Beyoncé

Whitney Houston Remembered By Beyonce

12 Feb 2012 18:32:28 EST

'She was the ultimate legend. The ultimate woman,' Beyonce says in a statement to MTV News about Houston, who died Saturday in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena

Beyonce, Jewel, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston perform on "Vh1 Divas" in 2003
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

One day after pop music lost one of its icons and greatest voices, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé is opening up about the death of the pop superstar. She recalled meeting the singer for the first time 15 years ago, just as she was breaking into the industry herself.

"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 said in a statement to MTV News. "She took the time to make everyone feel like they were very important to her." Beyoncé continued in the statement that Houston's killer vocal abilities helped make her the superstar she was. "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 said. "She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us. God bless her." Her statement comes on the same day that Houston will be remembered at the 2012 Grammy Awards. B's "Dreamgirls" co-star Jennifer Hudson will lead the Grammy tribute to the late icon, along with Houston's longtime friend and collaborator, Chaka Khan. She joins a long list of divas who have recalled Houston's undeniable influence on their own careers, including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera. "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston," Mariah Carey wrote about the loss of Houston, who was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel on Saturday."My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." It's not only pop divas who are recounting her influence, but also producers from the world of EDM. "She had the swagger and she had the voice," Diplo told MTV News during our pre-show live stream. "I was listening to a bunch of records last night, and I was amazed at how deeply I felt about her records as a child." MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the Grammys red carpet all evening to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch reactions and remembrances at MTV.com. Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our Facebook page.

Related Videos

Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon

Related Photos

Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos

Related Artists

Beyonce And Jay-Z Unveil First Blue Ivy Carter Photos

10 Feb 2012 19:20:35 EST

'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter
Photo: Courtesy of the Carter family

And now we've seen her. On Friday (February 10), Jay-Z posted the first photos of his and Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, on his Life + Times website.

The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father. Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed. There's a note that 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." The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark Blue Ivy's name. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. The Washington Post reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children. Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. B was photographed twice this week, including at the first night of Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall. What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos

All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

Related Photos

Related Artists

Will Beyonce Grace The Grammys Red Carpet?

10 Feb 2012 13:53:32 EST

Experts weigh in on when the new mom will make her next appearance, and when we might get to see Blue Ivy.
By Jocelyn Vena

Beyoncé leaves 40/40 Club
Photo: Splash News

Beyoncé has already stepped out not once but twice support of Jay-Z as he held two shows at Carnegie Hall this week in New York City, and now her fans are wondering when and where the next great B sighting might be.

Will it be at the Grammy Awards on Sunday? Or is she going to save it for when she reveals her daughter, Blue Ivy, for the first time? "This option was typical Beyoncé. She isn't interested in getting paid to pose on a tabloid cover. It was a non-event," Huffington Post celebrity columnist Rob Shuter told MTV News about the first two Queen B sightings. "She isn't one of those reality-type celebrities that turn up at everything just to be seen. Her next big moment will be when she walks a red carpet for a project she is involved in." With Beyoncé choosing to go a more low-key route this week, celebrity editor David Caplan notes that there's a good chance that she may walk the carpet this Sunday. She's up for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her Andre 3000-assisted 4 track, "Party," as well as Best Long Form Music Video for her "I Am ... World Tour" special. Jay-Z is also up for some prizes, including Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album for the work he did with Kanye West on "Otis" and Watch the Throne. "Going forward, I expect her next big reveal to be at a show like the Grammys, where she can really jazz it up with a gown, which people want to see," he noted. "I think we'll see Beyoncé gradually appear in more photos at events with Jay-Z as she seeks to get back into the groove. And once those baby photos are out, I wouldn't be surprised to see her out and about occasionally with Blue doing mommy-related tasks." So, how should we expect to see those first photos? "Since Beyoncé chose to make the reveal by simply stepping out, and letting the throngs of photographers waiting for her to have a field day by taking tons of photos, her reveal allowed every media outlet to run the photos and make the reveal themselves, as opposed to if Beyoncé made an exclusive first post-baby picture deal with a magazine like People or Us or a monthly magazine like Vogue or Vanity Fair," he said. "Stylistically, had she done a proper shoot with a magazine, the photos would have a much more top-notch quality to them, but when celebs do such photo shoots, they open themselves up to scrutiny since the public sometimes shuns on celebs who get paid for such photos, which happens, especially with the celebrity weeklies," he continued. "But the photos are great, and it's obvious she worked with at least one photo agency, since she posted very clear photos of herself on her website." And, since B has already been out and about, that ultimately affects the value of future pictures of her. "Now that the first pics of her post-baby have been revealed, the monetary value of subsequent photos of her — without her baby, of course — will be of course pricey," Caplan said. "But ultimately less in value since there's already a set out." Well, whenever B decides to make her big red-carpet statement or introduce the world to Blue Ivy, she's certainly already floored her friends with her dazzling post-baby looks. "She looks fantastic. She looks fantastic. I told her she looks so hot!" Kelly Rowland exclaimed to MTV News this week. "She looks so hot; just even sexy. Love her!" Do you think Beyoncé will show up at the Grammys? Leave your comment below. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

Related Videos

Related Photos

2012 Grammy Awards Pre-Parties

Related Artists

Beyoncé

Beyonce Looks 'Sexy' Post-Baby, Destiny's Child Vets Say

10 Feb 2012 10:03:14 EST

Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland say the new mom looks 'amazing' and that Blue Ivy is 'beautiful.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino

Beyonce attends the after party following Jay-Z's concert at Carnegie Hall to benefit The United Way Of New York City and the Shawn Carter Foundation at the 40 / 40 Club on February 6, 2012 in New York City.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

Earlier this week, new mom Beyoncé stepped out to debut her post-baby body for the first time. Decked out one night in a body-hugging red number and another in a glittering black cocktail dress, B was out in full force to support her hubby Jay-Z when he took the stage for a two-night engagement at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.

B certainly left her fans speechless with her ability to bounce back to hotness just a month after giving birth to baby Blue Ivy, and her former Destiny's Child pals were equally floored. Michelle Williams dished to MTV News, "Man, "She looks fantastic, amazing, amazing, amazing. I wasn't surprised because even before she was pregnant she had a six pack, she was very toned. So, obviously it just went back very quickly." Fellow DC gal pal Kelly Rowland also can't handle how Beyoncé is bringing sexy back one hot dress at a time. "She looks fantastic. She looks fantastic. I told her she looks so hot!" Rowland exclaimed. "She looks so hot — just even sexier. Love her!" And Williams noted that it's not just Beyoncé who is doing well these days, but so is 1-month-old Blue. "Absolutely! Absolutely [I've seen everyone]!" she said. "Everybody's doing fantastic, amazing." Williams' sentiments about Blue Ivy mirror those of comments Rowland previously made about J and B's glory. "She's absolutely beautiful!" Rowland said back in January. "And I say that with such a huge grin! I'm so excited. "We all just stared at her," she added about meeting the baby for the first time. "I just stared at her. She is so beautiful."

Are you excited to see pictures of Blue Ivy? Leave your comments below!

Related Videos

All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

Related Photos

Jay-Z Performs At Carnegie Hall

Related Artists

Beyoncé

Beyonce And Jay-Z's Blue Ivy Trademark: An Expert Explains

09 Feb 2012 15:20:04 EST

Couple likely 'trying to protect what they rightfully own or created,' family law expert tells MTV News.
By John Mitchell

Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect their month-old baby's name and reserve it for future use, MTV News has confirmed. The superstar couple reportedly sought the trademark to stop the use of Blue Ivy's name by others.

It's a smart move, according to family law attorney and author Vikki Ziegler. "[Seeking the trademark] forestalls competitors from using the child's name and or third parties from attempting to sell the baby's name back to the couple," Ziegler told MTV News. "They are likely trying to protect what they rightfully own or created, shall we say, by trademarking Blue Ivy's name." The application to trademark Blue Ivy Carter's name, filed by BGK Trademark Holdings (Beyoncé's company) is currently pending but will likely be approved because, as the Washington Post reports, parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of their minor children. "In essence, it's a trademark for a brand, and this brand is expected to be one hot commodity — just look at Blue Ivy's parents," Ziegler said. "Anyone else that tried to use the name after the trademark was approved could be sued and held liable for damages."

While the Patent Office looks fondly on attempts to trademark the name of one's own child, attempts to do the same with the names of other people's kids are another story, as two designers learned when they sought — just days after Blue Ivy's birth — to trademark the baby's name for their own use. Applications from fashion designer Joseph Mbeh to patent "Blue Ivy Carter NYC" and by an unnamed designer to trademark "Blue Ivy Carter Glory IV" for a fragrance line were denied by the Patent Office, which noted in its decision that the name belonged to a "very famous infant" and consumers would wrongly assume that any products bearing the name had been approved by Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Ziegler noted that the trademark would "protect against others using the child's name as a brand of merchandise in the same marketplace," so it will not impact the "Blue Ivy" trademark held by a clothing boutique in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The store filed to trademark its name on January 19, 2011, a year before Queen B and Jay made the name famous. They received approval on August 23 — five days before Beyoncé announced her pregnancy at the MTV Video Music Awards. What do you think about Beyoncé and Jay-Z trademarking Blue Ivy's name? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos

All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

Related Artists

Simon Cowell Squashes Beyonce, Mariah Carey 'X Factor' Rumors

08 Feb 2012 10:37:46 EST

Judge also takes shot at 'The Voice,' asking, 'How many artists have they discovered?'
By John Mitchell

Simon Cowell
Photo: FOX

Simon Cowell is finally opening up about the cast shakeups on "The X Factor" as well as about rumors that two very famous divas are in talks to join Fox's reality singing competition.

Late last month, it was announced that judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones had been fired from "X Factor" and would be replaced in its second season. The announcement came as a shock to fans, but Cowell tells "Extra" in an interview airing Wednesday (February 8) that the decision was a long time coming and was ultimately made "at the beginning of the year — and we were told it had to happen straight away." While her dismissal came as a surprise, Cowell says Abdul "was very gracious" about it. "She understands it's business," Cowell said of his real-life friend. "It's never personal." Scherzinger, according to Cowell, was "disappointed" with the producers' decision to replace her. But the former Pussycat Doll insisted in a new "Access Hollywood" interview that she "had a wonderful experience on the show." "What happened? Well, all I know is that I gave 110 percent to that show," she said. "I know everybody's talking about it, they're saying good, bad, they love me or hate me, but the one thing you can't say is that I didn't give it my all." Cowell also used his time with "Extra" to squash rumors that Beyoncé or Mariah Carey might be joining the "X Factor" team when it returns to Fox later this year. He seemed particularly amused by talk that the show was offering Beyoncé a nine-figure contract to join the judges' table. "The budget for the show is $100 million. That would never ever happen. It's absolute nonsense," he told "Extra." "No one is going to pay $100 million for someone. I genuinely haven't had a conversation with her about it. Not at all." The same can be said for Carey, who Cowell said he likes very much and would be a fine addition to the show but is an impractical choice because of the long hours involved. "I adore her, love her," he said. "But you can't expect someone who has just had two kids [and] has a record career to make the kind of commitment we would need on this show." "X Factor" did not perform as strongly as expected in the ratings last fall, which many feel precipitated the planned revamp, though the ever-cool Cowell is not sweating the competition. In this latest interview, Cowell took on "The Voice," which returned to NBC after the Super Bowl and delivered big ratings, saying the makeup of his judging panel is what sets "X Factor" apart. "I would ask how many records have they made, how many artists have they discovered?" Cowell asked of "The Voice" mentors Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. "That's where we have to be different on the judging panel. It's very important that you have people on the panel that have actually signed and made artists successful all over the world, not just have made hit records yourself."

Related Videos

MTV News Extended Play: 'X Factor' Judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid

Related Artists

Beyonce's First Post-Baby Appearance Was Picture-'Perfect'

07 Feb 2012 17:15:48 EST

'It's perfect for this private couple,' one celebrity expert tells MTV News of B's low-key NYC outing.
By Jocelyn Vena

Beyonce leaves 40/40 Club in New York City
Photo: Splash News

It was only a month ago that fans were wondering when the first images of new mom Beyoncé might hit the Net. On Monday night, those questions were answered. Just four weeks after giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy, B was back on the scene to celebrate hubby Jay-Z's first show at Carnegie Hall.

Wearing a form-fitting red dress, she hit up a post-show party held at Jay's 40/40 Club in New York City. And while Beyoncé could have premiered her post-baby body on a splashy red carpet, celebrity experts note that the more understated move is very B. "It's perfect for this private couple. She didn't make a big deal walking a red carpet at an award show or posing on the cover of a magazine," Huffington Post celebrity columnist Rob Shuter told MTV News on Tuesday (February 7). "Beyoncé made it as low-key an event as possible and at the same time plugged her husband's club." Check out more photos from B's night out! For the appearance, Beyoncé was decked out in a fiery-red Temperley London dress, Christian Louboutin heels and an Alexander McQueen clutch. While that may sound very glam, another expert was surprised by just how modest the look actually was. "Beyoncé looks amazing in her first post-baby appearance. Even thought it made sense for her to make her debut last night to show her support for her husband and the charity his concert benefited, her outfit was fairly simple," celebrity editor David Caplan said. "I expected her to make her post-baby debut at a really glitzy event or awards show, like maybe the Grammys, in a gorgeous gown and really steal the show. But clearly she wanted to be seen, since she even posted photos of herself right away on her website, which stars don't typically do — they'll just let the media pick up and run the photos."

So, will B and Jay play it just as cool when it comes to releasing the first shot of their newborn? "It will be a [paparazzi] shot taken on the beach or when the couple is on vacation," Shuter predicted. "They won't reveal the baby to get a [magazine] cover like Bethenny [Frankel] or those other reality stars." Caplan also proposed that a baby photo will probably leak. "As for when will we see baby Blue, I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of grainy-looking paparazzi photo emerges," he said. "Those photographers are very crafty, even if Beyoncé and Jay-Z think they're doing all they can to keep Blue away from photographers. But ultimately, I think you can expect to see her baby photos in a magazine pictorial, and that will be Blue's introduction to the world. That's the real reveal people want to see." Are you looking forward to the first photos of Blue Ivy? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related Videos

All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival

Related Artists

Beyonce Makes First Post-Pregnancy Appearance At Jay-Z Show

07 Feb 2012 08:34:08 EST

Singer makes an entrance at Jigga's Carnegie Hall show in a form-fitting red dress.
By Gil Kaufman

Beyoncé leaves 40/40 Club
Photo: Splash News

There was no way Beyoncé was going to miss hubby Jay-Z's first gig at Carnegie Hall  on Monday night. The new mom made a huge splash just walking into the show, her first public appearance since the birth of Blue Ivy Carter  last month.

Wearing a form-fitting Alice by Temperley dress, 4-inch Christian Louboutin heels and holding a gold Alexander McQueen clutch, the singer looked in fighting form for her big night out. According to the New York Daily News, at an afterparty at Jay's 40/40 club, she reportedly said, "It was amazing," when asked about Jigga's show. The newspaper said he chilled out after the concert by having a celery-and-champagne snack and threw his arms around Bey as she greeted him in the middle of the club just before midnight. They then went up to the VIP section and hung out with Nas and Santigold. It was the capper to a historic night for Jay, who filled the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for the first of two benefit concerts for the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way to raise money for gifted high school students who need financial assistance to attend college. Backed by a full orchestra that included Roots drummer ?uestlove and Young Guru playing DJ, Hov took the stage just before 9 p.m. in a white tux jacket and holding a bottle of champagne. Jay began the night by shouting the iconic line from his 2003 song "Public Service Announcement" in which he declares "allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Hov." Among the guests who joined him over the course of the show were Alicia Keys and Nas, but the one cameo everyone was waiting for was Blue's cooing in the song "Glory,"  which Jay released just days after his daughter's birth.

Related Videos

Related Photos

Jay-Z Performs At Carnegie Hall

Related Artists

Beyonce Gets A College Course, Possible Houston Monument

29 Jan 2012 14:11:53 EST

Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Related Artists

Beyoncé

Will Beyonce Join The Ranks Of Celebrity Mommy Moguls?

26 Jan 2012 17:39:38 EST

Celebrity mom Kimora Lee Simmons and other experts discuss balancing motherhood and business.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Now that Beyoncé has added a new job to her résumé — mom — there's a slew of potential new projects the pop-star mogul might add to her ever-growing empire. Gwen Stefani, Madonna and Victoria Beckham are just a sampling of pop stars who have managed to write a whole new chapter into their careers thanks to motherhood.

These celebs have expanded their personal brands to include children's clothing lines, books, songs and movies and have even revitalized themselves in their image as super-glam supermoms. As Beyoncé looks to the future and her role as Blue Ivy's mama, mommy mogul Kimora Lee Simmons and Christopher Gavigan, who works with Jessica Alba on her Honest brand, talked to MTV News about the balance between parenthood and the business world. "I always tell people I'm not the glamorous Hollywood mom," said Simmons, who continues to expand her own fashion brand to include the Shinto Clinical skin-care line. "I'm not the kind of celebrity that lives in the spotlight. I'm famous from work that I do. I've always been in the business and raised my family in the business so it's like a second nature for me. I think that's the key is striking a balance. For me it's always about prioritizing." What's Simmons' advice for new celeb moms looking to follow her lead? "I think it's about choosing what you want and going after that. Do the best you can, but you don't have to be Superwoman." And Simmons isn't the only Hollywood A-lister trying to do it all. Alba launched Honest with Gavigan to give moms a place to find eco-friendly products for their babies. "Jessica is like every other mom. Every other mom is a major multi-tasker," Gavigan said of working with the star. "Jessica was very in line with everyone, the average mom and dad out there." "Find what you're passionate about and go do that," he advised to any future mom moguls. "You articulate that in a brand or in a way you feel from a business perspective that you feel you get your focus articulated in some meaningful or special way. A lot of it is partnerships and leveraging the greatest assets of each other." With all that advice in mind, some celebrity experts weighed in on what B just might do now that she is a mom. "I think it's going to come very naturally for Beyoncé to emerge as this celebrity mom, just given all the current existing brand extensions she has," said David Caplan, who has worked at Star and People magazines. "Having a child will give her legitimacy, obviously, to the moms, and clearly there's lots and lots of money to be had there. So, I think you will see her lend her hand in the baby arena, whether it's her brand extensions intentionally or just emerging as some sort of Hollywood celebrity mom icon, which happens sometimes with these celebrity mothers. "Whether it's intentional or not, I think she's definitely going to emerge as a celebrity mother icon," he continued. "And I'm sure she'll take advantage of that and invest in her brand." A suggestion from another expert fits right in line with the first move her hubby, Jay-Z, made when he dropped his track "Glory" just says after Blue's birth, which features his baby girl. "I think that this is a woman that has tried terribly hard to keep her private life private," HuffPost celebrity columnist Rob Shuter said. "I think it'll be the same with her baby. I can't imagine her doing a Bethenny Frankel move."

How do you think motherhood will affect Beyoncé's career? Share your thoughts below!

Related Videos