Possible congratulations are in order for happily marrieds Beyoncé and hubby Jay-Z because, according to US Weekly magazine, the couple are pregs with their first child. Now, thus far, the couple themselves have not commented on the report … but according to the magazine’s “sources close to the couple”, Beyoncé is pregs. Read on for the reported deets:

Beyonce Knowles better brush up on her lullabies. The 29-year-old singer is pregnant with her first child, the new Us Weekly reports. Despite the happy news, no one was more surprised than the singer herself. “B was shocked. She loves kids, but she wasn’t ready to be a mother just yet,” says a source of the singer, who married rapper Jay-Z in 2008. “She really wanted to get her album done and tour the world again.” Still, another insider says that the singer, who is in her first trimester, realizes that “this is a gift from God and she’s so happy.” Friends of the couple are already expressing their well-wishes for the parents-to-be. “Jay has been all about family since I met him, and he’s always going to be,” record executive Kevin Liles, who has known the rapper for years, tells Us. “I wish them the best.” Knowles’ sister Solange — and mom to Julez, 6 — agrees. “She’s got the most beautiful heart,” she tells Us of her big sis. “She’ll be a great mom.”

There’s no question that B-Jay would make great parents … and I’m sure pretty much everyone would LOVE for the incredibly talented couple to spawn but … I ain’t buyin’ this report just yet. In the last few months, the rumor cycle was claiming that it was Mariah Carey who is pregs (and claim that has, thus far, not be substantiated or proved) so now it seems that Beyoncé is the latest target of rumors. While I would be thrilled to learn that this news is true … I think I’ll wait to hear it from the couple themselves.

[Source]

Happily marrieds Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been spotted aboard a luxury yacht off the coast of the French Riviera this week and it looks like the couple have been having a great time! Here are a few photos of B-Jay on holiday:

They earned an estimated $150million between them last year, so Beyoncé and Jay-Z decided to splash some of their hard-earned cash on a lavish summer getaway this week. The power couple were spotted holidaying aboard a huge luxury yacht off the French Riviera with friends and family. Dressed in a Fifties-style floral bikini complete with high-waisted pants, Beyoncé soaked up the sun on the top deck of the cruiser. The 28-year-old topped off her look with oversized sunglasses and gold hoop earrings and listen to tunes with a set of headphones. She was later joined by her 40-year-old husband, who sheltered from the cool sea breeze in a fluffy white towel, and a young boy, thought to be her newphew Daniel, 5. The energetic young companion was seen jumping around the pair as they tried to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. The pair plan to have children of their own, but they are in no rush. When quizzed about her plans for pregnancy, Beyonce said earlier this month: ‘No dates, no times – it will happen when I am ready.’ The Single Ladies singer and the rapper have also been seen taking in the sights of Cannes, France, and Portofino, Italy, in recent days.

Yeah, I wouldn’t count on babies from B-Jay just yet but I think they’ll spawn one day. In the meantime, it looks like they’ll just enjoy as much free time as they can while they can.

[Photo credit: Splash News, Bauer-Griffin; Source]

The 2010 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival officially got underway at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA yesterday with an opening day line-up that included — among many others — She & Him (made up of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Them Crooked Vultures, Public Image Ltd., Street Sweeper Social Club (who opened for Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction last year) and Jay-Z. Because the erupting volcano in Iceland has forced the cancellation of air travel in Europe, a few bands were unable to make their way to California this weekend to take the stage at Coachella … but by pretty much all accounts, this year’s fest got off to a pretty fantastic start. Here are some photos of some of her performers who played yesterday on Day 1 and some deets about what went down in Indio:

Jay-Z brought his arena-sized stage show — complete with a guest spot by Beyonce — to the California desert Friday night (April 16), capping off the triumphant first day of the 11th annual Coachella Music and Arts Festival with a rapid succession of more than a decade’s worth of hip hop hits delivered with his trademark braggadocio. The rapper’s show, a celebration of ambition and triumph against long odds, was the perfect coda for an event that has has become one of the most respected – and successful – music festivals in the world. But from the cosmic hipster disco of LCD Soundsystem and the timeless ska-punk of The Specials to deadmau5′s triptastic dance spectacular to Calle 13′s salsa-hop, it was a day for dancing at the Empire Polo Fields, and even the unfortunate news that some European bands, like Friday’s The Cribs, would miss their spots due to travel disruptions from the Icelandic volcano eruption could ruin the good mood of the capacity crowd of 75,000. As Jay-Z breezed and thumped his way through a set that touched on the breadth of his career, anticipation for a surprise guest, one of the festival’s hallmarks, settled over the crowd. The rumoured collaboration by Dr. Dre turned out to be a false starter, but Jay-Z brought his wife Beyonce to the stage and together, the royal hip hop pair sharing a moment of public sweetness with the duet “Forever Young.” The visual component of Jay-Z’s performance made frequent obvious references to current issues, including a scrolling stock ticker and a short video clip of President Obama brushing off his shoulders, a now infamous public reference to the fact that his music has broken yet another barrier: it is listened to in the White House. New York, if not Brooklyn, was a recurring theme among the main stage headliners. Both Jay-Z and LCD Soundsystem, who each claim neighboring parts of Brooklyn as their home, led rousing singalongs of their odes to their hometowns. Before Jay-Z led an oceanic “Empire State of Mind,” James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem insisted that he close his band’s monstrous set with “New York, I Love You (But You’re Bringing Me Down),” a moment that felt provocative as one of the day’s only unavoidably meloncholic songs. Jay-Z also took time from his set to acknowledged other Brooklyn-based bands performing during the festival’s first day, including Passion Pit, Grizzly Bear and Yeasayer.

Each year it seems like Coachella gets bigger and bigger … and while it is up to the individual to determine if bigger means better, there is no question that the ever-growing music festival continues to draw huge audiences. I believe Coachella sold out really early this year, even after a change was made in ticket sales that insisted that attendees buy access to all 3 days (rather than in previous years where you could buy tickets for individual days if you so desired). After the jump, check out some photos of some of the celebs who showed up in the crowd at Coachella yesterday to partake of the annual event …

Seven years ago, Jay-Z promised that he would help bring the New Jersey Nets basketball team back to NY and late last week, he finally got around to start making good on that promise. Jay was joined by his wife Beyoncé and a few dignitaries at a ground-breaking ceremony in Brooklyn, NY on the site of the future home of the New Jersey Nets. Here are a few photos and some deets from the event:

It’s been seven years since Jay-Z announced he was bringing the New Jersey Nets back home to New York during his 2003 “Fade To Black Concert” at Madison Square Garden. On Thursday (March 11), Nets co-owner Hov, an assortment of New York politicians and executives from the Nets came to Brooklyn for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the team’s future home, the Barclays Center. The Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band led the way into the press conference, which took place at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards. Jay walked in with Beyoncé, standing out in a crowd that included the Reverend Al Sharpton, New York Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg … During the conference, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz also hinted he wanted Jay-Z to convince LeBron James to play for the Nets when he goes into free agency this summer. The Jiggaman innocently shook his head no as if he didn’t know what he was talking about and put his hands up. Sharpton said he came to the press conference for one reason only: “Jay-Z promised me if I came I would have the opportunity to sit next to Beyoncé,” he joked. “And you see where they are sitting me,” he continued, noting that B was sitting in the crowd, not with the people such as himself who were speaking. Sharpton, also a Brooklyn native, noted that the first black major league baseball player, Jackie Robinson, took the field in Brooklyn, and now the borough’s team has a black co-owner. “We’ve gone from Jackie to Jay-Z,” Sharpton said. “Where we cannot only play the game but own the game.” Finally, Hov himself came to the podium. “What I stand here and represent is hope for Brooklyn, New York City. I’m a son of Brooklyn, I’m from Marcy projects.” Jay said. “I think about growing up in Brooklyn in the Marcy projects and shooting jump shots, thinking I can make it to the NBA. Now I stand here as an owner of team that’s coming back to Brooklyn. The pride in that, and bringing that dream so much closer for people, brings me so much pride I get a little nervous about it. But I’m very happy, very excited about this day. And we did it again Brooklyn — shout out to [Notorious] B.I.G.” After the conference, Jay-Z and company officially broke ground, breaking out the hard hats and lightly shoveling dirt. The confetti rained down. “It was a long process,” Jay said after the ceremony, with his “Empire State of Mind” playing in the background. “It’s a sensitive one. I’m from the people. I’m for the people. I could never be opposed to the side of the people. But this project, when you look at the numbers at the end of the day, was so overwhelmingly in favor of the people: the job creation, the housing that’s being built. It was difficult; you had to tread through that process lightly. But we’re here, it’s a fantastic day and it’s a celebration. It’s a beautiful day in Brooklyn and the hope that’s represented — on a small scale — is the same I felt when I saw Obama run for president: That we can be a part of something so grand.”

First Beyoncé puts her name on a cosmetology school to help troubled youth turn their lives around and now Jay-Z is lending a hand to get the NJ Nets back to NY. It really looks as if B-Jay are becoming quite the entrepreneurial philanthropists. I wonder where else these two will pop up … and under what circumstances. Are B-Jay out to take on Brangelina as the saviors of the world? Stay tuned!

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Happily marrieds Beyoncé and Jay-Z, collectively known as B-Jay, have made their way to Paris, France this week lookin’ all kinds of fabulous. Here are a couple photos of couple as they made their way out of their posh hotel and into the streets of Paris last night:

As you may recall, earlier this week we learned that Beyoncé told Allure magazine that she is ready to rest and relax (but NOT have a baby just yet) after workin’ so hard over the past few years … it’s unclear if B-Jay are in Paris to begin that rest and relaxation but I think it’s about time for a little vacay. We don’t get to see much of these two together … now that B is in relaxation mode, mebbe she’ll be able to spend more time with her hubby. What a novel idea.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

MTV held its 16th annual Europe Music Awards in Berlin, Germany last night and brought out a host of musicians to appear, perform and/or collect awards. Beyoncé turned out to be the big winner at last night’s MTV EMAs but a whole bunch of other folks made their way to the event to celebrate a night of music achievement. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:

But, as I mentioned above … the Queen B reigned supreme last night. Not only did she look fabulous on the red carpet but she also looked fabulous on the MTV EMAs performance stage … oh and she collected awards for Best Female, Best Song (Halo) and Best Video of the Year or her worldwide smash hit song Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). After the jump, check out some photos from the EMAs stage and find out who else took home awards last night …

As we are all pretty much aware by now, the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards were handed out at Radio City Music Hall here in NYC last night in a ceremony that was mired in controversy but also featured heartfelt tributes to the late Michael Jackson as well as a few spectacular performances and on stage appearances. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:

But for a few exceptions, most everyone looked amazing on the red carpet. I loved all the shiny bling that some folks were wearing … particularly Kristin Cavallari who wore a simple vintage dress and looked absolutely amazing in it. The show itself was really fun .. the opening tribute performance to MJ was really very cool and except for Kanye West‘s douchey behavior, the show was very entertaining. Here are a few pics from the show and some deets about what went down:

Planned and random acts of kindness reigned at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night. Among the planned acts: Janet Jackson’s opening tribute to her brother Michael, whose death at age 50 on June 25 rocked the music world. The production began with Madonna recalling her encounter with Michael and reminding the audience that “Michael Jackson was a hero.” And while “he seemed otherworldly,” she added, “he was also a human being.” And then, the performance began. Dancers crept up on stage with original Thriller video airing in the background. The dancers’ moves duplicated the ones being performed on the video. Then a sequence of Michael’s hits played. Bad and Smooth Criminal led to Scream, his duet with Janet, who broke through glass to make her way onstage and sing along with the video. The loud, almost angry performance had the audience on its feet. After the tribute, Madonna said backstage that “it was good to finally get to say my piece.” And then near the end of the show, in a gracious act of kindness, video-of-the-year winner Beyoncé offered young country music star Taylor Swift a second chance to say her piece with an acceptance speech. The moment came after Kanye West took everyone by surprise early in the show when he went onstage to interrupt Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video for You Belong With Me … The teen country star returned for her live performance of You Belong With Me later in the show. Celebrities reacted backstage. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said, “Well, you know, she’s young, I think she’ll get over it. I think he needs to get it over it also. It was very uncomfortable sitting there.” “I feel bad for Taylor,” said Kristin Cavallari. “I think it was really disrespectful” … Other music-related news items had guests talking at the awards show, too. American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi was asked about her new colleague at the judges’ table, Ellen DeGeneres. “I feel fantastic. I feel ecstatic. I can’t wait for January, when we can all be on the panel.” DioGuardi added that she has been in touch with former judge Paula Abdul. “I’ve spoken to her, and she seems to be doing really well, and that’s what matters.” Abdul is set to play host at the VH1 Divas special on MTV’s sister network on Thursday night (9 ET/PT). Faye Dunaway had two divas she was looking forward to seeing on Sunday at the VMAs. “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. How could you not love Beyoncé?” Dunaway asked. Ne-Yo echoed Dunaway’s sentiment. When asked who he was rooting for, he replied, “Besides myself?” and then added, “I’m here to see Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pink, everyone. I’m here just to enjoy the electricity.” And the atmosphere was electric, with returning host Russell Brand doling out his brash brand of humor. Among the stars: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Jermaine Jackson, Katy Perry, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

For me, the live performances were the highlight of the entire night. After the jump, check out a few photos from the press room and watch a couple of my fave performances from the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards …

Happily married couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, collectively and lovingly referred to as B-Jay, were spotted frolicking on and off a private yacht off the coast of Croatia this week as the pair seemed to be enjoying a quiet holiday together. While other celebs are flocking to St. Tropez, St. Lucia and Portofino, Italy (like Madonna and her crew), B-Jay bucked convention and made their way to the coast of the Adriatic Sea … behold:

Beyonce Knowles proved she still lives up to her Bootylicious label as she flaunted her curves in a skimpy bikini yesterday. The pop star, 27, has been spotted soaking up the sun on a luxury yacht called off the coast of Croatia with her husband Jay-Z, 39. While her chart contemporaries have been spending the summer sailing around the traditional showbiz haunts of St Tropez and Portofino, Beyonce has broken out and visit one of Europe’s newest and trendiest hotspots. After flying in from New York this week, Beyonce has wasted no time in getting some exercise by swimming and riding a banana boat in the warm Adriatic Sea. Wearing a red and orange string bikini, the Halo singer gave her swimwear some added ‘bling’ with a gold belly chain linked to her neck. Beyonce and her personal assistant were spotted screaming with delight as they were whizzed through the waves on a banana boat, while Jay-Z watched from the dry safety of the yacht. Later that evening, the pair and their entourage ventured on to dry land for dinner at the French fusion restaurant Gils in Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Still wearing her belly-neck chain from earlier in the day, Beyonce showed off her curves once again in a red hot, figure-hugging body con dress and gold heeled sandals. Currently enjoying a holiday before she resumes the second part of her year-long I Am… world tour, Beyonce has been enjoying the good life as she island hops around the Eastern European country. After visiting the towns of Dubrovnik and Cavtat, Beyonce was also spotted swimming near Lokrum Island. Local press report the couple are also planning to visit the scenic islands of Mljet, Hvar and Kornati later this week. Beyonce and Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, have rented the 47.5metre Va Bene (Italian for ‘It’s good’) yacht for $195,000 (£119,000) a week. The lavish six-bedroom boat boasts a cruising speed of 14 knots and contains a jacuzzi, sun deck, Satellite TV and the use of two Jet-skis. Beyonce previously visited Croatia in April when she performed in Zagreb and promised fans she would return to the country for a holiday. She is set to resume the tour in the Ukraine on August 29, before finally wrapping her concerts in Belfast on November 24.

Lucky for Beyoncé, the water helped her mask the new Rick James ‘do that she was rockin’ in NYC last weekend cuz, LAWD, it did not look cute. It really looks like she’s having a blast … Jay looked happy to just sit back, chillin’, watching his lady have fun. It’s nice that B-Jay are taking the time to unwind for a bit before B has to get back to work. I expect the couple will be back in NYC after Beyoncé finishes her tour, Jay-Z is scheduled to perform at the 2009 MTV VMAs on September 13. No rest for the weary.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

Beyoncé, the artist sometimes known as Sasha Fierce, brought her new concert tour I Am … to Madison Square Garden in NYC to kick off the US leg of her tour. B shocked the crowd by bringing her hubby Jay-Z on stage for their duet of her megahit song Crazy In Love and, by pretty much all accounts, brought the house down with their hot performance. Because I am seeing this show here in LA on July 13, I’m desperately trying to stay away from too many tour spoilers but since I doubt that B-Jay will be on stage together for the rest of the tourdates, I think it’s safe to share. Here are a few photos from Beyoncé‘s concert last night along with a review of the show (Be Warned: the review offers some show spoilers):

Beyonce has finally sorted out her split personality. Feeding both the flashy hip-hop side and the sensitive balladeer is something she has struggled with since stepping out of Destiny’s Child and out on her own. It came to a head on last year’s “I Am . . . Sasha Fierce” double album, but it wasn’t until her Madison Square Garden show Sunday night, the first on the American leg of her world tour, that she consistently integrated them both successfully. (She plays the Garden again Monday night.) See, Sasha Fierce has the booty roll in “Crazy in Love,” which featured hubby Jay-Z who got a response so loud his verses were lost in the roar. She has the “Freakum Dress” and the trapeze act during “Baby Boy” on her side. Can balladeer Beyonce compete with just her big ol’ voice? Well, she spices things up during the ballads now – assembling a wedding gown onstage for “Ave Maria” and throwing Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” into “If I Were a Boy.” It’s no big surprise – after all, “Irreplaceable,” which infuses a Beyonce ballad with Sasha Fierce-ness, is her biggest success. Another combination was equally impressive – as she proved that hot choreography and strong vocals don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Beyonce is an amazing, unique dance-pop and hip-hop artist, arguably the best around, as “Diva” and “Radio” showed. She’s only a good balladeer, though she continues to improve, as her powerful take on “At Last” proved. Not only is she irreplaceable, but now Beyonce may be unstoppable, too.

OOOOOOOH man … the show sounds so good! As I’ve mentioned before, I have yet to see Beyoncé live in concert so I am very excited for all the fierceness in store. David and I will be seeing the show from the Diva Stage so I’m hoping our vantage point will get us close enough to the fierocity so that we may imbue some of it into our beings. Beyoncé has brought her show the US … I hope all y’all are ready.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Add celeb couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z to the list of folks who have made their way to the Caribbean isle of St. Bart’s to party away the last hours of 2008 … here are pics of the couple playing in the water off the coast of St. Bart’s yesterday afternoon:

Singer Beyonce puts her best foot forward as she struggles to keep her balance on the yacht-side inflated water trampoline attached to her luxury yacht in the Caribbean. Showing off the fine figure, that along with her huge voice, has made her a worldwide star, the bikini-clad beauty bounced around as her rap mogul husband Jay-Z looked on. The hardest-working female in the music business allowed herself a break from world domination to enjoy a luxurious break on the isle of St Barts with her husband of eight months. Beyonce and Jay-Z are holidaying in St. Barts in the Caribbean and were seen aboard luxurious 50 foot yacht ‘Galaxy’, which they are renting at a reported cost of $200,000 a week. Despite recently admitting she didn’t know “how to chill out”, the singer appeared to be making a good stab at it as she soaked up the sun, and romped through the waves on a jetski … Although the two chose the marry quietly in April this year, she revealed she is not keen to have children anytime soon, especially after witnessing her sister Solange, 24, give birth in 2004. She said: “I’m terrified of delivering a child because I saw my nephew born. That traumatized me,” she said of sister Solange’s 2004 birth. “I’m only 27, I’ve got time.”

I dunno … all this relaxin’ in the Caribbean could lead to a little baby B sooner rather than later. Beyoncé had herself a really bizzy year, it’s nice to see that she and Jay decided to spend some not working … at least for a little while. It’s great seeing B-Jay lookin’ so happy together … St. Bart’s looks like fun!

[Photo credit: Splash News, Big! Pictures; Source]