for.
(You do have to wonder what that 10-piece string section -- also all-female -- is doing constantly sawing away directly behind Beyonce's, besides providing visual props, since you'd be hard-pressed to ever hear cellos and violins in the mix.)
"End of Time" is a particular stunner, with drummer Cora Coleman-Dunham transforming an already martial beat into something like a one-woman marching band drum corps.
And Bey is at her best on "Love on Top," which takes what is a very tired diva stunt -- repeated octave changes -- so far over the top that the trick officially becomes spectacular again. It doesn't hurt that she's employing her mastery of multiple key changes not on some hackneyed ballad but on a fun, Motown-inspired romp.
"4" had more balladry than we'd heard on a Beyonce's album in a while. Three of the first four songs featured from the album fall into that category, climaxing with the memorable sight of the singer kneeling on a piano top for "1 + 1," allowing us a chance to focus exclusively on the super-humanness of her thighs… and, sure, vocal prowess that seems almost irritatingly effortless.
It's all good until the closing "I Was Here," a self-celebratory anthem that seems to be arriving a few decades earlier than any superstar's valedictory ballad should. While Beyonce sings about the mark she's making on the world, you get random footage of the star traveling the world, admiring a portrait of Gandhi, earning more awards, greeting Make-a-Wish kids, and hanging with Nelson Mandela, Michael Jackson, Obama, and Oprah.
Oh, well. The straightforward performances were fun while they lasted, before they gave way not just to that terrible closing montage but also auteurist end credits that have Beyonce's giving herself title cards as director, executive producer, and co-show-director/choreographer.
It may be up to true diva devotees, of course, to rightfully determine whether all this sweet self-congratulation counts as hubris when we're dealing with an actual goddess.
Beyoncé takes a page from the femme fatale's handbook in her brand-new video for "Dance for You," a come-hither love letter to the man in her life, set to a sultry beat.
As she did with "Single Ladies," the mom-to-be (not so visible here, however) sticks with the power of black and white to set the mood, which in this case is a naughty film noir vibe.
"Dance for You" was included on the bonus disc that comes with the deluxe edition of Beyoncé's latest platinum-selling album, 4. And it's very possible you've heard it playing in a nearby bedroom since then.
Now you can see what Beyoncé means when she says, "I wanna show you how much I appreciate you," right here.
"I wouldn’t miss the birth of Beyoncé’s baby. I can’t. I don’t want to miss those moments," Rowland, now a judge on the British version of "The X Factor," told the Daily Mail. "It’s life happening to people that I love and I want to be a part of it."
Rowland says she learned her lesson in 2009, when she was in the UK promoting her solo album and another close friend went into labor.
"My best friend had a baby and I wasn’t there to see the baby born ... I watched my best friend’s baby being born on Skype," she said, not acknowledging that watching a friend's birth, in person or on a computer, is not the norm. "I get choked up even now talking about it because I wasn’t there. So now it’s important to me to share those moments."
But perhaps either Knowles or her husband Jay-Z will object to Rowland's presence. The two have yet to respond to the fact that Rowland accidentally leaked the sex of their baby in an interview earlier this month. When discussing Knowles' baby shower, Rowland said, "I have no idea what I'm going to buy Beyoncé at the baby shower because Jay is going to buy that little girl every single thing possible."
Who knows what information Rowland might let slip if present for the birth.
Rowland and Knowles have been friends since age 7, when Rowland moved to Houston, Texas, and began singing in the group Girl's Tyme. Five years later, the group was voted off the talent competition show "Star Search."
Rowland says that the experience makes her the perfect "X Factor" judge now. "It felt like my world had ended. You felt you’d had your heart ripped out ... So yes, I know absolutely how it feels when you’re voted off 'X Factor,'" she said. "I know what it’s like, too, to have a meeting with a production company and have the excitement of thinking you’re one step closer to being signed and then it doesn’t happen ... These things happened to me."
When asked about collaborating with Rihanna for Princess of China, even though Martin has dropped Beyoncé's name in the past many times, he said, "Well, I did write a song for Beyoncé, but it got rejected by her A&R people. And the one I wrote for Rihanna didn't get rejected."
He went on to say, "It was when (Rihanna) was doing Rated R, but it took so long — there's still this tribalism in music where we're rock and you're pop and you're hip-hop, and it sometimes takes a while to get across those barriers. Whereas a 14-year-old doesn't even see those barriers. So once we started thinking like that, it was, "Who cares if we used to be shelved in different places in Tower Records?" She's (expletive) rad, and I love listening to her. It's my favorite real singing on the album, 'cause it isn't me."
Family members (Beyonce's mom and cousin), media insiders and some lucky fans (radio and online contest winners) got a first look at the expectant superstar's new concert film. Available Nov. 29 as part of a two-disc DVD, Roseland was shot in August, during Beyonce's four-night stint at that New York venue, and also features behind-the-scenes footage, including excerpts from her "video diaries."
Resplendent in a black gown, the 30-year-old singer answered a few questions before the screening. Beyonce was obviously well aware she was pregnant during the Roseland shows: "The whole time I was thinking, everyone can see."
She admitted, "When you're pregnant, it's a little bit hard to breathe. … It's hard to sing and dance at the same time. But I get my strength from all the love from the fans."
Of the video entries, which chronicled backstage and off-the-cuff moments —- among them husband Jay-Z popping up at a Destiny's Child appearance way back when — Beyonce said, "I've always done video diaries. I don't Tweet, but it's still important people get a sense of who I am."
Part of the reason she was eager to release the DVD is that she knew "this was probably my last performance" — quickly adding, "this year," to cheers.
Asked if Roseland could also provide something of a time capsule for her unborn child, she responded. "Well, there's a lot about my life. (The baby) can say, 'I can't believe I was in that belly.' "
"The whole time I definitely was thinking, 'Everyone knows, everyone can see,'" said the singer before the screening of her new concert DVD Sunday in New York.
It became particularly difficult for her to hide the growing baby bump when the Grammy-winner performed for four nights to sold-out crowds at New York's Roseland Theater in August.
"When you're pregnant, it's a little bit harder to breathe, so it was hard doing all the choreography and singing at the same time," said the 30-year-old singer in an onstage interview.
Fans who didn't get a chance to catch "The Intimate Nights" shows — what Beyonce said was her last concert performance of the year — can get a behind-the-scenes look in her new "Live at Roseland" DVD, available exclusively at Walmart this week.
Along with classics from her Destiny's Child days and major hits from her solo career, the DVD includes interviews with the singer, home footage of rehearsals and special family moments — even shots of Beyonce in a wedding gown.
She's also hoping the film will serve as a time capsule for her unborn child, a chance for him or her to say, "I can't believe I was in that belly," she said.
Toward the end of the four-and-a-half-minute clip, which appears on vevo.com, the singer shares brief front and back shots of her flowing white wedding dress, which has never been seen publicly. The exaggerated sweetheart gown appears to have an elaborate fitted back with layers of fine fabric and a long train.
The rest of the video features major moments in Beyoncé’s life: meeting luminaries such as Nelson Mandela, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey; performing as a youngster and later as a member of Destiny’s Child; joining Jay-Z on stage in concert; and revealing her baby bump at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. She sings, “I wanna say I lived each day until I die,” and from the looks of this video, so far, she definitely has.
Favorite Female Artist:
Adele
Beyoncé
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Favorite Album of the Year:
21, by Adele
4, by Beyoncé
Born This Way, by Lady Gaga
Femme Fatale, by Britney Spears
Own The Night, by Lady Antebellum
Favorite Pop Artist:
Beyoncé
Demi Lovato
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Favorite R&B Artist:
Beyoncé
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Ne-Yo
Rihanna
Favorite Music Video:
Judas, by Lady Gaga
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), by Katy Perry
Party Rock Anthem, by LMFAO featuring Goonrock and Lauren Bennett
Rolling in the Deep, by Adele
Run The World (Girls), by Beyoncé
But the secret seems to be out! Sources have referred to the upcoming arrival as "she" to PEOPLE, and former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland alluded to the baby's gender at an awards show Thursday night. Rowland told Bang Showbiz: "I have no idea what I'm going to buy Beyoncé at the baby shower because Jay is going to buy that little girl every single thing possible."
The mini Sasha Fierce, due in February, will be the couple's first child.
"I feel like it is time," the singer, 30, previously said of her pregnancy. "I'm so happy."
In addition to Heidi Klum and Miranda Kerr's costume parties in the Big Apple, Kanye West and model Anja Rubik threw their own spooky soiree last night at The Darby.
So whose shindig was the best?
Kanye's fete had quite the impressive guest list. Bumblebee Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell were just a few of the bold-faced names who turned out for his party.
Some revelers, such as Michelle Trachtenberg and Jersey Shore's Vinny Guadagnino, opted to hit both Kanye's and Heidi Klum's bash at PH-D inside the Dream Downtown (her second costumed get-together of the spooky holiday season), while Fergie, dressed as a toddler pageant queen, made Heidi's party her only stop of the night.
The hostess and her hubby Seal were tardy for their own party and didn't arrive until nearly 1 a.m., as they were working on their intricate matching gorilla get-ups. The couple said their primate outfits took nearly 6 hours to complete!
Fortunately, they made it work.
Meanwhile, Miranda Kerr held her own fete at on the rooftop of Catch. Hubby Orlando Bloom was MIA as the Victoria's Secret supermodel wore a sexy ringmaster costume. Partygoers such as Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, dressed as a policeman, sipped Voli cocktails.
Back in L.A., Adam Levine's annual graveyard bash with his own supermodel girlfriend was the place to be.
Guests such as Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Lauren Conrad and Leona Lewis all danced with the dead inside the Hollywood Forever Cemetery at the carnival-themed soiree.
Christina, a fellow judge with Adam on The Voice, made a beeline to offer her host a toast after she entered.
Sounds like a great Halloween!
Dylan's 1965 release Subterranean Homesick Blues, Cash's Folsom Prison Blues (1955), Nirvana classic Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) and Jackson's 1982 chart hit Billie Jean all appear on the unranked list, alongside tunes by the likes of Madonna (Borderline), Beyonce (Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)), Lady Gaga (Bad Romance), Sinead O'Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U), Radiohead (Paranoid Android) and Prince (Kiss).
Others mentioned in the top 100 countdown include Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M., Led Zeppelin, Dolly Parton, The Who, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Queen.
Michelle Obama, who is encouraging the nation to work out as part of her "Let's Move" campaign, has revealed the tunes that get her motivated.
"I always love Beyoncé, so anything fast-paced that she's doing is a good one for me," Obama said in a video response to questions from the "Let's Move" online audience. "But I have very eclectic tastes, so my playlist on my iPod, which I listen to, runs from fast paced to a little more mellow."
The Obamas are actually longtime Beyoncé fans – the singer performed at the Neighborhood Ball celebrating the President's inauguration. But no matter Americans' musical tastes, the First Lady says the most important thing is to find something that moves you.
"Listen to whatever you like and whatever is going to get you motivated, and for me that's a lot," she added. "The important thing is that you get up, you try to get that workout in."
Weeks after releasing a video for "Countdown," which featured her growing baby bump, Beyoncé's video for "Love on Top" hit the web on Sunday.
This time, there's no visible belly on the singer, who's due in February. But there are plenty of fingers snapping, fancy footwork, sexy back-up dancers, a skimpy leotard, a golden tuxedo and more key changes than you can count.
But before rumors of a fake pregnancy reignite, the singer was spotted out and about in New York City on Friday, sporting a chic zip-up navy and black dress and looking like a proud and glowing mom-to-be.
Beyoncé first performed "Love on Top" at the Video Music Awards in August, when she announced – by showing off her bump, of course – that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting a baby: Video.
Fresh from shooting down the conspiracy theories and hoax calls that her baby bump was well, less than legit, Beyoncé proudly showed her burgeoning belly while walking around in New York City this morning.
And while body-con clothes are nothing new for the curvy fashion plate, we can't help but think she chose this most form-fitting of little black dresses for one reason in particular, and let's just say, there's no conflating this message—received loud and clear, B!
Now that's how to silence the haters without saying a word. Well played, you classy mama-to-be, you.
Favorite Album
Beyonce/4
Chris Brown/F.A.M.E.
Rihanna/Loud
