Last week Beyoncé announced her first solo tour in more than 6 years. The Renaissance Tour will debut in Stockholm in May and wrap up in New Orleans in September.
The announcement occurred on the coat-tails of the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster debacle, causing fan angst about ticket availability, and amidst criticism of Beyoncé's recent $24 million private performance to mark the opening of a luxury hotel in the UAE where homosexuality is punishable by death, despite the Black queer theme of her most recent album.
As they say, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”. But that was short lived …
Until Sunday’s Grammy Awards presentation, there wasn’t much to add that hasn’t already been said about Beyonce.There is no doubt that she is an entertainer who has set the world on fire, whose every move is of interest to everyone and whose financial success, as she eyes the Billionaires Club, is enviable.
The product of Creole and African American parents, Beyoncé is a bi-racial success story. A native of H-Town, she burst onto the talent show circuit as a pre-teen. Fast forward, this 41 year old mother of 3 has received 88 Grammy nominations and is now the winningest musician in history with 32 Grammys to her name, among many other accolades. Not bad for a little girl who swept hair off the floor of her mother’s hair salon to make extra money, while her father flogged Xerox equipment.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional … I’m trying to just receive this night.” (Beyonce at Sunday’s Grammy Awards)
I am certain that if I asked Beyoncé what accomplishment makes her the most proud, it would be being a mother. I’m sure she’d say its harder being a mother than a celebrity. And that she’d give up her wealth and all of her Grammy Awards in a heartbeat if asked to choose between money, fame and her family.
Blue Ivy is her first daughter (11 years old), followed by twins Rumi and Sir (5 years old). All carry the family name Carter - that of their equally famous father, Shawn Corey Carter, aka Jay-Z.
Can her children have a “normal” life? That’s going to be very hard, despite Beyoncé's best intentions.
Five years ago the couple bought a mansion in Los Angeles for $88 million, followed by an East Hampton retreat for $26 million.
The ultra modern Bel-Air property measures 30,000 square feet. There are 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a recording studio (of course), a 15 car garage, and all glass is bulletproof.
The Pond House has 12,000 square feet of living space, including 7 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms, flanked by 203 feet of waterfront property.
How is normal possible? (A redundant question)
I hope Beyoncé has found balance in her life, a way to avoid being sucked into the celebrity vortex that devours mega stars and their families. I am sure Beyoncé knows, as we all know, that the odds are against her. The upcoming Renaissance Tour is anticipated to be her highest ever grossing tour ($275 million) and will be gruellng, but that’s nothing compared to the challenges she will face in her quest to raise happy, healthy children. Parenting is, after all, Job One.
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