Beyonce unveils new Tumblr blog, tons of personal photos

Given the heavily guarded world of Beyonce, those first photos of Blue Ivy Carter seemed surprisingly candid for the superstar. But wait until you see her Tumblr.

Mrs. Jay-Z on Thursday unveiled a simple Tumblr blog as an extension of her heavily designed official website, which has revamped portals for album info and business ventures like her fragrances. The "I Am" Tumblr section is packed with intimate portraits of Bey and her family.

"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," Beyonce writes in an introductory note.

The snaps are kinda thrilling: Bey and Jay walking luxurious sands, candids of the "Single Ladies" singer getting dolled up, sister Solange rubbing Beyonce's then-baby-bump. There's also a video, below, that teases to the genesis of Blue Ivy's name.

"We woke up this morning and took a nice little walk and passed by this beautiful blue tree. I think it's Blue Ivy, which will be quite appropriate," she says, rocking Blue in the womb at the time. 

Forthcoming updates could include some intimate looks at B in the studio, as she's reportedly working on two new music projects, as well as set shots from Clint Eastwood's update of "A Star Is Born" and Ryan Murphy's female ensemble "One Hit Wonder" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz.   

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Beyonce announces post-baby concerts for Memorial Day weekend

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Beyonce at the 2011 Glastonbury Music Festival in Britain. Credit: Joel Ryan / Associated Press

 

Beyonce announces post-baby concerts for Memorial Day weekend

Don't call it a comeback -- but Beyonce has booked her first singing gig since giving birth to her and Jay-Z's baby, Blue Ivy.

The working mom will perform on three dates over Memorial Day weekend as part of the grand opening festivities for Revel Resorts in Atlantic City, N.J.

While the Ministry can't imagine the booking fees for such an intimate engagement, we're thrilled Bey is back on her grind -- these dates are just the tip of the iceberg in a slate that also includes Clint Eastwood's "A Star Is Born" update and a possible movie musical with Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz.

The show will go off at Revel's Ovation Hall on May 25, 26 and 27, with tickets available starting April 6. Perhaps concertgoers will be treated to some of the new material the "Single Ladies" singer is developing.

Two records are reportedly in the works, according to producer Ryan Tedder of the band OneRepublic.

"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," he said last month. 

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-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Beyonce and Jay-Z take in a basketball game, the New York Knicks versus the New Jersey Nets, on Feb. 20 at Madison Square Garden. Bill Kostroun / Associated Press

 

Maya Rudolph charms as Beyonce, Michelle Obama on 'SNL'

Maya Rudolph slayed this weekend on "Saturday Night Live," as the sketch-comedy show alum took on everyone from Michelle Obama to Maya Angelou. But the funny lady hit her arguable high note portraying new mom Beyonce.

With cast member Jay Pharaoh playing mogul Jay-Z, the skit (watch it below) imagined the two at home receiving celebrity well-wishers after the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy.

"I asked the doctor, did I have a boy? And he said no, you had a single lady," Rudolph sings to LL Cool J (played by Kenan Thompson) and additional "guests" including Nicki Minaj and Prince.

Justin Timberlake provided some extra laughs as granola rocker Bon Iver, as did an appearance from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Taran Killam and Abby Elliott).

Rudolph proved a ratings champ for NBC on Saturday, as the "Bridesmaids" actress easily landed the highest ratings share for viewers 18-49. She got a little help from another alum, Amy  Poehler, who stopped by to host "Weekend Update" and to hit her and Rudolph's famous "Bronx Beat" sketch.

   

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Photo: Photo: Maya Rudolph at the Westwood premiere of "Bridesmaids" in April 2011. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty Images

Beyonce working on two new albums (and Blue Ivy diaper duty)

Clearly nothing can slow down Beyonce. The superstar and brand new mom has two new music projects in the works, according to one producer, as well as a film and raising daughter Blue Ivy.

Welcoming the little one on January 7 with husband Jay-Z, Beyonce was presumably tucked high above Manhattan changing diapers and cooing over little Blue's adorable face -- but a diva is a diva.

"The conversations about her next album literally just started and there [are] two projects happening," said Ryan Tedder, frontman of the band OneRepublic, tapped by the superstar to contribute.

"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."

Tedder added that the material he's been writing focuses on parenthood. There's also speculation that one of the projects he's helping Bey with could be the motion picture soundtrack for Clint Eastwood's "A Star Is Born" update -- that has Beyonce at the lead.

That's a little more on her plate than dance class and PTA meetings, but she's Beyonce -- she's built for this, no?

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-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Jay-Z and Beyonce watch Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic play in the men's final of the U.S. Open last year in New York City. Credit: Al Bello / Getty Images

 

Beyonce and Jay-Z share adorable photos of Blue Ivy Carter

Beyonce and Jay-Z surprised fans Friday with a sneak peek at baby daughter Blue Ivy Carter. The five photos include a glowing Beyonce holding her 1-month-old girl and beaming dad Jay-Z cradling Blue in his arms.

But the biggest surprise was the way the couple chose to reveal their daughter to the world: Tumblr. Some experts thought that Beyonce and Jay-Z would make millions off the baby photos just like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who took home $4 million for pictures of Shiloh. Instead, it appears they decided to post the photos for free.

In harmony with their decision to share Blue Ivy with the world on their own terms, this handwritten note appears on the site, “We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this Beautiful time in our lives. The Carter Family.”

PHOTOS: Baby pictures of Blue Ivy

Blue Ivy's aunt Solange Knowles couldn't wait to share the pictures with her friends on Twitter, posting, "THE PROUDEST AUNT IN THE WORLD....OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD! #HelloBlue :)))"

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Photo: Beyonce and Blue Ivy. Credit: Ed Burke for Beyonce.com / Associated Press.

Blue Ivy, the brand? Beyonce, Jay-Z move to trademark her name

Blue Ivy -- Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby daughter's name was uniquely identifiable almost instantly, and her business-savvy parents are moving quickly to make sure she owns it.

Like, owns it with a trademark.

Blue Ivy Carter's parents filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 26 protecting the little girl's name for possible use on a future line of baby goods, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Why the rush? There was no time to waste, it seems: Two Blue Ivy wanna-be entrepreneurs have already seen their applications swatted down, according to the Post, whose patent expert noted that no matter how many White House visits Bey and Jay had enjoyed, they'd still have to go through the office's first-come, first-served procedure like the rest of us.

However, a surge in applications is usual when a new name or phrase explodes into the lexicon, and because it's the office's job to sort things out, they try to anticipate trends and then fast-track applications inspired by names in the news, a trademark policy administrator told the Post.

Still, one Blue Ivy earned the ol' TM before Beyonce was even preggers: The Blue Ivy clothing store in Wisconsin got unknowingly lucky in early 2011.

Here's hoping they had no plans to one day launch a line of baby togs.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: Beyonce in November. Credit: Jemal Countess / Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyonce debuts her post-baby body at Jay-Z charity concert

Beyonce is back in her high heels -- and back in fighting shape -- nearly one month after giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Attending a charity concert put on by her husband, Jay-Z, Bey rolled up to Carnegie Hall flaunting serious curves in a coral dress on Monday. With her own mama Tina Knowles at her side, the star mingled with benefactors and fans alike.

Benefiting the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, Jay performed a full set list with the help of a 40-piece orchestra. He belted hits like "99 Problems" and the endearing track "Glory" -- dedicated to little Blue.

After "Glory," Jay admitted to the crowd he was unsure he'd make it through the song without falling apart over he and B's new addition. 

Blue joined the household on Jan. 7, delivered in Manhattan, sparking a Twitter frenzy and inspiring awe from folks, including family friend Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Additional concert guests included Liza Minnelli and Brooklyn Decker, who caught Jay and special guests Alicia Keys and Nas. 

What do you think of Beyonce's post-baby body? Tell us in comments. 

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Photo: Beyonce's rocking bod only one month after having baby Blue. Credit: WireImage

Sundance: Aziz Ansari ponders baby gifts for Blue Ivy Carter

Funnyman Aziz Ansari is quite serious when it comes to his love of hip-hop, so naturally gifts for Beyonce and Jay-Z's new baby, Blue Ivy Carter, would be on his mind.  

The Ministry ran into Ansari preparing for a stand-up performance at Bing Bar at the Sundance Film Festival, where the Jay-Z devotee told us what he'd send off to the newborn.

"I'd get her a bib that says, 'I got 99 problems and a bib ain't one,' " said Aziz.

Photos: The scene at Sundance 2012

That's not all he'd have in store for Blue -- Aziz famously illustrated the Jay and Kanye hit "...In Paris" using iPhone emoticons. He'd like to do another featuring the newborn (who already has a music credit under her belt).

"I wanna remix, like, Drake's 'I'm On One' and have Blue on the track like waaah," he said, doing his best baby cry.

We're down, Aziz. The comedian is prepping a new comedy tour to go up on his "Parks and Recreation" hiatus, about life as he approaches 30. But for any "Parks" fans, we had to ask what how his character Tom Haverford would handle Park City.

"Tom Haverford would hit every gifting lounge possible. He wouldn't be able to get into any parties because of all the bags he'd have on him," Ansari said. 

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-- Matt Donnelly
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Photo: Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times

Beyonce's baby Blue Ivy Carter gets a song from her daddy Jay-Z

Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce and Jay-Z's much-anticipated baby girl, arrived over the weekend and is already making major headlines.

Monday morning saw the release of "Glory," a tribute track from Jay wherein he reveals an excessively adorable amount of excitement over his firstborn -- and that Beyonce suffered a miscarriage before Blue was conceived.

"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic / We was afraid you'd disappear but naw / Baby, you magic," Jay says on the track. The musician born Shawn Carter also mentions "false alarms and false starts / all made better by the sound of your heart."

Now that Blue is here, all is well -- and delivered naturally, despite rumors of a C-section. A small sample of her crying appears on "Glory," which we totally qualify as her musical debut. So we should get used to her name, one that's generated much social media commentary and analysis.

The color blue is heavily associated with Jay's career -- from his trademark blue fitted Yankee cap to his earlier series of smash records, "The Blueprint." Ivy, suggests the New York Daily News, is taken from "IV," the Roman numeral representing the number 4. Bey and Jay have long been obsessed with the number, as both were born on the 4th and got married on that date. Beyoncé's latest solo LP, her fourth, was titled "4." We think you're getting the picture.

Now, in grand tradition for this chart-topping pair, the good news is always sprinkled with a bit of drama.

One other new parent alleged that access to his child was limited because of the security surrounding Blue and her visitors. "People don't need to be treated like this when dealing with sick children," the angry father told a New York CBS affiliate. He alleged that a hallway giving access to the neonatal intensive care unit, which is reserved for care of premature babies, had been closed to accommodate the star party.

Lenox Hill is denying this. 

"No security plan that we or the Carters' security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access ... and to date, no families have complained to the hospital about being denied access to the NICU," the hospital said in a statement. 

Then there's the case of Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmate Michelle Williams, who decided to deliver her congratulations in a form other than Twitter. And that didn't go over well.

After badgering messages from fans who demanded she praise Bey and Blue, Williams struck back by explaining her warm wishes would be made in person.

"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 [sic] harrassing and stalking my timeline to see if I've mentioned something is POINTLESS!!! My friendship with people aren't always for twitter display," Williams wrote.

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-- Matt Donnelly
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Photo: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter in December and Beyonce in November. Credits: Charles Sykes / Associated Press, left; Jemal Countess / Getty Images, right.  

Beyonce has a baby girl! She and Jay-Z welcome Blue Ivy Carter

Beyonce and Jay-Z welcomed their first baby Saturday night in New York City, giving their daughter the name Blue Ivy Carter.

New auntie Solange Knowles and famous friends Rihanna, Diddy, Russell Simmons and Gwyneth Paltrow were among those tweeting their best wishes, with Rihanna dubbing the little girl "princess Carter" and Paltrow writing, "Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already."

"The most beautiful girl in the world," Solange said on Twitter, adding later that "Information that goes through the telephone, always gets delivered wrong," likely a reference to early reports that the baby's name was Ivy Blue, rather than Blue Ivy.

Kourtney Kardashian and Snooki also got in on the party, with the latter dubbing Queen B a "sexpot" who deserved congrats for her "baby gurl," and the former invoking -- no lie -- Britney Spears.

Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) and Beyonce had reportedly arranged a private wing in Lenox Hill Hospital for the birth, which according to E! News sources was via scheduled C-section. She revealed the pregnancy in August onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Congrats to the new mom and dad, and readers -- what do you think of the name?

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-- Christie D'Zurilla
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Photos, from left: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter in December and Beyonce in November. Credits: Charles Sykes / Associated Press; Jemal Countess / Getty Images