Exclusive Beyonce Interview

Last night, Beyonce sat down for an intimate interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan as she prepared for the release of her new album ’4′.  She covered an array of topics including why she chooses to not talk about her relationship with Jay-z, being proud of the ‘Diva’ label and whether she would retire at age 30.

 She also detailed a time her mother smacked her in a store in front of people to teach her a lesson on humility.  Check out the highlights and video of the interview below:

On her relationship with Jay-ZJay and I have kind of made a decision to be known for our music and not our relationships or scandals. It’s hard sometimes because I’m like” Okay, I can’t talk about him” but he’s amazing.
On meeting Jay-ZI definitely had a very natural friendship and connection with him. We’ve been together for a very long time and I’m very happy.
On turning 30 and if a baby is in her future
I always said I’d have a baby at 30. I’m 29. But I also said I was going to retire at 30. I’m not retiring.
On performing in front of 175,000 people at Glastonbury
Well before I performed I was so scared. I was like a leave shaking. I was really, really afraid. I had to say “Forget that it’s 175,000 people, pretend like it’s just the date you did two days ago. You’ve been doing this your whole life. Just have fun.” We all got together and said our prayer, we took our breaths and tried to exhale all the negativity. I just had to tell myself I deserve it.  I’m a diva,  I’ve worked hard and I psyched myself up. Once you hear the crowd and pass the first couple of minutes then it’s time to rock and it’s time to have a good time and enjoy the optimum.
On referring to herself ‘as a diva’ and being proud of it
Well because I’ve met what a diva is supposed to be. I’ve met Patti Labelle and Tina Turner and I’ve met these incredible women that are graceful.
On What A Diva Is
Graceful, talented, strong, fearless, brave, and someone with humility. I think it’s an appropriate time to be a diva. I did not show up in my costume that I wore yesterday because it’s appropriate for the stage. There’s a certain mentality and certain aura that’s appropriate for the stage but it’s only appropriate for the stage.
On her parents teaching her how to work hard
My mother worked 13 hours a day and I never heard her complain. She worked until her feet were callused. My father was such an incredible entrepreneur and any and everything he said he would have, he worked until he had it. He taught me there’s no such thing as ‘no’ and I had a lot of great support. I think the support is really a huge factor in my success. Knowing that if something didn’t work out, I still was loved and having that security is really important.
On If She’s Ever experienced Racism
I feel like now, I’ve broken barriers. I don’t think people think about my race. They look at me as an entertainer, as a musician and I’m very happy it’s changing.
On the values her mother has instilled in her
[She taught me that] Beauty fades and who you are from within is forever. Be a woman of your word and hard work. She is always correcting me and I feel like it doesn’t matter if you are the janitor or the President, everyone is the same. Making sure I keep my humility. I remember when we first had our single on the radio and I was starting to feel like I was hot. We were in the record store and she was talking to me and I started singing because I didn’t wanna hear whatever she was saying. I was about 15 and the song was playing on the radio and I’m like ‘yea’ and these guys were looking like ‘ouh that’s Beyonce!’ and I thought I was hot. She smacked the crap out of me in that store and sent me to the car. She said, ‘I don’t care what song you have on the radio, you are my child. You do not disrespect me!’ and I will never forget it.