Beyonce, Katie Couric, ABC
Beyoncé has been criticized for making her "baby on the way" announcement on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, been accused of wearing a prosthetic to make her bump look bigger, and even having crazy cravings. The "Run The World (Girls)" singer responded to the rumors during an interview with Katie Couric that aired on "20/20" Friday night.
Beyoncé, who revealed her pregnancy on the VMA red carpet and then rubbed her belly after performing her song "Love On Top," said she wanted to share her and husband Jay-Z's good news on her own terms. "Physically I was starting to show, so it was only a matter of days before someone zoomed in," she told Couric. "So I just wanted it to be from me, and I wanted it to be something that was a celebration of something so beautiful. And I didn't want to release a picture or a statement. I figured the biggest statement was to -- just be."
After exiting the stage that night she wept. "Honestly, I just felt free," she said. "I really did because I'd been holding the most exciting thing in for so long, and I just felt like, Wow, now I can enjoy, and now I can just experience this the way that every woman should. So I felt so liberated, and I felt like, Oh, I can breathe and be happy.' And, you know, it was a beautiful feeling. … I went straight off the stage and just cried. I hugged my mom, I hugged Jay and just cried. It was a beautiful day."
Beyoncé said she easily dismissed suggestions that she sometimes wore a fake baby bump. "There are certain things that are so far [out] that it doesn't even affect you," she said. But she added that her mother and sister weren't so forgiving of the attacks.
"My mom is like, 'Nobody is talking about my grandbaby!' … I'm like, 'Calm down,'" she said with a laugh. "My mom is really protective and so is my sister."
Beyoncé said Jay-Z is also ecstatic about the new baby. "You can only imagine, and multiply that," she said when asked about Jay's level of excitement. "It's very exciting for both of us and our families. … Everyone is so anxious. It's like the time just can't come fast enough."
Beyoncé said rumors of her strange food cravings are completely untrue. "I was on a plane and the flight attendant came and was like, 'I have your hot sauce and pickles and bananas.' And I'm like, 'That is absolutely disgusting, what are you doing?' He's like, 'I read it on the Internet,'" she said.
There are some aspects of the pregnancy, though, that Beyoncé and Jay-Z have elected to keep private -- the child's due date and sex. Beyoncé said she has safety concerns. "I just want to make sure I can have a peaceful day. And I want to make sure my child is protected."
And though Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé's good friend and former Destiny's Child group member, allegedly said the child is a girl, the mother to be declined to confirm.
Unfortunately, country singer Mindy McCready faced a week of horrible baby news. McCready, who does not have legal custody of her 5-year-old son, violated court orders to return the child to his guardian, McCready's mother. After being kept from his home for more than 30 days, the child was taken into custody on Friday.
Lady Gaga performing on The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!Convicted Michael Jackson physician Conrad Murray was sentenced Tuesday to serve four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the death of the King Of Pop. Pop princess Britney Spears celebrated her 30th birthday Friday. And Kanye West, Adele, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Radiohead and others received multiple nods Wednesday during The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night.
For more information on this week's news stories, check out the links below. Be sure to check back next weekend for another music news round-up.
THIS WEEK'S TOP 5 MUSIC NEWS STORIES
1) Baby On The Way -- Beyoncé discusses reaction to pregnancy on "20/20."
2) Family Matters -- Mindy McCready involved in custody dispute over 5-year-old son.
3) Record Of The Year -- Grammys announce nominees for 54th annual awards show.
4) Thriller -- Judge gives convicted Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray maximum sentence.
5) Happy Birthday -- Britney Spears turns 30.
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