Beyonce is back!

The singer kicked off her four-night stay at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City Friday night (May 25), her first concert performance since last year’s “4 Intimate Nights with Beyonce” at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, and her first time on stage since giving birth to Blue Ivy in January.

“I gotta say … it feels so good to be back home on stage,” Beyonce told the crowd of 5,500 fans who packed into the $2.5 billion resort.

Following an opening set from R&B newcomer Luke James, Beyonce took the stage for over two hours and performed a ton of her hits, plus a cover of Lauryn Hill‘s “Ex Factor” and a cover of Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You” in tribute to the late R&B icon.

Among those in attendance for Beyonce’s comeback concert were her proud father (and former manager) Mathew Knowles, her former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, supermodel Selita Ebanks, and of course, her husband Jay-Z, who, after the show, proudly tweeted:

“I’m gonna say this and then I’m gonna end mine.” BEYONCE is the best performer in the world. Period.

— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) May 26, 2012

Check out the pics (and video footage) below:

It’s back to business for Beyonce!

The R&B/Pop diva is gearing up for her big return to the stage tonight, as part of four shows that will take place this weekend at the $2.4 billion Revel Resort in Atlantic City, her first live concert performances since last September’s “4 Intimate Nights with Beyonce” concert series.

The concerts will also serve as her first time on stage since giving birth to Blue Ivy back in January.

Further raising anticipation for the performances, Beyonce has released behind-the-scenes video footage of the show, showing her fans the intimate happenings on the other side of the stage.

“It is exciting … I feel a little nervous,” she says in the clip. “I’m enjoying being a mother so it’s like going back to an old job and it’s a little strange but it’s important that you don’t lose yourself, that you have your own passions. And I’m back to work, I’m back to business.”

Watch the clip (Part 1 of 2) below:

The nominees for the 2012 BET Awards were announced Tuesday (May 22) at BET Studios in New York City during a press conference that was attended by Astro (from X Factor), A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Frankie Beverly (of Frankie Beverly and Maze), Melanie Fiona, Diggy, DJ Khaled and Mindless Behavior.

Kanye West leads the pack of nominees with seven nominations, followed by Beyonce with six nominations, and her husband (and Kanye’s mentor) Jay-Z with five. Other artists with multiple nominees include Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Drake and J. Cole.

Samuel L. Jackson was announced as the host of the 12th annual show, which has been hosted in the past by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Damon Wayans, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Jamie Foxx, among others. Last year’s show was hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart.

Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj are the only confirmed performers so far for this year’s show, which will also present the legendary soul/funk group Frankie Beverly & Maze with the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other performers will be announced soon, but for now, check out the full list of nominees below!

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist:
Big Sean
Drake
J Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist:
Diamond
Trina
Nicki Minaj
Brianna Perry

Best Male R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Usher
Trey Songz

Best Female R&B Arist:
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyonce
Mary J Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best New Artist:
ASAP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Millz

Best Group:
Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce da 5’9)
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Mindless Behavior

Best Collaboration of the Year:
Beyonce ft. J Cole- “Party”
Big Sean ft. Kanye- “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay”
DJ Khaled & Crew- “I’m On One”
Drake, Tyga, Lil Wayne-”The Motto”
Wale/Miguel-”Lotus Flower Bomb”
Kanye/Jay Z- “Otis”

Video of the Year:
Beyonce-Countdown
Beyonce-Love On Top
The Throne-Ni**as in Paris
The Throne-Otis
Usher-Climax

Director of the Year:
Beyonce (Alan Ferguson)
Chris Brown (Godfrey T)
Kanye West
Hype Williams
Benny Boom

Subway Sportsman of the Year:
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Victor Cruz
Lebron James

Subway Sportswoman of the Year:
Skylar Diggins
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Best Movie:
Good Deeds
Jumping The Broom
Laugh At My Pain
Red Tails
The Help

Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice Award:
Beyonce- Love On Top
Chris Brown- Turn Up The Music
Mindless Behavior- Hello
The Throne- Otis
Wale & Miguel- Lotus Flower Bomb
Drake ft. Tyga & Lil Wayne- The Motto

Best Actor:
Don Cheadle
Common
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington

Best Actress:
Angela Basset
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson

Young Stars:
Diggy Simmons
Astro
Keke Palmer
Jacob Latimore
Willow Smith

Best Gospel Artists:
Yolanda Adams
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Kim Burrell
Trinitee 5:7

Centric Award:
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Tune in on July 1st at 8pm when the 2012 BET Awards airs live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium!

Will you be watching … and who you want to win?

Along with releasing intimate pictures and letting the public have a glimpse of her ever so private life, Beyonce is letting fans see her funny side too!

In a video recorded pre-Baby Blue Ivy, the former Destiny’s Child singer is seen with her ‘people’ letting her hair down and playing pool.

The usually shy Mrs. Carter shows off her her goofy side in the clip, and was talking smack throughout the game … especially when she whooped her opponent’s behind!

Watch the hilarious video below:

Beyonce and Jay-Z shared an interesting moment Tuesday night (May 8) as the rapper pinched his superstar wife’s cheeks — the ones on her face, of course — at a party hosted by L.A. Reid celebrating the launch of his wife Erica Reid‘s new parenting book “The Thriving Child.”

R&B singer Mary J. Blige and Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles were also on hand for Erica Reid’s book launch, which was held at a private residence in New York City.

Check out the pics below:

Lots of celebrities gathered in New York City on Monday night (May 7) at the 2012 MET Costume Institute Gala.

Some of the celebs who were spotted showing off their fashion sense on the red carpet of the big event — dubbed the “Oscars of Fashion” — included singers Beyonce, Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz, Rihanna, Solange; actress Paula Patton; Hip-Hop newcomer (and sh*t starter) Azealia Banks and more.

Check out the pics below:

Beyonce Knowles already has 16 Grammy Awards, 11 MTV Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 7 Soul Train awards and 7 BET Awards, from a total of close to 250 music awards overall … So what else is there left for her to win?

Well, besides being named People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful Woman in the World” this year … Beyonce can now add “award-winning journalist” to her long list of ever growing credits, as she is reportedly being honored with a journalism award from the New York Association of Black Journalists.

The award — which will be officially presented to Beyonce on May 15th — is for an article she wrote in the July 2011 issue of Essence Magazine titled “Eat, Pray Love,” which was a first-hand account of the nine-month break she took from the music industry in 2010, before returning to record and release her album “4.”

“I had talked about taking a vacation before, but always ended up in the studio after two weeks, so no one believed me. This time, though, I was serious. I was going to give myself a year to do the things I never get to do,” the R&B diva wrote.

“Simple things like play with my nephew, pick him up from school, visit museums, go to concerts, see some Broadway shows, learn to cook a meal and spend time with my husband… Yes, I needed some relaxation, but I wanted inspiration too, from regular everyday things. They did not have to be over-the-top productions. I was looking for tiny moments that would speak to my heart and make me smile…”

“I’m grateful for the time I gave myself to breathe,” Beyonce also wrote, calling the personal retreat a “creative reawakening.”

Essence entertainment director Cori Murray praised Beyonce’s writing skills, and called her a “real writer.”

“We had to edit her,” Murray told the New York Daily News, “but everyone gets edited except Toni Morrison.”

But not everyone thinks Beyonce is so worthy of such an honor.

Following the announcement that the singer would be given an award for her writing, several journalists voiced their disapproval, including author, professor and journalist Dr. Boyce Watkins, who shared the following thoughts on the matter:

I am not one to presume that the New York Association of Black Journalists were off-base by giving a writing award to Beyonce Knowles.

While I am sure there are other professional writers who thought they might be considered for the award, we can’t assume that the woman who has sold millions of albums, toured the world non-stop for the last decade, been featured in multiple films and made thousands of appearances doesn’t have the ability to be an award-winning journalist in her spare time.

Here are some questions I’d like to ask the NYABJ about their decision to position Beyonce for the next Pulitzer Prize:

1) Did you see Beyonce’s open letter to Michelle Obama? Do you really think that the same person wrote both of these articles? The first sentence of Beyonce’s letter says, “Michelle is the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American women.” Is she writing TO Michelle or writing ABOUT Michelle? What in the hell is a “truly strong African American women?” I’m not trying to be a hater, but I just had to ask.

2) Would Beyonce have gotten this award had she been a regular citizen and not a celebrity? Only you know the answer to that question. What about a regular citizen who didn’t even go to college? Sorry, I’ll stop, since the college reference might make me sound like a snob. But I can’t help but think that taking more writing classes might make you into a better writer, the same way that I’m sure that rehearsing every single day for years made Beyonce into a better performer. I doubt that a journalist could do what Beyonce does by shaking their booty just once a month.

3) You’re really convinced that a person who wrote one article, for one magazine, one time is better than every black professional writer in the country who does this every single day for a living? Perhaps those bums need to step their games up.

4) What’s in it for you? Many organizations give false awards to celebrities just to get them to show up for their events. The appearance of the celebrity grants publicity and instant credibility to the event. In this case, the strategy appears to have backfired.

5) What’s the procedure and who voted to give Beyonce this award? Did the entire organizational body vote for Beyonce or were all voting privileges given to a select group of people in a private meeting? Yes, that does make a difference.

[Source]

Do you think Beyonce deserves a “journalism” award? Why or why not?

According to People Magazine, Pop/R&B singer Beyonce is the most beautiful woman in the entire world

The magazine crowned the 16-time Grammy winner the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” in their special issue that highlights other beautiful famous women, like Paula Patton, Charlize Theron, Sofia Vergara and more.

“I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth,” Beyonce says inside her World’s Most Beautiful Woman cover story. “I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth.”

The 30-year-old singer gave birth to her and Jay-Z’s first child, Blue Ivy Carter, in New York City on January 7th 2012.

“She’s just the cutest thing,” gushed Beyonce, who sings lullabies to her daughter and says she loves changing diapers.

When asked who her newborn daughter looks like the most, Beyonce said, “She looks like Blue … She’s her own person.”

She added, “The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy. The word ‘love’ means something completely different now.”

Beyonce and Halle Berry — who was named “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” in 2003 — are the only two black women to receive the honor from People Magazine in 22 years.

Other famous women who have topped the most-beautiful women in the world list include Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Lopez, who won last year.

For more on People’s “Most Beautiful” issue, including all the stars included in the list, check out People.com and pick up the special issue, which hits newsstands on Friday.

Beyonce and Baby Blue Ivy were spotted outside of Solange‘s apartment in Brooklyn, New York City Tuesday afternoon (Apr 17).

Little three-month-old Blue was strapped to her mother’s chest in a baby carrier, and her head and face were covered up with a tribal print scarf while her tiny little legs dangled beneath her.

Solange was also spotted outside her apartment, looking relaxed and laid back, wearing gray shorts, a loose fitting sweatshirt and a pair of Adidas winged high-top sneakers.

Beyonce apparently left Baby Blue with Auntie Solange for the day, because later that very same night, Solange’s son Julez was spotted sitting courtside with Aunt Beyonce and Uncle Jay-Z at the Nets vs. Heat basketball game; and Beyonce and Blue Ivy were spotted leaving Solange’s place later in the evening.

PHOTOS: Beyonce and Jay-Z Take Nephew Julez to New Jersey Nets vs. Miami Heat Basketball Game

Check out the pics below:

Baby Blue Ivy isn’t old enough to go to basketball games with her superstar parents just yet … but that didn’t stop Beyonce and Jay-Z from showing off their parental side at a basketball game Monday night (Apr 16).

The couple brought along their 7-year-old nephew Daniel “Julez” Smith (Solange’s son) with them Monday night (Apr 16) to watch the New Jersey Nets take on the Miami Heat at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (FYI: Julez’s dad Daniel Smith Sr. is sitting to the left of Beyonce.)

And just in case you were wondering, Jay-Z’s team — the Nets — lost to the Heat, 101 to 98.

Earlier in the day, Beyonce and Baby Blue Ivy were spotted enjoying a sunny afternoon at Central Park.

Check out more photos of Beyonce, Jay-Z and Julez having a ball courtside at the Nets vs. Heat game below:

Beyonce was all smiles Monday afternoon (Apr 16) when she was spotted taking her three-month-old daughter Blue Ivy out for a quick stroll through New York City’s Central Park.

The singer smiled and waved at onlookers as she and her covered newborn, strapped to her chest in a baby harness (something we’re very used ot seeing now), wandered around the park.

Check out one more shot of the mommy-daughter duo below:

Beyonce and Jay-Z left Baby Blue Ivy at home with a sitter so that they could enjoy some quality time together Sunday afternoon (Apr 15) at the New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat game at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The superstar couple — who just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on April 4th — looked as in love as ever, and even color coordinated their outfits, with Beyonce’s Christian Louboutin heels matching Jay-Z’s mango Nike LeBron 9s, and Jay-Z’s animal print ring (pictured below) matching Beyonce’s pants.

In some of the photos, Beyonce can be seen playfully tickling her hubby’s chin and gently caressing his face. And one particular photo shows the pair throwing back a beer as they watched the Heat defeat the home team, 93 to 85.

More photos of the happy couple at the Knicks vs. Heat game are below!

First Lady Michelle Obama has responded to Beyonce‘s kind open letter of admiration, in which she called Mrs. O a “caring mother” and a “loving wife.”

In her hand written note, the singing icon wrote that she’s delighted that her 3-month-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter can “grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to.”

On Friday, the First Lady took to social networking site Twitter and tweeted, “Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to.” She signed off “-mo” which is used by her campaign to note that the tweet personally came from Mrs. O.

Beyonce has been friends with The First Family for some time now.

In 2009 at the now historical inauguration for President Obama, the “4” singer performed Etta James’s classic “At Last,” and in 2010 she performed at the White House State Dinner when the Obamas hosted Mexico president Felipe Calderon.

@Beyonce Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to. –mo

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 13, 2012

Beyonce loves her some Michelle Obama.

The singer — currently vacationing in St. Barts with her hubby of 4 years Jay-Z — recently penned an open letter to the First Lady, and posted a copy of the letter to her official website.

In the letter, Bey commends Michelle for being a great mother and wife who always remains humble, while also thanking her for being a strong African American woman and role model to Baby Blue Ivy, her newborn daughter with Jay-Z.

Check it out below:

Awww … how sweet! **tear**

Beyonce and Jay-Z are currently celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary on the island of St. Barts, and the power couple were spotted getting some much needed rest and relaxation on the beach Monday afternoon (Apr 9).

Beyonce flaunted her unbelievable post-baby body in a black swimsuit while a shirtless Jay-Z showed off his beach bod in a pair of black swim trunks.

Bey and Jay were also spotted on Easter Sunday (Apr 8) with their newborn daughter Blue Ivy — heavily bundled and hidden in mom’s arms, as usual — as the happy family boarded an ocean cruise ship just off the shores of St. Barts.

The couple reportedly renewed their wedding vows last Wednesday (Apr 4) at midnight on the night of their fourth anniversary in a romantic ceremony.

The island getaway comes as Beyonce is preparing for her big return to the stage after giving birth earlier this year. The singer is scheduled to perform three shows at Revel BEach’s Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey over Memorial Day Weekend.

Check out 15+ pics of The Carters on vacation in St. Barts below:

Beyonce is celebrating four yours of marriage Jay-Z, and to mark the occasion (you know how much Bey and Jay love the number 4), the singer has launched a brand new Tumblr page showcasing lots of photos from her personal photo collection.

The Tumblr page — beyonce.tumblr.com — is stocked full of photos from Beyonce and Jay-Z’s honeymoon, them performing together, their family (including shots of Solange and their nephew Juelz), vacations and some very candid photos of Beyonce throughout the years, including her recent pregnancy.

Along with the photos, Beyonce shared the following message with her fans:

“I Am: This is my life, today, over the years – through my eyes. My family, my travels, my love. This is where I share with you, This will continue to grow as I do. Love, Beyonce.”

This isn’t the first time Beyonce has used Tumblr to share photos from her personal collection.

Shortly after the birth of her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter, the usually intensely private superstar used the popular social networking website to show off the first pictures of Baby Blue.

Beyonce also used her Twitter account today  for the first time ever to announce the launch of her newly designed official website, which provides her fans, who she now affectionately calls the “Beyhive,” with the latest news about everything Beyonce.

Check out a ton of photos from the collection below:

And believe it or not … there are TONS MORE pics (along with some never-before-seen video footage) at her Tumblr page!

Beyonce went out furniture shopping in New York City, and brought her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter and mom Tina Knowles along for the trip.

The 30-year-old mom was dressed down in all-black and a pair of cartoon pants as she held a heavily bundled Baby Blue close to her chest (as usual) while the pair made their way into and out of the DDC furniture store in Manhattan.

More pics of Beyonce and Baby Blue Ivy shopping for furniture are below:

Beyonce brightened up the streets of the Big Apple as she spotted wearing a colorful outfit while out and about in New York City Thursday (Mar 29) afternoon.

Accompanied by her mom Tina Knowles, the singer reportedly purchased a brand new white, vintage-style iron bassinet for Blue Ivy Carter, her 12-week old daughter with her husband Jay-Z.

Decked out in a pink neon shirt and a multi-colored patterned skirt, Beyonce had workers bring the old-fashioned crib into the superstar’s Manhattan offices.

PHOTOS: Beyonce Steps Out in NYC with Blue Ivy in Furry Baby Sling

Baby Blue wasn’t with her mother and grandmother on this outing, but the trio have been spotted out in New York City several times over the past week, including Wednesday night (Mar 28) when Beyonce was seen cradling the newborn in her arms while they all were exiting an NYC doctor’s office.

Check out the pics below:

Beyonce was spotted on her way to an office building in Midtown, New York City Tuesday (Mar 25) with her two-month old daughter Blue Ivy bundled up in a fur baby sling, which matched Beyonce’s gray skinny jeans and sweater.

With mama/grandma Tina Knowles not too far behind, Beyonce, who accented her outfit with a pair of bright yellow pumps, was all smiles as she kept her and Jay-Z‘s newborn daughter away from the view of the cameras.

Check out the pics below:

Beyonce just gave birth to her first child a little over two months ago, but you wouldn’t know it just by looking at her.

The singer showed off her flawless post-baby figure in a body-hugging blue dress designed by Victoria Beckham Monday night (Mar 19) as she and her husband Jay-Z, along with her mother Tina Knowles, attended a fundraiser event in New York City hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.

The mom looked absolutely elegant, wearing head-to-toe blue with bright blue nail polish and blue heels, in an obvious nod to her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Beyonce just announced this week that she is set to return to the stage for a special three-night engagement at Atlantic City’s all-new $2.6 billion Revel Resort.

She’ll perform three shows Memorial Day weekend on May 25th, 26th and 27th. Tickets go on sale on April 6th at 10 a.m. and we suspect they will sell out within hours (or maybe even sooner).

In related news, it’s being reported that Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z recently approached Live Nation with a deal worth $150 million for Beyonce to go on a world tour later this year.

“Just weeks after the birth of Blue Ivy, Jay met with Live Nation to discuss a tour for Beyonce,”" a source told the New York Post. “He wanted a deal worth about $150 million, but they countered with a lower offer.”

Sounds (and looks) like Beyonce is officially back!

Your thoughts?

Beyonce is back! Well almost.

The singer — who just gave birth to a baby girl 2 months ago — is scheduled to return to the stage in May for a string of concerts scheduled to go down Memorial Day weekend!

According to her official website, the concerts will be held on May 25th, 26th and 27th at Revel Beach’s 5,000 seat Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 6th at 10 am EST at all Ticketmaster locations, on Ticketmaster.com and by calling 1-800-745-3000.

This marks Beyonce’s first performances since she took a break last year after announcing her pregnancy.

Beyonce gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Blue Ivy Carter, on January 7th 2012, and she and husband Jay-Z have been enjoying parenthood ever since.

Are you looking forward to Beyonce’s comeback?

Recently seen strolling around NYC enjoying the lovely spring weather with her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, new mom Beyonce has dished on the changing looks of her bundle of joy.

Since the release of the first pictures of Blue last month, new parents Beyonce and Jay-Z have made sure to keep their daughter out of the public’s eye.

According to singer Melanie Fiona, who’s co-managed by Jay-Z, she recently spoke with the usually tight-lipped singer.

“Beyonce says Blue changes every day and looks just like Jay now,” 28-year-old Fiona, whose new album “The MF Life” hits stores this week, told Us Weekly.

She continued, “She just is so happy. I’ve seen Bey like 3 times since she’s had the baby. And she’s just glowing and she’s saying motherhood is the best, and she just loves it!”

So has the new addition to their family changed rapper Jay Z?

“He’s in a good mood all the time!” the R&B singer revealed.

Do you think Blue Ivy really looks like Jay-Z?

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter were spotted out and about in New York City Tuesday (Mar 13) looking like a cute mommy-daughter duo in matching outfits.

Taking their second “mommy and me” stroll together in the city, Beyonce, wearing a pair of Charlotte Olympia ‘Cat-Face’ leopard flats, held two-month-old B.I.C. close to her chest in a Bjorn baby carrier, as baby Blue showed off her tiny gold Marc Jacobs slippers. (Aww!)

PHOTOS: Beyonce, Baby Blue Ivy and Tina Knowles Take a Stroll in New York City

Earlier this week, Beyonce and Blue Ivy were spotted taking a walk with grandma Tina Knowles (Beyonce’s mother), while dad Jay-Z was down in Austin, TX performing at the 2012 SXSW festival, where he performed a number of songs, including “Glory,” which was written in honor of his newborn daughter.

WATCH: Jay-Z Kicks Off 2012 SXSW Festival with AMEX “Sync Show”

Check out more photos of Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter out and about in New York City below:

While Jay-Z was down in Austin, TX performing at the 2012 SXSW Festival, his wife Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy had a day out in Manhattan with Beyonce’s mom Tina Knowles.

Keeping two month old baby Blue’s face out of eyesight in a baby carrier, mom Beyonce and grandma Tina Knowles were spotted enjoying the beautiful New York weather by taking their little bundle of joy out for an afternoon stroll in the city.

PHOTOS: Beyonce Takes Baby Blue Ivy to the Park in Brooklyn, New York

Last week, Beyonce took her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter out to Prospect Park in Brooklyn where they were joined by Tina Knowles and other friends who brought their kids along as well.

Check out more photos of Beyonce, Tina and B.I.C. out and about in New York City below:

Proud granddad Mathew Knowles — father and former manager of Beyonce — says he loves singing to his newborn granddaughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Knowles — who managed Beyonce’s career up until around this time last year — made an appearance on the UK TV show “Lorraine” to promote his new British girl group From Above when Baby Blue Ivy was brought up.

“Solange, my youngest daughter has Julez, my grandson who I love, he’s seven years old, he’s at school and then there’s Blue Ivy,” he said. “I was with Blue Ivy two days ago, I had her in my arms and was singing a song I used to sing to Beyonce and then after I finished singing the song she kind of went, ‘Ahhhh.’”

Mathew made no mention of his 2-year-old son Nixon, however.

Mathew Knowles’ relationship with his daughter Beyonce is said to now be on rocky terms after he not only cheated on Bey’s mother Tina Knowles, but also birthed a son with the woman, ending his 30-year marriage with Tina.

In the midst of all of this, Beyonce also fired Mathew from being her manager in the months leading up to the release of her latest album “4,” however the singer says the decision was purely business, and not at all personal.

“He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me,” Beyonce said in a statement at the time.

Your thoughts?

Taking advantage of the warm weather in New York City this week, Beyonce took her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter out to Prospect Park in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon (Mar 8).

Dressed up in a black leather jacket, dark pants and wearing a large pair of round sunglasses, new mom Beyonce kept little Blue Ivy covered up in a white blanket as she reportedly arrived to the park with her mom Tina Knowles and other friends who brought their kids along as well.

According to US Weekly, Beyonce and friends were “chilling on the grass” with a “blanket out,” while other people in their group were spotted passing around a football.

“She was walking with her mom and the baby,” said a witness who spotted Beyonce and her crew at the park. “[It was] a family day … She seemed relaxed and laid back.”

And guess what? “No one was bothering them at all!” the anonymous source revealed.

After the quiet family outing, Beyonce and Jay-Z left Blue at home when they went out later that night to attend a party for their friend, R&B singer Robin Thicke, who celebrated his 34th birthday — which is really this Saturday (Mar 10) — at Catch lounge in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

Check out more photos of Beyonce and Blue Ivy’s afternoon outing below:

Your thoughts?

Beyonce is slowly becoming an advocate for breastfeeding following reports from US Weekly that the superstar mom was spotted nursing her newborn daughter during a recent outing with Jay-Z.

Last Saturday, Beyonce, Jay-Z and their then 7-week-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter made their first “official” public appearance as a family when paparazzi snapped a few photos of them exiting Sant Ambroeus restaurant in New York City following a lunch date.

PHOTOS: Beyonce and Jay-Z’s First Public Appearance with Blue Ivy Carter

A source revealed that at one point during the family luncheon, Beyonce actually breastfed Baby Blue Ivy right at the table!

Photographers caught up with the family as they left the restaurant, and Beyonce held her daughter close to her in a Baby Bjorn, a scarf wrapped tightly around it to keep the little one’s face from being seen.

The very next day, a solo Beyonce — with her big bodyguard Julius close by, of course — was spotted holding Baby Blue close to her chest in an animal print baby carrier. And now that we know what we know, we can probably assume that she was breastfeeding then too.

PHOTOS: Beyonce Takes Blue Ivy Out for a Stroll in New York City

Reports of Beyonce breastfeeding her daughter out in public comes amid a “breast is best” movement started by a large group of mothers who feel like women are discriminated against for nursing their babies in public.

“By bringing breastfeeding into the mainstream, Beyonce can help break down barriers,” one doctor tells ABC News.

What do you think about Beyonce breastfeeding Blue Ivy out in public?

Blue Ivy Carter makes her second public appearance in these photos of her and mom Beyonce taking a stroll through Manhattan Sunday afternoon (Feb 26).

Wearing a large blue coat, shades and a knit cap, and accompanied by her big bodyguard Julius, the R&B/Pop diva kept her and daughter with Jay-Z hidden away from the flashing lights of the paparazzi by cradling baby Blue Ivy close to her in what appears to some sort of animal print baby holder.

PHOTOS: Beyonce and Jay-Z’s First Public Appearance with Blue Ivy Carter

The day before, in their first public outing as a family, the Carters were spotted leaving Sant Ambroeus Restaurant in New York City after having lunch together.

Check out more pics of Beyonce and Blue Ivy below:

The Carters stepped out with their daughter Blue Ivy for the first time together as a family during a random outing in New York City Saturday (Feb 25).

Nearly 2-month-old Blue was wrapped up tightly in a black baby blanket as her protective mother Beyonce held her close to her chest while concerned daddy Jay-Z looked on, making sure everything was okay with his little girl.

The superstar couple welcomed Blue Ivy Carter into the world on January 7th 2012 in New York City, and proudly showed off their newborn daughter in a series of adorable photos nearly a month later.

More photos from BIC’s first public outing with mom and dad below:

Beyonce and Jay-Z are back! The new parents were spotted laughing it up court-side as the New York Knicks took on the New Jersey Nets Monday night (Feb 20) at Madison Square Garden.

This is the first time we’ve seen Hip-Hop’s royal couple out in public together since the birth of their nearly 2-month-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Check out the pics below:

It was only a matter of time, but Saturday Night Live parodied the recent birth of Beyonce and Jay-Z‘s daughter Blue Ivy Carter with a hilarious skit that featured a number of stars coming to visit the newborn, including Prince, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, LL Cool J, Bon Iver (played by Justin Timberlake) and Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, who tried to steal the baby.

Watch the “SNL” skit below:

Just because Beyonce is a new mom now doesn’t mean she’s slowing down anytime soon.

According to The Boombox, the R&B/Pop diva isn’t only just working on one new album … but she’s working on TWO new projects, despite giving birth to her first child a little over a month ago!

One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder — the singer/songwriter who wrote Beyonce’s 2008 track “Halo” — told the website in a recent interview:

“The conversations about her next album literally just started and there [are] two projects happening. All I can say is you kind of feed her the best that you have and she’s this phenomenal filter and she takes it all in.

“She’s not interested in 2012, [she's interested in] what’s [going to sound good for] 2013. Without question she steers the ship. [With] Beyonce, you just let her go, she’s ridiculous, she’s the best.”

Tedder also revealed that he’s specifically pitching the singer songs about parenthood. “I would say that that goes without saying,” Tedder said.

The word on the curb is that one of the two projects will likely be the soundtrack for the Clint Eastwood-directed remake of “A Star Is Born,” which Beyonce has a lead role in.

Are you looking forward to new music from Beyonce? Let us know in the comments. Don’t be shy!

Beyonce is the latest celebrity to react to the death of Whitney Houston, one of R&B/Pop music’s greatest icons and voices who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in Los Angeles Saturday.

Read Beyonce’s heartfelt statement, which was posted to her official website, below:

Beyonce, Jewel, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston perform during the VH1 Divas Duets concert in Las Vegas in May 2003

The loss of Whitney Houston is painful. I remember meeting Whitney for the first time when I was 15. She was the ultimate legend. The ultimate woman.

Not only was she confident, poised, stunningly beautiful and intelligent, but she was sincere and kind. She took the time to make everyone feel like they were very important to her.

I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her. Her voice was perfect. Strong but soothing. Soulful and classic. Her vibrato, her cadence, her control.

So many of my life’s memories are attached to a Whitney Houston song. She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us.

God bless her.

- Beyoncé

Say hello to baby Blue Ivy Carter!

Instead of selling the first photos of their newborn daughter to the highest bidder, Beyonce and Jay-Z decided to personally post the photos of their baby girl online to popular micro-blogging site Tumblr.

The Carters posted a message along with the photos, which reads:

“We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this Beautiful time in our lives.

- The Carter Family

Blue Ivy was welcomed to the world on January 7th 2012 at Lenox Hospital in New York City.

Check out the first photos below:

Following her first post-baby appearance Monday night, new mom Beyonce has stepped out again for the second this week.

The R&B/Pop diva — dressed up in a sparkly black dress that accented her flawless post-baby body and a pair of Gucci heels — was all smiles when photogs spotted her out and about in New York City, where her rapper husband Jay-Z performed in concert at the prestigious Carnegie Hall for the second night in a row.

If you look at Beyonce’s left hand (your right) you will see that she’s wearing a blue bracelet and a blue ring on her index finger (by Lorraine Schwartz), and her nails are painted blue, all in honor of her and Jay-Z’s month-old daughter Blue Ivy.

More photos of one of the hottest moms alive below:

Look at Beyonce!

The R&B/Pop diva — looking voluptuous as ever in a red Alice Temperly dress, which she matched with Ofira & Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, an Alexander McQueen clutch and Christian Louboutin heels — flaunted her post pregnancy body Monday night (Feb 6) in New York City, where her husband Jay-Z headlined a historic concert at Carnegie Hall.

This is the first time new mom Beyonce has been spotted out publicly since giving birth to her daughter Blue Ivy Carter a month ago.

Check out more photos below:

In response to Etta James‘ passing today, Beyonce — who famously portrayed the legendary blues singer in a 2008 movie called “Cadillac Records” — has released a statement via her official website. The statement reads:

“This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.”

Beyonce’s version of “At Last” (Etta James’ most famous song) earned the R&B/Pop diva a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Beyonce also performed the song at President Barack Obama’s historic inaugural ball in 2009, which was initially met with some criticism from the feisty and always outspoken James, who said at a concert, “That woman he had singing for him, singing my song … she’s going to get her ass whipped.”

But fortunately, Ms. James later came around, saying that she was just joking and her comments weren’t meant to be harmful.

Beyonce is currently at home resting after giving birth to her first child Blue Ivy Carter earlier this month.

Beyonce has only been a mother for about 2 weeks now, however her former Destiny’s Child band-mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams say their sister is a complete natural when it comes to caring for baby Blue Ivy.

“She was born to be a mother,” Kelly Rowland told People on the red carpet at the taping of the 2012 BET Honors in Washington D.C. last weekend.

Michelle Williams also had good things to say about her good friend and her new job as a mother.

“She’s doing fabulous. She has such compassion for people and humanity, period,” Michelle said, adding that little Blue Ivy Carter just might be the most stylish baby on the scene.

Out of the 3 ladies, Michelle says she didn’t expect Beyonce to be the first to welcome a “bundle of joy” in the world.

“We were very shocked. We were laughing with each other the other day and [Beyonce] was like, ‘Can y’all believe it? I was the anti – like no children for me,’ and she’s the first one [of us to have a baby],” Williams said. “So it was so amazing to see her.”

Speaking on Baby Blue Carter, Williams told USA Today, “She is absolutely gorgeous. We were all in love.”

Via TMZ:

Lenox Hill Hospital constructed a suite for VIPs which looks like a Four Seasons penthouse … and the room was christened Saturday when Beyonce gave birth.

TMZ has obtained photos of the room where Blue Ivy came into this world, and it’s baller. There are 4 flat screen TV’s, state of the art electronics, a kitchenette, nice art, mahogany walls and plush furnishings. And take a look at the bed where Jay Z got some shut eye!

Sources connected with the hospital tell TMZ … the suite was not constructed specifically for Beyonce, but it was always intended that Beyonce would be the first patient to use it.

According to the NY Daily News, Lenox Hill staffers wouldn’t confirm if the photos from TMZ are of the exact room Baby Blue was born in. In fact, the entire suite contains at least 7 rooms, each running from $700 to $800 per night, that can be reconfigured to the patient’s specifications.

“I can confirm the photos are of our executive suite,” Lenox Hill spokeswoman Ann Silverman told the Daily News. “There are seven rooms that can be reconfigured, and they run $700 to $800 per night per room. You can do the math,” Silverman said. “There are four rooms on one side and three on the other.”

Word is Beyonce and Jay-Z paid for at least four rooms, which totals at about $3,000 a night. Big money.

Speaking of big and money … take a look at the big, expensive ($140,000 to be exact) Mercedez Benz Beyonce and Jay-Z took Baby Blue Ivy home in below:

[TMZ, NYDN, Van Photos: NYDN]

Keri Hilson — who doesn’t like Beyonce, for whatever reason — is denying reports from “that” website claiming that a crazy Beyonce stan assaulted her with Beyonce CDs.

Here’s a screengrab of the tweet Media FAKE Out, along with a few other sites, claims Keri posted, then deleted:

Shortly after the story was posted to MFO, Miss Keri Baby took to Twitter to set the record straight:

Thanks for the laugh!! Now cut & paste yourself a life.

January 13, 2012 12:27 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@KeriHilson

Keri Hilson

When ppl use so much of their own time & effort to prove that they hate you, they must realize it has the opposite effect!

January 13, 2012 12:50 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@KeriHilson

Keri Hilson

Fake tweet, fake story. Photo-shop is a helluva drug lol.

January 13, 2012 12:57 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@KeriHilson

Keri Hilson

Fake or not … just the thought of some crazed Beyonce stan (or stans) hurling a pack of “4″ CDs at Keri Hilson is HEEEEE-LARIOUS!!!

Your thoughts?

Beyonce and Jay-Z‘s newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter isn’t even a week old yet….and already she’s made history!

Following her highly anticipated arrival, Baby Blue appeared as a featured artist on a new song from her daddy called “Glory.”

At the end of the song, Baby Blue makes her musical debut as she cries and coos in the background, taking inspiration from the hit Stevie Wonder classic “Isn’t She Lovely,” which also featured vocals from his then newborn daughter Aisha.

“Glory,” officially billed as “featuring B.I.C.” (an abbreviation for Blue Ivy Carter) enters Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart this week at No. 74, making Blue Ivy the youngest person ever to be credited with gracing a Billboard chart.

Why does B.I.C. claim the mark for youngest charted artist and not Wonder’s girl?

Two reasons: young Aisha was never officially credited on “Lovely” and the song did not reach a Billboard chart until Jan. 29, 1977 (when it entered Adult Contemporary at its No. 23 peak), almost two years after she was born.

Blue Ivy Carter/B.I.C. also benefits from the era in which she born. Technology today allows an advantage in that Jay-Z was able to record and release “Glory” less than 48 after her birth.

After almost 72 years of numbers, positions, peaks, lows, gains and debuts — the first national Billboard chart was published the week of July 27, 1940 — the little princess born to the reigning king and queen of R&B/hip-hop breaks the mold almost concurrently with her arrival into Beyonce’s anticipating, loving arms.

[Billboard]

Blue Ivy is in good company too, as her parents have a few accolades of their own, including dad Jay-Z’s 15 Grammy Awards, and mom Beyonce’s 16 Grammys, as well as her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Now that Blue has made history on the Billboard charts, just like her famous mommy and daddy, she’s an official member of the Carter-Knowles family!

Michelle Willimas has fired back at Twitter users who have recently criticized her for not sending out any congratulatory tweets to Beyonce and Jay-Z this week following the birth of their newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Shortly after the news broke that Beyonce and Jay-Z’s baby girl was born, lots of celebrities took to Twitter to congratulate the couple, however, one celebrity was missing from the mix, which raised some questions.

When former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams didn’t tweet about baby Blue Ivy, some crazy azz Beyonce stans users decided to take it upon themselves to ‘put her in check.’

One user wrote, which Michelle retweeted:

RT @tysandsnyc: @RealMichelleW BITCH, YOU BETTER CONGRATULATE YOUR KING ON GIVING BIRTH TO HER CHILD. (Unbelievable)

January 8, 2012 4:55 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@RealMichelleW

Michelle Williams

Michelle didn’t take the criticism lightly though. She instantly fired back at the fans questioning her, telling them she’s too close to Beyonce to congratulate her on Internet, where Williams points out the superstar won’t even see it, since she doesn’t even use Twitter.

Let’s get ONE thing straight….I do NOT have to say congrats to someone when they’re NOT on twitter…ESPECIALLY when I talk or email them all the time….or when I’ll be physically present as well…so harrassing and stalking my timeline to see if I’ve mentioned something is POINTLESS!!! My friendship with people aren’t always for twitter display. Respect that and get a LIFE!!! Enjoy this FINE day!!! God bless!!!!

She later tweeted:

This is a beautiful, precious, private time between two people and excitement is to be expected but NOT disrespect! #churchdismissed

January 8, 2012 5:06 PM via UberSocial for BlackBerryReplyRetweetFavorite

@RealMichelleW

Michelle Williams

Apparently, the next day Michelle continued to receive tweets from users who felt like she needed to say something about Blue Ivy on Twitter. A user tweeted, “So no congrats to Beyonce from you ey? Interesting *pauses to think* @RealMichelleW”

Michelle responded, “@10ebaby i Already told her…..IN PERSON……now let it go my love!!!!”

Thoughts?

New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital has issued the following statement (via spokesman Frank Danza) in response to the various inaccurate news reports floating around regarding the birth of Blue Ivy Carter:

“Lenox Hill Hospital and its staff were delighted to welcome the Carter family for the birth of their firstborn on Saturday evening, but we are troubled by the misinformation being circulated in some news media reports. The suggestion that the couple paid $1.3 million to rent an entire maternity floor is simply not true. The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations. Our executive suites are available for any patient, including the food service and amenities provided to the Carter family.

“The family does have its own security detail on site. However, the hospital has been and continues to be in control of managing all security at the facility. We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the births of their own children over the past three days. No security plan that we or the Carters’ security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and to date, no families have complained to the hospital about being denied access to the NICU.

“Lenox Hill Hospital takes patient privacy and safety very seriously. And while we congratulate the Carter family on the birth of their child, we value the loyalty of ALL of our patients and always strive to ensure a positive experience, knowing that the birth of a child is a wonderful moment producing memories that last a lifetime.”

Now that Beyonce and Jay-Z have finally welcomed their first child into the world, lots of people have questions about why the superstar couple decided to name their newborn daughter “Blue Ivy Carter.”

While there has been no official word from the intensely private couple on why they gave their daughter such a unique name, and how they came up with it, fans of Jay-Z (born: Shawn Corey Carter) have long known that the color ‘blue’ holds a special place in the rapper’s heart.

“My favorite hue is Jay-Z blue,” he raps in the song “Go Crazy” featuring fellow rapper Young Jeezy.

And not only that, but Jay-Z has also has a popular album series called “the Blueprint,” which has seen three releases so far (“Blueprint 1″ – 2001, “Blueprint 2″ – 2002, and “Blueprint 3″ – 2009).

As far as the baby’s middle name “Ivy” is concerned, it’s a well-known fact that Jay-Z and Beyonce (born: Beyonce Giselle Knowles) both have a ‘thing’ with the number 4.

Jay-Z’s Birthday: December 4th
Beyonce’s Birthday: September 4th
The day Beyonce and Jay-Z got married: April 4th
Beyonce’s latest album: “4″
Jay-Z’s next (rumored) solo album: “The Blueprint 4″

And since the Roman Numerals for the number 4 is “IV,” it only makes sense that they would come up with the name “Ivy.” (Get it? I-V?)

READ: Beyonce and Jay-Z Release Statement Confirming Birth of Blue Ivy Carter

There are also some bizarre Illuminati-based theories surrounding BIC’s name, like the theory that “Blu Ivy” spelled backwards is “Eulb Yvi,” which is supposed to be Latin for “Lucifer’s daughter.” Or that “Blue” is an acronym for “Born Living Under Evil,” and “Ivy” stands for “Illuminati’s Very Youngest.”

But of course those are just “theories” made up by people with a lot of free time on their hands who seriously and truly believe that Beyonce, Jay-Z and a number of notable celebrities and public figures are a part of a “secret” society, that isn’t such a secret if everybody knows about it. (Right?)

As the International Business Times points out (regarding the whole “daughter of Lucifer” thing):

Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly say if angels possess the capability of reproduction, there is no mention in the Scripture either of Lucifer having a daughter.

As for the claim that “Eulb Yvi” means “Lucifer’s daughter” in Latin, there is no indication that these words have any Latin meaning. As per Google Translate, “Daughter” in Latin is “Filia” and “Lucifer” is Latin for “Morning Star.” So how is “Eulb Yvi” Lucifer’s daughter?

So there you have it. Lucifer doesn’t have a daughter and isn’t even capable of reproduction. Who would want to have a child with him anyway? Just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense…

What do you think about Beyonce and Jay-Z naming their newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter?

Take Our Poll

Beyonce and Jay-Z have released a joint statement officially confirming that Beyonce gave birth to a healthy baby girl named “Blue Ivy Carter” on Saturday (Jan 7), as we reported early Sunday morning.

“We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012,” the joint statement reads.

The usually private couple also provided a few intimate details surrounding the birth of their first child, including how she was delivered “naturally,” and not by C-section, as was reported by various media outlets this weekend.

The statement follows the release of Jay-Z’s new song “Glory,” a dedication to Baby Blue that features a snippet of her voice apparently just moments after her birth.

Hello Hello Baby Blue!

We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven.

She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.

We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.

- Beyoncé & JAY Z

[Beyonce's Facebook]

Beyonce first announced that she was expecting last year on August 28th at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, and since then, up until the very moment it was confirmed that she had given birth, nothing but speculation and curiosity has surrounded the singer and her pregnancy.

Now that Baby Blue Ivy is finally here, the world will have something new to talk about. (Or not, lol)

Congrats to the Carters (officially) on their new arrival!

Baby Carter has barely been here for 48 hours and new daddy Jay-Z has already released a new song called “Glory,” dedicated to his newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who was brought into this world officially on Saturday, January 7th 2011 at a hospital in New York City.

In the song, Jay-Z gives a few never-before-heard details about having his first child with his wife Beyonce, including how the couple previously had a miscarriage and how Blue Ivy was conceived right before Beyonce started working on her latest album “4.”

The Pharrell produced track also features a special guest appearance at the end from baby Blue Ivy herself!

The superstar couple have repeatedly denied requests from The Associated Press to confirm the birth of Blue Ivy, so we’re guessing the release of this new song serves as solid confirmation that Jay-Z and Beyonce did, indeed, welcome their first child together over the weekend.

Take a listen to “Glory” below:

Beyonce and Jay-Z are officially the proud parents of a healthy baby girl!

The most watched celebrity pregnancy in history has now finally come to an end now that various media reports confirm that Beyonce gave birth to a baby girl named “Blue Ivy Carter” via a scheduled C-section at a hospital in New York City late Saturday (Jan 7).

Late Saturday night, The NY Daily News reported that a very pregnant Beyonce, along with her husband Jay-Z (real name: Shawn Carter), had checked into Lenox Hospital on the upper east side of NYC under the pseudonym “Ingrid Jackson.”

Hospital staffers say the couple had rented out the entire fourth floor of the hospital for $13 million, and the floor is being heavily guarded by security, who are patrolling around the clock.

According to the Daily News:

On Saturday night, people were seen bringing bags of takeout and a dozen bottles of red wine onto the heavily guarded hospital wing.

After 11 p.m., even doctors and nurses were barred from entering the fourth floor, prompting one doc to complain that he had patients to see.

In an effort to keep images from leaking to the public, hospital workers placed tape over security cameras and are forcing employees to turn in cell phones when they arrive for their shifts, a source said.

E! Online was the first to break the news that Beyonce and Jay-Z had welcomed their baby girl in a private wing of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Music mogul Russell Simmons, a friend of the couple, were among the first celebrities to celebrate Baby Carter’s new arrival. “Congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z,” he tweeted.

An excited Rihanna also sent out a congratulatory message to the Carters. “Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih,” she tweeted.

Further confirming the news, Beyonce’s hometown paper The Houston Chronicle writes, “Beyoncé has given birth to a girl early this evening in New York, says a close source. Baby and mom are doing fine.”

Reps for Beyonce and Jay-Z have yet to confirm the news. Keep checking back for updates!

Looks like Beyonce is still VERY pregnant!

For the first time since rumors last month claimed Beyonce had already given birth to her first child, the R&B/Pop diva was spotted in New York City Thursday night (Jan 5) showing off her HUGE baby bump.

Paparazzi caught the 30-year-old superstar, dressed in skinny jeans, a black blazer and a scarf covering her belly, as she was escorted out of a New York office building alongside her mother Tina Knowles.

This is the first time Beyonce has been pictured since December 21st 2011, however witnesses recently spotted the star and her husband Jay-Z eating at Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve.

“She was definitely a pregnant lady that night,” said an onlooker. “They sat side by side and had a cozy and intimate dinner. They seemed to be having a lovely time.”

The witness said that the parents-to-be feasted on fried chicken and oysters, and also noted that Beyonce’s fashion sense was on point, as usual.

“She looked amazing. She wore sky-high heels. It was really impressive for an enormously pregnant woman,” added the source. “She looked like she was about to give birth.”

Beyonce’s younger sister Solange also confirmed that her sister was still very much pregnant on New Year’s Day. “Shout out to my sister for being THE cutest pregnant woman ever!” she tweeted.

More photos of Beyonce in New York City are below:

Those anxiously awaiting to see Beyonce and Jay-Z cradling their bundle of joy on the cover of a celebrity tabloid magazine whenever the baby makes its grand arrival will be very sad to know that no such thing will ever happen in this lifetime. (Ever!)

Huffpost Celeb‘s Rob Shuter reports:

“They are one of the most private couples,” one magazine editor told me. “We have made several offers to their people about running exclusive images of mother and baby and no one has responded.”

Today, some celebrity babies are splashed across the covers of weekly magazines before they’ve even opened their eyes.

Often when such a deal is made, the contract stipulates that the baby cannot be seen in public for a few weeks before and/or after the magazine hits the newsstands.

“If Beyonce and Jay-Z do decide to share their child with the world, they will probably go the same route as Tom Cruise and Katie [Holmes],” the editor explains.

“Instead of selling the images to a weekly publication, they would give them away for nothing to lock in a cover of a monthly like Vanity Fair. But knowing this couple, it is unlikely we will ever see a staged picture of the child.”

A spokesperson for Vanity Fair declined to comment.

Brad and Angelina broke the record when they sold images of their twins, Knox and Vivienne, for upwards of $12 million, with the understanding that the proceeds would be donated to charity.

Other celebrities who have sold baby pictures include Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Alba, Jamie Lynn Spears and Tori Spelling.

But Beyonce and Jay-Z are so private that, after their 2008 wedding, they refused to even confirm they had tied the knot.

“Everyone reached out to the couple to buy wedding pictures and they refused,” an industry insider revealed. “They have an estimated net worth of over $700 million. It’s not like they need the money.”

[Huffpost Celeb]