BEYONCÉ: World tour comes to Vegas!

BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

Mrs. Carter comes to Las Vegas!
With her tour soon to stop in the world’s entertainment capital, Beyoncé Knowles has become a dominant cultural force.

If you were to collect all of the adjectives ever used to describe Beyoncé Knowles and condense them into a single word, captivating would likely be the end result. Her personal and professional lives are the object of such deep fascination it is counterintuitive to believe that the multitalented, 17-time Grammy winner described herself as “shy” when she was a girl growing up in Houston, Texas. Today, it is the opposite; she is most at ease in the spotlight. “When I am on stage,” says the superstar, “I am free.”

Recently named by Time Magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people, the honor encapsulates an already-legendary 15-year career in music, film, fashion and philanthropy. The HBO documentary “Life Is But a Dream” allowed the world to enter the private space that includes husband of five years, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and daughter, Blue Ivy.

“The best thing in my life is waking up and seeing my daughter’s face,” says Beyoncé. “She is starting to talk, and every day there is something new that she does. Motherhood is so much more fulfilling than anything else in the world.”

Next month, Las Vegas will welcome the most public of Beyoncé’s personas when her “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” arrives June 26 at the Mandalay Bay Arena. The electrifying set list will no doubt be matched with the masterful dance moves that have become her trademark. On tap is a celebration of all the phases in her career, with offerings like “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” commanding the attention due to songs that helped bring about a revolution in pop music.

As strong supporters of President Barack Obama in both of his bids for the White House, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have distinguished themselves with several goodwill efforts meant to uplift humanity. Earlier this year, they celebrated their fifth anniversary with a visit to Cuba; the trip generated its share of controversy, but it was undeniably consistent with their longtime commitment to global outreach. In fact, that dedication led Beyoncé to partner her tour with the national Goodwill organization, casting a brighter spotlight on their efforts to help people in need.

“Goodwill helps people get back to work by providing education, job training and placement,” said Beyoncé. “I wanted to team up with an organization that puts the people first, and works every day to help them improve and reestablish their lives.”

As we commemorate Mother’s Day, Beyoncé is filled with joy as a new mom. She recently told Oprah Winfrey, “The birth of my daughter introduced me to myself.”

Motherhood also has given Beyoncé new inspiration to reflect on the values bestowed by her own mother, Tina Knowles. “My mother has always told me that beauty fades, and who you are within is forever,” said Beyoncé. “She has also taught me to always work hard, and to treat the janitor in the room the same as you would the president. Everyone is the same. She reminds me to be humble, and to keep my spirit. I love my mother. She is strong and also my friend. We don’t always agree on everything, but she is my best friend. I remember seeing the pride on my mom’s face when I sang the song ‘At Last,’ at (President Obama’s) inauguration. That moment was priceless.”