It’s July and it’s hot, hot, hot! Here in South Florida, Beyoncé will be on two cool stages, The BB&T Center on July 9th and The American Airlines Arena on July 10th. I can guarantee the audience will be hot, hot, hot after singing, dancing and cheering for her on the The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, the biggest tour of 2013, with its explosive special effects and elaborate, strobe-laden light show. It’s her most ambitious undertaking to date. When I saw Beyoncé in 2009 at the I Am...World Tour, I was mesmerized by her stage presence, her moves and her innate power to deliver songs that touched my soul. Lucky, lucky, lucky are the concert goers who will see the 31-year-old entertainer on the first leg of the North American tour, playing arenas across the country until the beginning of August. She can also be seen in December during the second leg of the North America tour.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is the eldest child of Matthew and Tina Knowles, who also have another daughter, singer and actress Solange. Beyoncé ‘s dad was her manager until 2011. In an hour-long interview with Oprah Winfrey, she revealed that it was her relationship with her father which inspired her decision to fire him. “It took a while for me and my dad to have an understanding. When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock and we had our issues. I’d say ‘no’ to something, and he’d book it anyway. Then I’d have to do it because I’d look bad (if I didn’t). We would fight sometimes; and it took about two years, to when I was 20, for him to realize, ‘Oh, she is an adult now and if she doesn’t wanna do something, I can’t make her do it.’” Beyoncé today maintains that she and her dad are not estranged.
Knowles married Jay-Z Carter, the famous rapper and record producer on April 4, 2008, in New York City and they are known for being notoriously private about their relationship. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital and two days later, Jay-Z released “Glory,” a song dedicated to their child.
Knowles has won 17 Grammy Awards, both as a solo artist and as a member of Destiny’s Child, the 90’s girl group, making her the third most honored female artist by the Grammys, behind Alison Krauss and Aretha Franklin. She is tied with Dolly Parton as the most nominated woman in Grammy Award history. Following her role in the movie, Dreamgirls, Beyoncé was nominated for Best Original Song for “Listen” and Best Actress at the Golden Globe Awards, and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards. She won two awards at the Broadcast Film Critic’s Association Awards in 2006: Best Song for “Listen” and Best Original Soundtrack for Dreamgirls.
Knowles has stated that she is personally inspired by US First Lady Michelle Obama, saying, “She proves you can do it all.” She has described Oprah Winfrey as, “The definition of inspiration and a strong woman.” Yet, following the announcement of the title of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, Knowles was “hit out” by several critics for titling the tour after her husband’s name since she has been regarded as a feminist. Sarah Walters of Manchester Evening News noted that critics questioned, “How could a woman as empowered and influential as Beyoncé compromise her identity and be known as the bride of some other celebrity?” During an interview with Vogue magazine, Knowles confirmed that she regards herself as a “modern-day feminist” and also spoke about her decision to reference her husband’s name in the tour’s title, saying: “I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been. It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child, Blue Ivy. I was like, ‘OK, this is what you were born to do.’”
Amy Wallace’s article in GQ (Feb. 2013) brought to light Knowles’ true power as a role model, iconic figure and woman. She reflected on her life by saying, “I worked so hard during my childhood to meet this goal. By the time I was 30 years old, I could do what I wanted. I’ve reached that. I feel very fortunate to be in that position. But I’ve sacrificed a lot of things and I’ve worked harder than probably anyone I know, at least in the music industry. So I just have to remind myself that I deserve it.”
What have you worked, labored or sweated for? Do you feel worthy of a big resounding applause for your contribution? Go ahead and say, “I deserve it!” Then make your July joyful by singing out loud and having some fun!
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is the eldest child of Matthew and Tina Knowles, who also have another daughter, singer and actress Solange. Beyoncé ‘s dad was her manager until 2011. In an hour-long interview with Oprah Winfrey, she revealed that it was her relationship with her father which inspired her decision to fire him. “It took a while for me and my dad to have an understanding. When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock and we had our issues. I’d say ‘no’ to something, and he’d book it anyway. Then I’d have to do it because I’d look bad (if I didn’t). We would fight sometimes; and it took about two years, to when I was 20, for him to realize, ‘Oh, she is an adult now and if she doesn’t wanna do something, I can’t make her do it.’” Beyoncé today maintains that she and her dad are not estranged.
Knowles married Jay-Z Carter, the famous rapper and record producer on April 4, 2008, in New York City and they are known for being notoriously private about their relationship. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital and two days later, Jay-Z released “Glory,” a song dedicated to their child.
Knowles has won 17 Grammy Awards, both as a solo artist and as a member of Destiny’s Child, the 90’s girl group, making her the third most honored female artist by the Grammys, behind Alison Krauss and Aretha Franklin. She is tied with Dolly Parton as the most nominated woman in Grammy Award history. Following her role in the movie, Dreamgirls, Beyoncé was nominated for Best Original Song for “Listen” and Best Actress at the Golden Globe Awards, and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards. She won two awards at the Broadcast Film Critic’s Association Awards in 2006: Best Song for “Listen” and Best Original Soundtrack for Dreamgirls.
Knowles has stated that she is personally inspired by US First Lady Michelle Obama, saying, “She proves you can do it all.” She has described Oprah Winfrey as, “The definition of inspiration and a strong woman.” Yet, following the announcement of the title of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, Knowles was “hit out” by several critics for titling the tour after her husband’s name since she has been regarded as a feminist. Sarah Walters of Manchester Evening News noted that critics questioned, “How could a woman as empowered and influential as Beyoncé compromise her identity and be known as the bride of some other celebrity?” During an interview with Vogue magazine, Knowles confirmed that she regards herself as a “modern-day feminist” and also spoke about her decision to reference her husband’s name in the tour’s title, saying: “I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been. It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child, Blue Ivy. I was like, ‘OK, this is what you were born to do.’”
Amy Wallace’s article in GQ (Feb. 2013) brought to light Knowles’ true power as a role model, iconic figure and woman. She reflected on her life by saying, “I worked so hard during my childhood to meet this goal. By the time I was 30 years old, I could do what I wanted. I’ve reached that. I feel very fortunate to be in that position. But I’ve sacrificed a lot of things and I’ve worked harder than probably anyone I know, at least in the music industry. So I just have to remind myself that I deserve it.”
What have you worked, labored or sweated for? Do you feel worthy of a big resounding applause for your contribution? Go ahead and say, “I deserve it!” Then make your July joyful by singing out loud and having some fun!
