In a rare political appearance, Beyoncé embraced Kamala Harris at a presidential campaign rally, urging voters with the words, “We need to sing a new song.”
Though she did not perform—unlike her 2016 rally performance for Hillary Clinton in Cleveland—she lent her voice as Ms. Harris cautioned that her Republican opponent aims to further diminish women’s rights.
“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” Beyonce told the crowd in Houston, Texas, as she endorsed the US vice president.
“A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”
“Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations,” the US singer continued. “We must vote, and we need you.”
Beyoncé shared the stage with her Destiny’s Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland, and referred to Democratic candidate Ms. Harris as the “next President of the United States.”
As Beyoncé’s hometown, Houston has become a focal point for Ms. Harris’s presidential campaign, which has adopted Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” from her 2016 album Lemonade as its anthem, first incorporating the track in July.
Beyoncé granted Vice President Harris permission to use the song, which features samples from two recordings by John and Alan Lomax that capture America’s history of segregation.
Beyonce hugged Kamala Harris after welcoming her to the stage. Pic: AP
The rally took place in Texas to highlight the growing medical fallout from the state’s strict abortion ban. Abortion is illegal in almost all cases, with exceptions for if the mother’s life is at risk.
But the ambiguous way the law is written means harmful pregnancies do not explicitly constitute an exception. As a result, the state’s infant death rate has increased, more babies have died of birth defects and maternal mortality has risen.
Ms Harris was joined at the rally by women who have nearly died from pregnancy complications. In some states, doctors face criminal charges if they provide medical care to women in life-threatening situations.
“For anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected,” Ms Harris warned.
“Because a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state.”
Mr Trump has been inconsistent with his message on abortion and reproductive rights – though he has repeatedly said he would veto a national ban.
He was also in Texas on Friday, where he said he would break records for the number of people deported from the US if he won.
The American singer, Beyoncé has long captivated audiences with her ever-evolving hairstyles.
From bold wigs to intricate weaves and sleek box braids, the 42-year-old artist has never shied away from experimenting with her looks.
However, amidst the array of glamorous styles, questions have often arisen about the state of her natural hair.
In a recent Instagram post that has sent shockwaves through the internet, Beyoncé provided a rare glimpse into her natural mane.
The video, shot in a salon, showcases the singer flaunting honey-blond curls.
According to the singer, she has been “maintaining 25 years of blonde on natural hair through all the experimenting I do has played a huge part in developing @cecred’s products. It’s the hardest to keep color-treated hair healthy and strong, but @cecred is here”.
The clip, which has gone viral, reveals Beyoncé luxuriating in the salon chair as her natural hair descending down her shoulders in voluminous curls.
Get ready! Beyoncé’s highly anticipated new album is on its way.
The singer unveiled the tracklist for “Act 2: Cowboy Carter” on Instagram on Wednesday.
Alongside the already released singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” fans can expect several other tracks, including the speculated cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” as well as “Smoke Hour Willie Nelson,” “Dolly P,” and “The Linda Martell Show.”
Linda Martell, celebrated as the first commercially successful Black female country music artist, is the focus of the documentary “Bad Case of the Country Blues,” chronicling her mainstream country music career from 1969 to 1975.
Whether Martell, now 82, makes an appearance on Beyoncé’s new project remains uncertain.
Similarly, members of Beyoncé’s devoted fanbase, known as the Beyhive, are eagerly awaiting to see if either Dolly Parton or fellow Texas native Willie Nelson will feature on the album.
In a recent interview with Knox News, Parton was asked about whether Beyoncé had covered her hit “Jolene.”
“Well, I think she has! I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that,” Parton said.
The queen of country music has great admiration for Queen Bey.
“I love her!” Parton said about Beyoncé. “She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
“Act II: Cowboy Carter” is set to arrive March 29.
Beyonce always surprises people, and on Tuesday, she surprised them again. Her next album is called “Act II: Cowboy Carter. ”
The name of the album was announced on Beyoncé’s website, along with information about some special CD, vinyl, and box set versions.
Beyoncé said she’s releasing a new album soon while she was in a Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl. She posted a mysterious video on Instagram with country symbols, hinting that “act ii” will be out in March. Beyonce’s new album “Renaissance” is often called “Act I: Renaissance. ”
Not long after, she put out two new country songs called “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages. ” These songs made Beyonce the first Black woman to be at the top of Billboard’s country music chart.
This news story is still being updated. Come back later for more information.
The reigning queen of R&B and pop, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, known popularly as Beyonce, surprised her fans with her latest musical venture into country, as her track “Texas Hold ‘Em” became the first by a black woman to debut at the number one spot on the Billboard country chart.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Asian Network, Dr. Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé’s father, reveals the roots of this unexpected shift.
He shared that as a young child, Beyoncé spent summers in Alabama with her grandparents, who had a deep love for country music.
Dr. Knowles believed these early experiences planted the seeds for her current foray into the country genre.
Managing Beyoncé until 2011, Dr. Knowles expressed his belief that Beyoncé’s childhood memories might have played a significant role in this musical evolution.
“When Beyoncé was a little baby, and I’m talking two-three years old, she would go down and spend the summer with my parents,” Dr Knowles says.
“And her grandfather – my father – loved country music, and he used to sing to her. At an early age, she heard this music.
“And when you’re two, three years old, subconsciously music stays in your head,” Dr. Matthew Knowles stated.
He sees an opportunity for the global icon to introduce a “totally new audience” to the country music scene.
Beyoncé’s recently announced album, the second part of her Renaissance project, features the track “16 Carriages,” which swiftly secured the ninth spot on the Billboard country charts.
The anticipation is high for the full album, set to release next month, marking Beyoncé’s first complete venture into country music.
While some may find this surprising, Dr. Knowles points out that Beyoncé has dabbled in the country genre before, citing the song “Daddy Lessons” from her 2016 album “Lemonade.”
Despite its country sound, the Recording Academy rejected its submission for the country category at the Grammys.
Addressing criticisms of representation in the country music genre, Dr. Knowles believed Beyoncé’s bold move could spark positive change and attract a diverse fan base.
He encouraged the industry to view this as an opportunity to embrace new audiences rather than a challenge.
“The country music industry should really look at that as a plus not a minus, that she’s bringing a completely new audience.”
Dr. Knowles, also a businessman and lecturer, expressed his optimism about the music industry’s progress in diversity.
To further support emerging talents, he has launched a scholarship at the London College of Contemporary Music in his name.
The inaugural recipient, Polish composer and singer Anna Prasek (anMari), praised the scholarship for inspiring her to push boundaries and explore new creative avenues.
In conclusion, Dr. Knowles emphasized the importance of uniqueness in the world of music, encouraging aspiring artists to be disciplined, patient, passionate, and hardworking, echoing the advice he gave his own daughters, Beyoncé and Solange.
Amidst a surprise twist, choreographer Sarah Francis Jones refused to let an unplanned labor hinder her enjoyment of Beyoncé’s Los Angeles concert. Her spouse, actor Marcel Spears, captured this unforgettable instance. Dressed in a silver outfit and headband, Jones danced to the music until labor pains forced her to sit. Several hours later, she welcomed a healthy baby daughter.
To share this remarkable experience with their followers, her husband posted footage of Jones giving birth in the delivery room. He later introduced their newborn daughter, Nola. Jones joined the fun by sharing another video capturing this emotional moment, cheekily noting in the caption, “Turns out we were having a whole baby at @Beyoncé bday show.”
The delighted parents shared with local news outlets that their unexpected journey began shortly after a lively segment of Beyoncé’s concert known as the “mute challenge.” This challenge unfolded during the singer’s rendition of the song “Energy” from the Renaissance album. During this challenge, the audience was instructed to fall silent after the lyrics, “Look around everybody on mute,” as reported by the New York Post.
Jones, who wasn’t due for another week, initially dismissed her contractions as possibly Braxton Hicks contractions. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that something significant was happening. She recounted, “Usually, I love to dance at concerts, but I thought, ‘I think I need to take a seat for a moment.’”
Upon leaving the concert venue at its conclusion, they came to the realization that it was not a false alarm, and Jones was indeed going into labor. Spears pointed out that the most intense contractions occurred during Beyoncé’s song “Virgo’s Groove” from the Renaissance album. They promptly headed to the hospital, where Jones gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
The couple is currently in search of a middle name for their baby Nora and wouldn’t mind selecting something with a Beyoncé-inspired flair. Jones isn’t the only concert attendee who has recently experienced going into labor during a live performance. In July, 28-year-old Taylor Swift fan Tori Hedges also went into labor during the singer’s Eras tour in Ohio.
Today marks the birthday of American singer, songwriter, and businesswoman Beyoncé, also known as Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, or Queen Bey, as she turns 42!
In honor of this special occasion, let’s take a retrospective glance at the iconic performer’s most memorable live moments.
Whether you remember her from her time with Destiny’s Child or her record-breaking solo journey, there’s no denying that this singer-songwriter is a true legend.
That’s precisely why every one of her live performances generates immense anticipation and draws large crowds.
Her current Renaissance Tour is evidence of that.
Let’s look back at her top 10 best live moments throughout the years, ranked by Grazia:
2018 Coachella
In April 2018, Beyoncé headlined the Coachella Music Festival for two weekends, drawing an audience of 125,000 festival-goers. Her performance became the most-watched and talked-about in history. It featured a live band, over 100 dancers, and a reunion with Destiny’s Child.
Here are some other memorable live performances from Beyoncé:
2011 Billboard Awards: Beyoncé received Billboard’s Millennium Award and debuted her performance of “Run the World (Girls).”
2008 American Music Awards: She rocked a leotard while performing “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”
2006 BET Awards: Beyoncé and Jay-Z shared the stage, captivating the audience with their chemistry.
2011 MTV Video Music Awards: Her performance of “Love On Top” included a surprise pregnancy reveal.
2009 Inauguration: Beyoncé serenaded the Obamas with a rendition of Etta James’ “At Last.”
2016 Super Bowl: A day after releasing “Formation,” Beyoncé delivered a stunning halftime performance, joining Coldplay for a dance-off.
2009 Grammy Awards: She performed “If I Were a Boy” and “You Oughta Know” backed by an all-female band.
2014 MTV Video Music Awards: Beyoncé took over the show with a 16-minute medley from her self-titled ’13 album after receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
2004 Grammy Awards: She joined Prince for a memorable Grammy opener featuring “Purple Rain,” “Baby I’m a Star,” “Crazy in Love,” and “Let’s Go Crazy.”
Beyoncé’s live performances are legendary and have left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z already have three children: Blue Ivy, who is 11 years old, and the twins Rumi and Sir, who are six years old. However, there are reports and speculations suggesting that they might be expecting another child, although this information has not been officially confirmed by the couple themselves.
As per a report from MediaTakeout, an insider close to the singer has disclosed that Beyoncé is pregnant.
The source shared that during her ongoing Renaissance tour, Beyoncé has refrained from consuming alcohol, which has caught the attention of those around her. Unlike her usual routine of having a glass of wine or champagne after performances, she has opted to abstain from alcohol on this tour, the source claims.
“Beyonce has not been drinking this entire [Renaissance] tour.” the source said.
“Usually she has a glass of wine or champagne after she completes her set, but that didn’t happen here.”
Evidently, in a manner reminiscent of her previous pregnancy, Rihanna embarked on a tour as well. The insider suggests that the atmosphere within Beyoncé’s circle is mirroring this similarity.
Adding more credence to the news, a recent video clip capturing Beyoncé’s performance seems to reveal a noticeable baby bump.
Should the reports hold true, this would mark the fourth child for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, following their previous children: Blue Ivy and the twins, Rumi and Sir.
Seemingly, congratulations are certainly in order!
Beyoncé is honoring the memory of O’Shae Sibley, who tragically lost his life while voguing to her music over the weekend.
The singer paid a heartfelt tribute to the dancer on her official website, commemorating his passion for dance and the profound impact he had on the voguing community.
“Rest in power O’Shae Sibley,” it reads in white text on a black background.
On Saturday night, the 28-year-old dancer was killed while he and his friends were filling up at a Brooklyn gas station. One of his friends, Otis Pena, filmed the night out for a Facebook Live post.
“They were dancing,” neighbor Beckenbaur Hamilton told CBS News. “They were filling up on gas, but they were voguing.”
Per CBS News, surveillance video shows the victim involved in a dispute with a group of people outside the Midwood gas station on Saturday night. Witnesses said they were voguing to Renaissance — Beyoncé’s seventh studio album celebrating Black queerness and the ballroom scene where voguing originated — when a man walked up to them and allegedly made homophobic comments. Police said the two groups of people argued, and that’s when one man allegedly stabbed Sibley. One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he tried to break up the argument.
The New York City Police Department said Sibley was stabbed after that argument and is investigating his death as a possible hate crime.
Sibley had moved from Philadelphia to New York to further his dancing career. Neighbors and friends told the outlet that Sibley often danced in public.
“Homophobia and words can lead to ideologies and thoughts,” friend Kemar Jewel told CBS NewsPhiladelphia said, “and those thoughts can lead into actions. And those are the type of actions that took O’Shae away from this world.”
On Tuesday, GLAAD released a statement regarding Sibley’s death, calling attention to other issues plaguing the LGBTQ community. While calling Sibney’s death part of a “disturbing rise in violence and harassment,” the organization added that “this cannot continue.”
“No one should have to fear for their safety just for being themselves,” GLAAD continued. “Politicians spewing lies and proposing policies filled with disinformation, and media repeating their false and dangerous rhetoric unchallenged, are creating an incredibly hostile environment that endangers all LGBTQ people and all queer people of color.”
Mother of American singer Beyonce,Tina Knowles-Lawson has filed for divorce from Richard Lawson, citing irreconcilable differences, as per court documents obtained by PEOPLE. The filing indicates their date of separation as Tuesday, and she has requested to terminate the court’s ability to award spousal support to either party. Additionally, she seeks to have her name restored to Celestine Knowles. At the time of the report, there was no immediate response from a representative for Knowles-Lawson regarding the matter.
The former couple shared eight years of marriage after exchanging vows onboard a yacht in Newport Beach, California, on April 12, 2015. It marked the second marriage for both Knowles and Lawson, who began dating in 2013.
Knowles-Lawson split from her previous husband, Beyonce, and Solange Knowles’ father and former manager Mathew Knowles, in 2009 after more than three decades together.
They finalized their divorce in 2011.
The mom of two showcased their wedding day in an Instagram post on their third wedding anniversary by sharing a photo from the special occasion and writing: “Cannot believe it has been 3 years since we did the damn thing !!!! Walking on air ❤❤ I love you with my whole being and you feed my soul❤❤Happy Anniversary Baby❤❤.”
Her last Instagram post with Lawson came in March by sharing a photo from a Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
She wrote in the caption, “Never been one to waste some good light!!! so we had to sneak a picture at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party last night with my boo. @mrrichardlawson. Thanks for my Makeup @rokaelbeauty Hair @kimblehaircare styling kj@ooody and @shionat. Diamonds @lorraineschwartz. @alexandermcqueen suit.”
The fashion designer spoke about their relationship during an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show last April.
“I’ve known Richard for 40 years, and when we reconnected, it was, just, I felt like, a gift from God,” she said. “I really mean that because I prayed. After I went through a divorce, it was pretty devastating after 33 years, and I always planned on, if it was in God’s plan, to get married again because I like being married. I like being in a relationship,”
ActressNadia Buarihas for the first time shared pictures of herself and husband.
The 40-year-old beauty has been married for a couple of years but no one seems to know who her husband really is, because she’s known to be quite secretive when it comes to her family and dating life.
The “Beyonce: The President’s Daughter” actress has four kids: twins born in 2015, the third born in 2017, and the last born in 2018.
Nadia Buari’s children often feature on her social media channels but their faces are usually hidden from her fans.
Finally, it looks like the actress is now ready to open the doors of her home for her inquisitive fans to have a sneak peek of her private life.
Nadia took to Instagram to share 3 slides ofphotos of her supposed husband goofing in a lovey-dovey way.
“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. Morning buttercakes!,” the caption of the post read.
It’s immediately not clear the occasion which called for this big husband reveal but it appears to be a special day for the couple.
Report indicates that Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has beaten American singer, Beyoncé to sell out his tickets for their tours in the Netherlands.
It was said that both singers booked a stadium tour in the Netherlands on the same night.
Some claim thatBurna Boy’s ticket sold out quickly because they are cheaper and affordable while Beyonce’s tickets are on the high side.
Reacting to the news, some social media users said;
mychukwuebuka: Imagination wan kee burna boy. Firstly Beyonce already sold out twice of that stadium and the third date is the one still on sale with twice the amount of Burna boy’s ticket. Burna boy being less expensive and I mean cheap enough for anybody over there to afford, he still did “buy one ticket and get one free”,can never be Beyonce. Y’all should calm down, they never born Burna boy well to dare get compared to the biggest living artiste. Y’all think this is Africa where you disregard female musicians..Burna has the rest of his life to keep trying to meet up with Beyonce, which isn’t happening.
t_2collins: Apart from price, Beyoncé needs to understand that people have outgrown her type of song. Afrobeat is the future and legacy
elovina_bespokeandaccessories: Beyoncé’s price is higher na. She had a show recently in America. Even her die hard fans were seriously complaining they couldn’t afford it. It was $1k that’s straight buy value o not resell.
thecreatives_woo: Well burna shoes would be €50 to €70/100. And Beyoncé won is like €2500 or higher .. which do you think would sell faster?
peaceememjonathan: Make una rest… see who una won compete with.. Biko we get bigger problem for dis country
hotice_offical:You think beyonce ticket is 100 euro Dey play go check her ticket is from standing 500 euros setting down 1000k euros from roll 3k 5k some country is 12k 15k dollars ooo
lawrix: Prices definitely different.. but burna is doing great
Earlier this month, Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance, won Best Dance/Electronic Music Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards. As the pop star took the stage to accept the award, cameras captured Diplo yelling a few words to a person seated next to him. Some internet lip readers believed the producer said something to the effect of, “They bought that.”
However, Diplo has denied throwing any shade at Beyoncé. The producer, who previously clarified that what he actually said was, “I’m glad to be part of this,” recently DM’d Instagram account Hollywood Unlocked to further explain why he was not dissing Bey.
“You know I didn’t say that lol,” Diplo said regarding the aforementioned rumor, before sharing an official statement that sheds light on his respect for Beyoncé.
“Beyoncé[’s] album was legendary (I’m a Beyoncé stan. Remember I produced some classic dance songs for her, like ’Til the End of Time’ and ‘Girls Run the World’),” he said in an official statement to Hollywood Unlocked. “What’s important to understand was that her intention was 100 percent.
“She did the work, found the real producers, and she made classics. So, she deserves her flowers, and when she won, I was just proud to see my nomination on the screen in the huge arena.”
Beyoncé surpassed the record for the most Grammy awards ever, which solidified her status as one of the greatest musicians of all time. According to the BBC, the pop diva has now surpassed Georg Solti’s record of 32 Grammy victories, which he had held for more than 20 years. The late conductor of classical music won 31 Grammy awards.
The 41-year-old pop star won four Grammys at this year’s event. But the highlight of the night came when she won the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album for her Renaissance album. That feat made her the artist with the most Grammy wins.
“Thank you so much. I’m trying not to be too emotional, and I’m trying to just receive this night. I wanna thank God for protecting me… thank you God. I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who’s not here, but he’s here in spirit. I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me,” the Crazy in Love singer said when she accepted the award.
“I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching. I’d like to thank the queer community for your love, and for inventing the genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys, thank you.”
Veteran actress Viola Davis also became an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner after she won her first Grammy for the best audiobook for her Finding Me autobiography. That feat made her the fourth Black person to earn the coveted status, NBC News reported. She adds up to 17 other people who have achieved EGOT status.
“It has just been such a journey,” Davis, 57, said when she accepted the award. “I just EGOT!” The actress also said she wrote the book “to honour the six-year-old Viola.” “To honour her life, her joy, her trauma, everything,” she added.
Four African artists – including fast-rising Nigerian singer Tems – also took home awards at the event. Tems, 27, won the Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her feature on Future’s Wait For U hit song. South African musicians, Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode, and Wouter Kellerman won the Grammy for Best Global Music Performance.
“Thank you so much to God because I once gave a song to the world that took the world by storm, but I didn’t get this award and he then said don’t worry my daughter, I will give you Bayethe,” Zikode, who was featured on the Jerusalema hit song, said. “Your support is amazing and thank you so much to my team.”
Lizzo edged over the likes of Beyoncé and Adele to win the Grammy for Record of the Year for her About Damn Time hit song. “We are good inherently,” she tearfully said when she accepted the award. “And anybody at home who feels misunderstood or on the outside looking in, like I did, just stay true to yourself.”
“I promise you, you will find people, you will attract people in your life who believe in you and support you.”
Beyoncé won a record-breaking 32nd Grammy Award, while Harry Styles won album of the year, at this year’s ceremony in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé made history as she won best dance/electronic album for her euphoric dance opus, Renaissance.
In doing so, she overtook Hungarian-British conductor George Solti, whose record of 31 Grammys had stood for more than 20 years.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” said the star, accepting her prize.
“I’m trying to just receive this night.”
She went on to thank her family, including her late uncle Jonny, who helped make her stage outfits before she became famous.
Beyoncé has previously said his battle with HIV influenced her interest in dance music, and its historical ties to the LGBTQ community, on Renaissance.
Overall, Beyoncé won four prizes at the ceremony – but missed some of the early presentations after getting stuck in gridlocked downtown Los Angeles.
“I’m surprised traffic could stop you,” joked host Trevor Noah. “I thought you travelled through space and time.”
Image caption, Beyoncé’s historic achievement was celebrated at her table – with Adele and Jay-Z among those toasting the singer
Despite her success, Beyoncé was once again locked out of the coveted album of the year award.
She has now lost the prize four times, most notably in 2017 when her confessional masterpiece Lemonade was beaten by Adele’s 25.
At the time, Adele used her acceptance speech to say Beyoncé was the more deserving winner (although she held on to the trophy).
This year, Harry Styles took the crown, with Grammy voters recognising the slick, radio-friendly pop of his third record Harry’s House.
In his speech, the British star downplayed the importance of the prize.
“On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music,” said the singer.
“I don’t think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what is going to get us one of these.”
Image caption, Harry Styles also gave an energetic performance of his hit single As It Was
However, he was visibly moved by the honour, adding: “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often, and this is so, so nice.”
Earlier in the night, the star also won best pop album – receiving his award with a kiss from Jennifer Lopez.
“This album from start to finish has been the greatest experience of my life,” he said. “From making it with two of my best friends to playing for people has been the greatest joy I could have asked for.”
British artists triumph
Billed as “music’s biggest night”, the Grammys are the industry’s most prestigious awards.
Sunday’s show was attended by Adele, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Shania Twain and Stevie Wonder, with performances from Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile.
British artists had a good night, with indie duo Wet Leg winning two prizes, including best alternative album; and Sam Smith receiving best pop duo/group performance for Unholy, a duet with Kim Petras.
Smith’s prize was their first Grammy since 2015, when they won four trophies, including best new artist.
However, the singer let Petras take the microphone to mark another historical achievement.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” said the German-born singer.
Image caption, Sam Smith and Kim Petras shared their award
She went on to thank the late, transgender pop artist Sophie for “kicking these doors open”, and Madonna “for fighting for LGBTQ rights”, before dedicating the award to her mother.
“I grew up next to nowhere in Germany and my mother believed me, that I was a girl,” she said, as Smith looked on with pride. “I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
The duo later gave a sultry, BDSM-inspired performance of their ode to infidelity, introduced by Madonna.
“If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative, or dangerous you’re definitely onto something,” said the star.
Tributes and memories
Adele also won best pop vocal performance for Easy On Me, dedicating the prize to her son Angelo.
The singer told the audience she had written the first verse “in the shower when I was choosing to change my son’s life”, by divorcing her then-husband, Simon Konecki.
She added: “I love a piano ballad winning any kind of award because it’s very old school and very brave.”
Image caption, Adele has now won 16 Grammys across her career
Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt was the surprise winner of song of the year – beating favourites Taylor Swift and Beyoncé with her sorrowful ballad Just Like That.
Voters were undoubtedly moved by Raitt’s tender lyrics, in which a woman mourning the death of her son finds comfort from the man who received his heart in a transplant.
“I’m so proud that you appreciate this one,” said the 72-year-old, accepting her trophy.
Image caption, Bad Bunny’s performance brought a carnival atmosphere to Los Angeles
Bad Bunny opened the show in an explosion of colour, replicating a Puerto Rican fiesta in the aisles of Los Angeles’ Crypto.com arena.
His medley of El Apagón and Después De La Playa was enhanced with pyrotechnics, dozens of dancers and a troop of cabezudos, the “bighead” puppets that march down the streets of San Juan every January.
He later won the prize for best Música Urbana album, in recognition of Un Verano Sin Ti, which spent 13 weeks at number one in the US last year.
“I made this album with love and passion, and when you do things with love and passion, everything is easier,” said the singer.
Other performances came from Americana star Brandi Carlile and Lizzo, who gave a gospel-infused take on her current single, Special.
She later won record of the year for About Damn Time, and used her speech to honour Prince, who gave her an early break on his song Boytrouble.
“When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music.” She also paid tribute to Beyoncé, calling her “the artist of our lives”.
Image caption, Public Enemy were among the acts marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop
The in memoriam section gave an emotional send-off to stars like Olivia Newton-John, Irene Cara, David Crosby and Jeff Beck.
Kacey Musgraves played a heartfelt version of Coal Miner’s Daughter in tribute to the “Queen of Country” Loretta Lynn; while Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie was honoured with a performance of her signature hit, Songbird, by Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood.
And Migos rapper Quavo played Without You – a song he wrote after the tragic death of his nephew and bandmate Takeoff last November.
In a more celebratory moment, the stage was taken over by more than two dozen rap icons, celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.
Turntable pioneer Grandmaster Flash kicked off the set with Flash Was On The Beat, cueing up an almost 12-minute trawl through the genre’s greatest hits.
Run-DMC played Rock The Bells, Public Enemy delivered a verse of Yo, Bum Rush The Show, Missy Elliot swept in for Lose Control and Busta Rhymes gave a show-stopping performance of his high-velocity rap from Chris Brown’s Look At Me Now.
Beyoncé has officially become the artist with the most Grammys in her cabinet.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony took place on February 5 in Los Angeles and Queen Bey collected almost all the wins she deserved. Even though she lost Album of the Year to Harry Styles, the talented artist still broke a massive record.
According to Grammy.com, Bey has now surpassed the late British musician Georg Solti, who previously held the record of being the most awarded artist, at the lush ceremony.
Check out one of Beyoncé’s emotional speeches below:
BeyHive is over the moon about Beyoncé’s new Grammy record
Calming the BeyHive that has been at war with Harry Style’s fandom after Beyoncé lost Album of the Year to the former One Direction member, @PopBase shared the amazing record on Twitter.
The loyal stans rushed to the comments to rave about how the Lemonade hitmaker is the greatest artist in the universe.
@GeauxGabrielle said:
“Shoutout to all of us who got to see her career from start to present.”
@BTSOriented shared:
“Everybody should also acknowledge that she’s probably the most robbed artist in that ceremony’s history. Nobody deserves this more than her. She’s been pushing boundaries and releasing groundbreaking projects. Respect.”
@IntrovertedKeni posted:
“It’s what she deserves!”
@stallibabie wrote:
“I’m so proud of her.”
@Dejahive reacted:
“Beyoncé is the greatest female artist in history. She will go down in history as the standard. She is the standard of this generation. Nobody will ever match her level.”
@imvanillesque also said:
“We’re so blessed to be living in the same generation with her.”
@MasonBay5 also shared:
“Now give her album of the year.”
@warholkiller replied:
“She did it again. Constantly raising the bar for us. A queen indeed. ✨⚡”
@ijustgoslower commented:
“Artist of the universe! Congratulations to Beyoncé for being iconic and humble! So well deserved!”
Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Adele are all likely winners at this year’s ceremony
Will Adele continue her winning streak? Will Abba win their first Grammy? Will Beyoncé be snubbed again?
All these questions be answered when the 65th Grammy Awards take place in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Beyoncé leads the nominations, with nine in total, followed by Kendrick Lamar with eight, and Adele and Brandi Carlile, who have seven each.
Comedian Trevor Noah hosts the ceremony for the third year running, starting at 20:00 in LA (01:00 GMT).
This year, there are a staggering 91 categories, from best new age, ambient or chant album – shout out to Cheryl B. Engelhardt – to the night’s biggest prize, album of the year.
There’ll also be performances from some of music’s biggest names, and bittersweet tributes to the stars we’ve lost.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the event.
1) How to watch the Grammys
Image caption, Trevor Noah returns as host for the third time
First of all, stock up on snacks.
The first awards are handed out in what’s called the “premiere ceremony” at 20:30 GMT on Sunday (12:30 in Los Angeles). Proceedings then continue for eight mind-numbing hours, until the album of the year trophy is finally presented around 04:30 GMT.
The main show, which starts at 01:00 GMT, will be broadcast live in America on CBS, with streams on Paramount Plus and the website live.grammy.com.
Paramount Plus is available over here, but has yet to confirm whether the Grammys will be streamed as part of its package.
However, live.grammy.com should be available to UK viewers; and red carpet coverage will be streamed on EW’s YouTube channel. from 23:30GMT.
2) Beyoncé could become the winningest winner of all time
Image caption, The singer recently announced her first solo world tour in seven years
Beyoncé is already the most-awarded woman in the history of the Grammys, with 28 victories. This year, she received another nine nominations, tying her with her husband Jay-Z for the most nods collected by any artist, with 88.
On the night, she needs just four wins to beat the record for the most overall wins, a position currently held by the conductor Georg Solti, who died in 1997.
Her meticulously-researched homage to black and queer dance music, Renaissance, is a front-runner for album of the year, but fans know not to get their hopes up.
Despite her impressive haul of trophies, all but one of Beyoncé’s previous awards have come in genre categories like R&B and soul – feeding a perception that the Grammys fails to recognise Black artists with its top awards.
That could change this year, after almost 2,000 new members joined the voting organisation, 44% of whom come “from traditionally underrepresented communities,” according to the Recording Academy.
3) DJ Khaled, who doesn’t rap, is nominated for best rap album
Image caption, The producer and music mogul previously won a Grammy in 2020 for best rap/sung performance, for Higher (feat. John Legend & Nipsey Hussle)
DJ Khaled is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop.
A former radio DJ, he’s become a sort of musical Nick Fury, assembling an all-star cast of super-powered beatmakers and rappers to collaborate on songs that are, ultimately, released under his name.
The extent of his input is unclear – but he does pop up on most of his hits, shouting “we the best” or “another one” through a megaphone, while acts like Drake, Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion do the heavy lifting.
He explained his creative philosophy in an interview in The Fader in 2013: “If you can’t find it, you gotta go make it. If you can’t make it, you gotta go find it.”
That hustle has earned him four number one albums in the US, the latest of which, God Did, is up for best rap album.
4) Lizzo and Harry Styles are set to perform
Image caption, Lizzo joined Harry Styles on stage when he headlined Coachella in 2022
The Grammys always keep a few surprises up their sleeves, but these are the artists currently scheduled to perform on Sunday.
Bad Bunny
Brandi Carlile
Harry Styles
Lizzo
Luke Combs
Mary J Blige
Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Steve Lacy
5) Taylor Swift’s Midnights isn’t nominated
Image caption, Taylor Swift is one of the only people to win Album Of The Year three times
Taylor Swift is one of only three artists to win album of the year three times; but her latest record, Midnights, came out too late to be eligible for this year’s ceremony.
However, Swift still managed to pick up four nominations, including song of the year for the expanded, re-recorded version of All Too Well.
She’s never won that prize before, despite six nominations. Could this be her year?
6) The in memoriam section will be especially moving
Image caption, Takeoff (left) will be honoured by his bandmate and uncle, Quavo
From Coolio to Olivia Newton-John, we’ve said goodbye to an upsetting number of musicians in the last 12 months, and the Grammys will mark the loss with an emotionally-charged in memoriam section.
British songwriter Christine McVie will be honoured by Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and her bandmate Mick Fleetwood, with a rendition of her classic ballad, Songbird.
And Migos rapper Quavo will join the Maverick City Music choir to “remember the life and legacy” of his nephew, Takeoff, who was shot and killed in October at the age of 28.
7) It could be a big night for Latin music
Image caption, Bad Bunny has been the most-streamed artist in the world for three consecutive years
After spending 13 weeks at the top of the US Billboard charts last summer, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti has become the first Spanish-language record to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammys.
It’s an achievement that caps his almost mythological rise from a grocery bagger in the small Puerto Rican town of Vega Baja to a global superstar, and a torchbearer for Latin pop and música urbana.
Clocking in at 23 tracks, Un Verano Sin Ti is a record of two halves, split evenly between sun-kissed party anthems and more experimental, political tracks that explore gender violence and the gentrification of Puerto Rico.
He’s not the only Latin artist to bask in the Grammy spotlight, with Brazilian singer Anitta considered a front-runner for best newcomer.
Confusingly, her nomination comes almost a decade into her career, but recognises the crossover success of her latest album, Versions of Me, which became the first Brazilian pop album to hit one billion streams on Spotify.
Her competition comes from breakout rap star Latto, British indie duo Wet Leg and Italian Eurovision winners Måneskin. It is a truly odd category this year.
8) Grammy voters have discovered TikTok
Image caption, Rosalía, Lizzo and Gayle all harnessed TikTok as an engine for their hits
While some US politicians are calling for TikTok to be banned, the app’s outsize influence on the music industry has been recognised by the Grammys.
Spanish star Rosalía gets a nomination for best music film for a one-off concert that aired on TikTok; and four of the artists up for song of the year scored hits from viral TikTok videos.
One of the more surprising ones is Gayle’s ABCDEFU, if only for its origin story.
The star was challenged on TikTok to compose a break-up song using the alphabet, and replied with an early version of ABCDEFU. After it started trending on the app, a finished version was recorded and became a global smash.
But it was later discovered that the “fan” was in fact an employee of her record label, leading to accusations of hype and marketing.
But when hasn’t the music industry been about hype and marketing? ABCDEFU is still a fun, if slight, pop anthem. Whether it deserves a Grammy nomination is another question.
9) Hip-hop’s golden anniversary will be celebrated
Image caption, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella will be among the rap royalty taking to the stage
The Grammys stage is going to groan under the weight of three dozen rap legends (and their gold chains) when the ceremony celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Introduced by LL Cool J, with music by The Roots, the performance will include appearances by Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Outkast’s Big Boi… amongst others.
The anniversary itself falls in August – recognising the date in 1973 that 18-year-old Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc threw a back to school party at his apartment in New York.
There, he pioneered the technique of playing two copies of the same song at once, alternating between turntables to extend the instrumental portions of funk and soul records, that became the foundation stone of hip-hop.
10) Ozzy Osbourne could win his first Grammy since 1994
Image caption, The rocker recently announced his retirement from touring
The last (and only) time Ozzy Osbourne won a Grammy, it was for a track from Live & Loud, his supposed farewell album, in 1994.
28 short years later, he’s got four nominations, all in recognition of his latest album, Patient No. 9, which features contributions from Eric Clapton, Metallica and the late Jeff Beck.
The star says he’ll be “floored” if he wins… and that he hasn’t prepared a speech.
“I always end up saying it twice or blowing it or whatever,” he told Billboard. “I’m sure my wife will have it worked out. Behind me is my wife. My wife pulls my strings.”
11) Who’ll scoop the big four prizes?
Image caption, Adele has had an incredible track record at the Grammys – but can she extend it?
The “big four” are the Grammys’ most prestigious and hotly-contested awards. Here’s a look at the line-up.
Abba – Voyage
Adele – 30
Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Beyoncé – Renaissance
Mary J Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Lizzo – Special
Coldplay – Music of the Spheres
Kendrick Lamar – Mr Morale & The Big Steppers
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
The headline here is the repeat of 2017’s best album race, in which Adele’s 25 controversially beat Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Beyoncé is considered the front-runner this time, but Adele has an unbeatable track record, winning all of the 13 Grammys she’s been nominated for since 2012.
The dark horse is Brandi Carlile, a musician’s musician who helped bring Joni Mitchell back to the stage last year. The rootsy Americana of her seventh studio album, In These Silent Days, is guaranteed to appeal to the Academy’s musically conservative voter base.
Gayle – ABCDEFU
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10-minute version)
Harry Styles – As It Was
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Adele – Easy On Me
DJ Khaled – God Did
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Harry Styles’ As It Was should be the front-runner here. It spent 15 weeks at number one in the US, and cemented the British singer as one of his generation’s standout talents, but its ubiquity could play against it.
Adele’s Easy On Me is a relatively safe choice, sharing about 80% of its DNA with her previous song of the year winner, Hello. But it would be glorious to see Taylor Swift, the most consequential writer of her generation, finally win this songwriting prize, after five previous attempts.
Abba – Don’t Shut Me Down
Adele – Easy On Me
Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Mary J Blige – Good Morning
Brandi Carlile ft Lucius – You And Me On The Rock
Doja Cat – Woman
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Harry Styles – As It Was
While the song of the year award recognises the composition of a song, record of the year looks at the finished product – ie the actual sound recording.
No-one has won the category more times than Bruno Mars, suggesting voters feel more comfortable with recognisable, throwback sounds than innovative experimentation. That gives Lizzo’s About Damn Time and Harry Styles’ As It Was a slight edge over Beyoncé’s Break My Soul. But this one is too close to call.
Anitta
Omar Apollo
Domi and JD Beck
Muni Long
Samara Joy
Latto
Maneskin
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg
Without a big, breakout star to dominate, this category is an open field. Voters typically opt for mainstream acts like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, which would rule out some of the more esoteric nominees, like jazz duo Domi and JD Beck, or folk singer Molly Tuttle.
Italian Eurovision winners Maneskin have been pretty inescapable on US radio over the last year, giving them a decent edge; but Latto, whose charismatic rap anthem Big Energy, was a Top 3 hit, is the one to beat.
Beyoncehas finally confirmed her 2023 world tour dubbed “The Renaissance World Tour” according to Rollingstone.com, Ghana is said to be a possible destination.
The singer announced the world tour on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, on Instagram after several weeks of speculations from Beyonce fans, thus, Behives about her world tour.
Beyonce world tour is basically in support of Renaissance, an Album she released. The Album made her 7th studio Album.
Rollingstone.com said the Rennaisance tour by Bey is scheduled to make stops in stadiums across the world and seeks to kick start soon.
The tour is reported to commence in May in Europe before going to North America on July 8 with back-to-back Nights at Toronto Rogers center with Philadelphia, Nashville, Chicago, and other possible stops.
The Renaissance tour comes after Beyonce recently performed in Dubai going on a hiatus for a while. Beyonce’s illustrious performance in Dubai took place at the AtlantisThe Royal where she was reportedly paid $24 million for an hour performance.
The show in Dubai was supposed to be a private one, but fans made their way with clips from the top-notch performance by Beyonce
The Renaissance tour by Beyonce marks a reflective journey after her “The On The Run” tour in 2018. The tour took stops across North America and Europe.
According to reports from Metro.co.uk, Beyonce Rennaisance Tour in 2023 could make a stop in Ghana. Per the reports, Beyonce has said she hopes to make Ghana a possible destination for the tour.
This could be good news for the Behives in Africa because the last time Beyonce performed in Africa was in 2018 South Africa at the Global Citizen Festival where her husband Jay Z joined her on stage. Beyonce also had Shatta Wale, the reggae Dancehall single on her Album, “The Gift” which featured a host of African stars.
Ghana has been an attractive place for most entertainers in recent times with Meek Mill performing at the Afronation in December.
Beyonce fans in Africa may not miss out on the Renaissance world tour entirely, as it’s claimed she’s in talks to bring the anticipated show to Ghana.
The music world is reeling in excitement after it was announced that the Break My Soul singer will finally perform her Renaissance album live this summer with dates confirmed for Europe and North America.
It comes more than a week after Beyonce, 41, performed an exclusive show in Dubai but left fans lingering as she didn’t perform any new tracks from the dance-infused album.
So far, the Renaissance tour will include cities such as London, Cardiff, Stockholm, Toronto, Las Vegas, Miami and Houston.
But what about Africa?
It’s long-been a sticking point for Beyonce’s fans across the continent that she rarely tours there, with her tour legs typically consisting of the Americas, Europe and Oceania.
There was renewed hope that the Brown Skin Girl singer would travel to the motherland when she released 2019’s The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, which drew inspiration from Africa and featured a host of Afrobeats and dancehall artists.
Although to note, she did perform in South Africa in 2018 at the Global Citizen Festival where she was joined by husband Jay Z on-stage.
Well, it could finally be Africa’s time as a source has told Metro.co.uk that Beyonce is exploring whether it would be possible for her to bring Renaissance to the continent, specifically Ghana.
‘These dates only form part of the experience and there are talks to see if a more family friendly version of her show can be taken to Ghana,’ the insider said, explaining that the shows in Europe and North America will feature ‘mildly explicit’ content in light of some of the lyrics on the Renaissance album.
They continued: ‘Live Nation is eager for all of its acts to perform in new markets and would like Bey to spearhead it if they can find the right venue and partners on the ground. She is working closely with Ay Hollywood on choreography and has spent the last year producing the live arrangements for the show.’
Ay Hollywood has worked on choreography with Beyonce in the past, as well as a slew of other A-list talent such as Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion and Ciara, so expect the tour to be nothing short of epic.
The source added: ‘Live Nation is especially happy because it projects that she’ll earn north of $500million (£406million).’
If Beyonce does head over to Ghana later this year, she’ll likely be in good company as she collaborated with Ghanaian artist Shatta Wale on the popular track Already from The Lion King album.
Beyonce Knowles delivered a historic performance at the grand reveal of Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal on Saturday, and the musician is set to take home $24 million for her performance at the grand launch of the luxury hotel.
The performance marked her first full-length show in five years, and Beyonce wowed crowds with an hour-long set that included a mix of hits from her extensive music catalog, as well as a surprise guest performance by her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, 11.
The launch of the luxury hotel, Atlantis The Royal, is set to meet the growing demand for luxurious vacations by ultra-wealthy individuals as Dubai cashes in on an influx of newcomers to the city, including Russians looking to protect their wealth, Israeli investors, crypto millionaires, and executives.
The resort, spanning 63 hectares and housing 795 rooms and suites, has been anticipated for years, and guests will have to pay an average of $1,000 a night to stay in one of its rooms.
The luxury hotel also has more than 100 exclusive suites, with the top suite going for $100,000 a night.
Beyonce, who ranks as one of the wealthiest black women in the world with a net worth of $450 million, according to Forbes, derives the majority of her wealth from multiple clothing lines, including her activewear line, Ivy Park, which has a partnership with Adidas.
The musician has sold more than 75 million records as a solo artist and over 60 million with her band Destiny’s Child.
In November 2022, Beyoncé received nine new Grammy nominations, bringing her lifetime total to 88 and tying the record for the most nominations in Grammy history.
This is a testament to her enduring popularity and talent, which was on full display at the Atlantis The Royal launch.
Sarkodie has been featured on a new rendition of legendary late reggae artiste, Bob Marley and the Wailers band’s classic, “Stir it Up”, originally released in 1973.
‘Stir It Up’, is a love song the late Jamaican musician wrote for his beloved wife Rita Marley, a year after their marriage.
Prior to the release of its latest rendition, Sarkodie who gave a hint about being a part of it disclosed that the project is the biggest highlight in his music journey.
The last time a Ghanaian artiste chalked such an enviable feat in the music industry was when “Ayoo” hitmaker Charles Nii Armah Mensah better known as Shatta Wale got featured on ‘Already’, a song on Beyoncé’s ‘Lion King: The Gift’ album, released in 2019 and produced by Guilty Beatz.
The “Stir it Up” song which was released on Friday, January 20, and was re-produced by popular producer, John Kwesi Dosunmu-Mensah better known as M.O.G Beatz has muddled a lot of controversy within the showbiz fraternity.
The question that many are asking is: Which of these collaborations is the biggest achievement in the Ghanaian music industry?
One can recall that the CEO of the most prestigious music awards scheme in the World, ‘The Grammys’; Harvey Mason Jr. in an exclusive dinner meeting with Ghanaian artists during his visit to the country gave the artists the inside scope of how one can win an award.
According to him, to win a Grammy, one needs to live in the United States of America and be a part of the GRAMMY Academy.
Another significant point he raised was that winning the most prestigious music award is not about the number of streams, getting a record label, or sales but the quality of the song – the song must be well-produced.
From a Grammy’s perspective, Shatta Wale’s feature with Beyonce is the biggest achievement. Beyonce is more decorated than Bob Marley.
Though Robert Nesta Marley a.k.a Bob Marley was considered one of the pioneers of reggae, and his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style, he never received a nomination during his life.
The Recording Academy failed to recognize his talents. He did, however, receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 after his demise in 1981.
The late Jamaican singer was also nominated in 2001 and 2002 for Best Music Film and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals posthumously, but he did not win in those categories.
With a total of 28 awards and 79 nominations from the Grammy Awards for her music (including her work in Destiny’s Child and The Carters), Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter better known as Beyonce’ is the most nominated woman and the most awarded singer in Grammy history.
She is known for her boundary-pushing artistry and her vocal prowess. Her success has made her a cultural icon and earned her the nickname “Queen Bey”.
Until a Ghanaian artiste features a musician who is more decorated than the American songstress, her collaboration with Shatta Wale would continue to be the biggest achievement in the Ghanaian music industry.
For now, Sarkodie can only be congratulated for being the Ghanaian artiste who was chosen to feature on the remixed version of the late Bob Marley & The Wailers’ iconic “Stir it up’ song.
“I still can’t believe she knows who I am,” the Duchess of Sussex said after Beyoncé surprised her with a text.
Beyoncé was there for Meghan Markle.
In volume two of Harry & Meghan, which hit Netflix Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex, 41, was touched when the music superstar, 41, reached out to her the day after her and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in March 2021.
In episode six, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex worked side by side in their sunny homeoffice in Montecito, California, when Meghan said, “Beyoncé just texted” as Prince Harry, 38, theatrically gasped.
“Just checking in,” Meghan said with a smile of the message. “I still can’t believe she knows who I am!”
“Go and call her,” Harry suggested. “No, it’s okay,” his wife replied. “She said she wants me to feel safe and protected. She admires and respects my bravery and vulnerability and thinks I was selected to break generational curses that need to be healed.”
NETFLIX
“That’s well said,” Prince Harry replied, as the camera panned away.
During the wide-ranging conversation with Oprah, which aired on CBS, the California couple talked about losing police protection, escalating strain with the rest of the royal family, and the sex of their baby on the way (daughter Lilibet would be born that June). In perhaps the most shocking moments of the interview, Meghan revealed that she experienced suicidal thoughts and that within the royal family, there were “concerns and conversations about how dark [their child’s] skin might be when he’s born.”
Almost immediately after Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special aired, the 28-time Grammy winner posted a tribute to the Duchess of Sussex on her website.
NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP/GETTY
“Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership,” Beyoncé wrote alongside a photo of the pair at the U.K. premiere for The Lion King almost two years before. “We are all strengthened and inspired by you.”
Meghan and Beyoncé seemed to hit it off when they met in July 2019 at the London movie premiere for the live-action revamp of The Lion King, in which the “Single Ladies” singer voiced Nala. “My princess,” Beyoncé was spotted saying, as she leaned in for a hug with Meghan.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Beyonce. NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP/GETTY
Observers said that there was a “familiarity” between the two women, so much that many had a hard time believing this was their first time meeting. Their husbands Prince Harry and JAY-Z soon joined the conversation, where the talk quickly turned to their children.
“The best advice I can give you, always find some time for yourself,” JAY-Z, 53, told the Sussexes, who had recently welcomed son Archie Harrison, now 3 ½.
Volumes one and two Harry & Meghan are now streaming on Netflix.
Jay-Z would indeed make for a solid NFL team owner, Tina Knowles says.
As TMZ shared over the weekend, a paparazzo briefly caught up with Beyoncé’s mother about the possibility, notably citing reports from earlier this month about Jay and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos allegedly being interested in buying the Washington Commanders.
When asked about her son-in-law and daughter potentially being “in the conversation” to buy a team, more specifically the Commanders, Knowles provided a broad answer about her confidence in their respective choices.
“I have no doubt that anything they put their minds to do, they can do it well,” Knowles said, as seen in the video below. “I don’t know anything about it though.”
Asked to elaborate further, Knowles understandably declined, offering a quick “that’s enough” to the paparazzo.
It’s a brief response, expectedly, but again revives the topic of Jay’s name indeed being mentioned in recent reports about the future of the Commanders. For example, the Washington Post reported earlier this month that Bezos could be recruiting Jay-Z as an investor in a potential bid for the Commanders.
Also this month, Dan and Tanya Snyder were confirmed to have started the process of an eventual sale, namely by hiring Bank of America Securities. Per a team rep’s comments to the Associated Press at the time, “all options” were being considered.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z is currently up for five more possible Grammys, with the DJ Khaled collab “God Did” having scored nominations in multiple categories at the 65th edition of the annual awards show. For a full list of the 2023 nominees, hit this link.
Ghanaian singer Wendy Shay has said that the only artist she can be compared with is American singer Beyonce.
Wendy Shay is one of the most controversial female songstresses in the music industry. She disclosed that she accepted the title “Queen of Ghana music” because her fans see her as exceptional.
“First of all, the Queen of Ghana Music was a title my fans gave me,” Wendy Shay told 3Music. “And who doesn’t appreciate good things? They gave me that title, and I was like, ‘If they see me as the queen of Ghana music’, I will take it.”
“That right there was to confirm the fact that, yeah, I have accepted that title because my fans gave it to me,” she said.
According to Wendy Shay, everyone has the right to choose any name they wish to call themselves
“I believe that everyone has the right to call themselves whatever they want. I think as far as giving ourselves a title, everybody is entitled to do so. And I believe that everyone is a queen. All of the other female artists are queens.
“But I was talking about myself, so they can also call themselves queens. I never mentioned anyone’s name. I was just making a statement and affirming the fact that my fans have given me that title,” she added.
At the 2021 Grammys, Beyoncé picked up four awards, bringing her total to 28 and making her the winningest woman in Grammy history.
At the 2023 ceremony, she will have nine chances to add to her total: The 41-year-old star is the top nominee for the 65th annual Grammy Awards, with all but one of her nods coming for her dance-heavy album “Renaissance.”
She leads a pack that includes Kendrick Lamar, with eight nominations; Adele and Brandi Carlile, with seven apiece; and Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Future, DJ Khaled and the producer and songwriter The-Dream, with six each, the Recording Academy announced on Tuesday.
The awards will be held on Feb. 5 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (the former Staples Center) in what the academy is hoping will be its return to something like normal operating procedure after two years of delays and complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Beyoncé’s nominations are in each of the three big all-genre categories — album of the year, plus record and song of the year for her single “Break My Soul” — as well as in the dance/electronic field and in R&B, where her tracks “Virgo’s Groove” (R&B performance), “Plastic Off the Sofa” (traditional R&B performance) and “Cuff It” (R&B song) were all recognized. She is also up for best song written for visual media for “Be Alive,” from the film “King Richard.”
Those bring Beyoncé to a career total of 88 nominations — tying Jay-Z, her husband, for the most received by any artist in the history of the awards. (Jay-Z, who had held the record with 83 nods, got five more this year, for contributions to “Renaissance” and DJ Khaled’s “God Did.”)
If Beyoncé takes three awards in February, she will match the classical conductor Georg Solti for the most Grammy wins by any artist. (She is already tied for second place in that race, with Quincy Jones.)
Despite the shower of nominations Beyoncé has received over the years, going back to her time in Destiny’s Child two decades ago, she has won only once in any of the four most prestigious categories: as a credited songwriter of “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” which took song of the year in 2010. Every other victory has been in down-ballot genre fields.
In what is sure to be one of the night’s major story lines, Beyoncé will once again face Adele in multiple contests, including album of the year (“Renaissance” vs. Adele’s “30”) and both record and song of the year (“Break My Soul” vs. “Easy on Me”).
The two women, both titans of contemporary pop with ardent fan bases, last squared off at the 2017 Grammys. That year, Adele’s “25” beat Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” in a closely watched contest for album of the year that fed into longtime complaints that the awards often fail to recognize Black musicians in the most prominent categories. Accepting the award, a tearful Adele said, “I’m very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé.”
This year’s other nominees for album of the year include Lamar, for “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” his return after five years; Styles’s “Harry’s House”; Lizzo’s “Special”; Carlile’s “In These Silent Days”; Mary J. Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous” (in its “deluxe” edition); Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres”; Abba’s “Voyage,” the Swedish foursome’s first new album in 40 years; and Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti.”
“Un Verano,” a streaming blockbuster and the year’s best-selling album so far, is the first release performed entirely in Spanish to be up for album of the year. Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican star, is the top nominee at the Latin Grammys on Thursday, with 10.
For record of the year, which goes to the artists, producers and engineers behind a single track, “Break My Soul” and “Easy on Me” will compete against Styles’s “As It Was”; Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”; Doja Cat’s “Woman”; Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5”; Carlile’s “You and Me on the Rock,” featuring Lucius; Abba’s “Don’t Shut Me Down”; Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous; and “Bad Habit,” the breakout hit by the 24-year-old singer and guitarist Steve Lacy, who built his reputation as an innovator on the fringes of alternative R&B.
“Break My Soul,” “Easy on Me,” “As It Was,” “About Damn Time,” “Bad Habit” and “The Heart Part 5” are also up for song of the year, a songwriters’ award, along with Gayle’s “Abcdefu”; Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That”; DJ Khaled’s “God Did”; and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” an expansion of a track that originally appeared on Swift’s 2012 album “Red,” which she rereleased as a fresh recording last years.
New details regarding the death of Takeoff have been revealed as the artist continues to be mourned.
Takeoff, who came to fame as one-third of the platinum-selling rap group Migos, was shot and killed early Tuesday at a private party in Houston, Texas.
He was 28.
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the manner of death as homicide with “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into the arm” stated as the cause of his death.
A 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman were also injured. Sgt. Michael Arrington of the homicide division told reporters Tuesday that they both were doing ok.
The shooting death of Takeoff, who was known as the quiet, low-key member of his group, which included his uncle Quavo, is the latest high-profile death of a hip-hop artist.
His former group mate and longtime friend Offset has not spoken publicly about Takeoff’s death, but on Wednesday he changed the avatar on his verified Instagram account to a photo of Takeoff with a white heart.
A number of celebrities have paid tribute to the slain artist, including, Drake, Gucci Mane, Machine Gun Kelly and Beyoncé, who changed the landing page of her site to a photo of him.
Takeoff seemed aware of the potential danger that rappers sometimes face,
During a conversation on the “Drink Champs” podcast that recently streamed, he and Quavo talked to hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN about their new album, “Only Built for Infinity Links.”
Talk turned security and the murders of fellow artists Pop Smoke and PnB Rock. Takeoff said, “You’ve got to be careful with social media now.”
“You gotta watch what you post because even though you’re just trying to show off and show your fans stuff, it’s people that follow you and watch you that [have] bad intentions and don’t want the best for you. They’re looking at your page and see you every day,” he said. “That’s why I don’t even really post like that, or if I do, I post after I left the spot. I post tomorrow or the next day and you think I’m at a location. But nah, I’m at the crib.”
Authorities are asking for the witnesses to come forward and provide information in hopes of arresting the person or people responsible.
Beyoncé’s team is attempting to set the record straight.
Earlier this week, fashion designer/artist Nusi Quero took to Instagram with claims of unpaid fees. He specifically called out Bey’s stylist, Marni Senofonte, of failing to pay him for various projects, including work for the Renaissance cover art.
“As a stylist for B, I really expected the best from you and your team,” Quero wrote in a since-deleted post. “But since you won’t responded to texts and emails. I supposed this is the final venue I can utilize before legal means to settle your outstanding balances, that you’ve owed me and my collaborator for about 3 months.”
The designer went on to say Senofonte had “paid a 50 percent deposit to me for one of the three jobs,” not including the work he did for the album cover; he also claimed he and his team didn’t receive those payments for more than a month. He claimed the projects in question included the “album cover piece,” a second variation of the cover ensemble, styling services for an unnamed music video, and “a red custom 3D printed top I miraculously procured last miniature for a video shoot.”
Bey’s team has denied the “troubling” allegations, insisting Quero had been compensated.
“It is deeply troubling that designer Nusi Quero has posted damaging statements about Marni Senofonte regarding non-payments for work completed. In fact, he was paid for his work, and there is proof of all payments made,” Bey’s representative said in a statement to ET Online. “We have been in communication with his team and there were three payments made to him.
“The first payment was made on May 9, 2022. The second payment, a fifty percent down payment on the agreed cost, was made via wire on July 8, 2022,” the statement continued. “The third and final payment was returned when he changed his account number. It was returned as an invalid account number based on an error on his part. After persistent and exhausting communication to get the correct information on his account and two unsuccessful wire transfer attempts, a physical check was mailed to him for final payment on September 29, 2022.”
On Friday, Quero posted a photo of a check that he claimed was “partial payment of unpaid invoices” for services he provided in June and July. The dollar amount written on the check, which was seemingly issued on Friday, was $18,425.
“Your harassment of me is disgusting, unwarranted, and doesn’t phase me,” he wrote in the caption. “You don’t even know what you’re mad at. My art is worth the money I ask for it. You’re acting like a press release from a billion dollar company with a PR firm and legal team on a gossip rag like Page Six is the truth. Get fucking real.”
He continued: “They didn’t even reach out to me for comment like it says they did. You’re trying to tear my name down for what? There are real enemies you should be firing at. I literally am just trying to make beautiful things. I can’t do that without the money I’m owed for it.”
The circumstances under which this happened was narrated by deputy Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts minister, Mark Okraku Mantey who was speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programe.
The 2018 concert took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and was part of the Global Citizen group’s annual concert held in New York Central Park and concurrently in another major African city.
The particular edition was also connected to the Mandela 100 celebration, so it had a number of African leaders in attendance.
“At the time, most of the presidents were tired and so they wanted to find a way asking them to leave, but the host who is the South African president couldn’t leave until they get the other people to accept that they also wanted to leave.
“So, they were unlucky that they spoke to President Akufo-Addo first and in the diplomatic way that is how they operate. ‘O Mr. President, would you want to leave?’
“He says no, ‘I am waiting for Jay-Z and Beyonce.’ They were the headliners. So, the rest of the presidents have to wait, they couldn’t leave, that is the history to president Akufo-Addo’s visit to that event.
“After the event, he showed interest, that he wouldn’t mind seeing this in Ghana,” this was how the organizers slated it for Ghana this year.
The September 24, 2022 concert has, however, become the center of controversy after it emerged that the president was booed by a section of the crowd. It has led to political ‘football’ with the governing and opposition parties in the middle of the fight.
The edition Akufo-Addo attended was held on Dec. 2, 2018, with performances from the likes of Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Sho Madjozi, Cassper Nyovest, Ed Sheeran, and many other incredible acts.
A Nigerian Twitter has resurrected the fury of football fans across the world after claiming that American musician Beyonce appeals to more people globally than football great Cristiano Ronaldo.
The fans are seething that the Twitter user by name ‘Imoteda’ sought to belittle the popularity of Cristiano Ronaldo by comparing Beyonce to him.
Imoteda found it ‘weird’ that people assume footballers are very popular and that not a single player on the planet can be compared to Beyonce in terms of popularity.
Imoteda’s post reads “So many people think football players are crazy popular. It’s so weird. Like how can you say a football player is more popular than Beyonce? Then name two football players that even I wouldn’t recognize.”
The reactions have been outright condemnation of her post as many believe that not only Ronaldo but a host of football stars are more popular than the globally-acclaimed RnB star.
Some have referenced instances where Ronaldo garnered huge supporters online to back their claim that he is the more popular figure of the two.
So many people think football players are crazy popular. It’s so weird. Like how can you say a football player is more popular than Beyonce? Then name two football players than even I wouldn’t recognize.
Micheal jackson sold 750 000 tickets in 4 hours , no football team , not even world cup can sell that much tickets in 4 hours .Over 50k people once pulled to his hotel just to look at him even with social media no single footballer can pull such crowd pic.twitter.com/jC9CQinDnI
Nicki Minaj was the recipient of this year’s video vanguard award, which recognises artists who have consistently produced creative and influential music videos.
The US rapper performed a medley of her songs as she made her entrance at the ceremony – including Monster, Super Bass and her current number one hit Super Freaky Girl, which samples the original Rick James classic.
Minaj said she had “never ever written a speech in her life”, but went offstage to retrieve her phone to read her notes as she accepted the award from members of her fan club, known as the Barbz.
She thanked key people who inspired “me and my flow” and those who gave her opportunities, naming artists such as Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna, Britney Spears and Rihanna.
The 16-song track list received a four-star rating from The Guardian, who called it “unapologetically escapist” and said the vocalist “unleashes everything from disco bangers to global house hedonism.”
It serves as a reminder of how uncommon it is to see this highly disciplined artist simply having fun on her own terms. It’s a celebration of living abundantly and outside the bounds of others’ expectations.
“It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving”.
Rolling Stone’s critic Mosi Reeves notes “every song is an uptempo track that has the potential to joyously redefine dance floors, living rooms, and car singalongs in 2022 and beyond”.
According to Will Hodgkinson in The Times, the superstar “appears to have discovered the sweaty, dirty world of club culture” for the first time, and “this album is about letting go and having a good time.”
She expressed her gratitude in particular to Rumi, Sir, and Blue for giving her the freedom to express herself creatively.
“And a special thanks to my wonderful husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio,” she wrote in a heartfelt tribute to her husband Jay-Z.
This was taken from Twitter. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
“A big thank you to my Uncle Jonny. He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album,” she wrote. “Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. This is a celebration for you.”
She ended the note, “To all of my fans: I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
Dedicated to her children, her husband, her family, her Godmother Uncle Johnny, and to the LGBTQ+ community and all of the pioneers who originated the culture and the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized. pic.twitter.com/hm6Om9fi52
“After the loneliness and injustice of the previous year, I believe we are all ready to run away, go places, fall in love, and laugh once again.
I sense a renaissance beginning, and I want to do everything I can to help this escape flourish, she stated at the time.
“I’ve spent a year and a half in the studio.
Finding the ideal kick or snare often requires me to personally sift through thousands of sounds over the course of an entire year.
There can be 200 stacked harmonies in one chorus.
There is nothing, however, that compares to the depth of love, passion, and healing that I experience in the recording studio.
It still feels as exhilarating as it did when I was nine years old, even after 31 years.
Yes,the music is coming
Chelsey Sanchez Digital Associate Editor Chelsey Sanchez is an Associate Editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, where she covers pop culture, politics, and social movements.
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Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has revealed some details about his next album.
Speaking in an interview on BBC’s Focus on Africa monitored by GhanaWeb, the VGMA Artiste of the Year winner said the title of his next album will be “The Gift of God,” which he adds will have collaborations with some big names on the global music scene such as Vybz Kartel and Beyonce.
“The Gift of God, this is an album where I am going to have a couple of collaborations. People know me to create albums with me alone. I play my beats; I mix and master everything myself. So, I am going to do a few collaborations with me and Beyonce and with me and Vybz Kartel.”
Speaking further about his expectations on the “Gift of God” album, Shatta Wale told BBC that he is sure the album when released will sell very well on the international market.
Shatta Wale who has over the years become one of Ghana’s biggest music exports has about four albums to his credit. They include “After the Storm” released in 2016, “Reign” released in 2018 and “Wonder Boy” which he released in 2019.
The #IDIDMYPART campaign, taking place this weekend, aims to bring awareness of the daily testing available at a local medical centre.
It will also provide free masks, gloves, household supplies and 1,000 free tests “administered under safe conditions,” according to a statement.
“The virus is wreaking havoc on the Black community so we need a movement to prioritize our health,” Ms Knowles Lawson said.
Data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that 33% of people who’ve been taken to hospital with the virus are African-American, yet only 13% of the US population is African-American.
“Testing is crucial because it helps find hot spots and saves lives,” local Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee said in the statement. “Texas has a very low COVID-19 test rate, second lowest in the nation.”
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