R&B queen Beyoncé had a career-defining show this past Sunday, June 26, when she headlined the U.K.’s decades-old Glastonbury Festival as well as broadcasting part of her performance via satellite for the 2011 BET Awards. And although Beyoncé could undoubtedly land any major festival of her choosing, the “Crazy In Love” singer says that her performance at Glastonbury wouldn’t have been possible without her husband, Jay-Z.
In an interview with BBC’s Lauren Laverne and Jo Whiley following her festival performance, Beyoncé, still beaming from her set, explained that this show was one of the most memorable of her career.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said this night was a dream. I felt like a rock star,” said an overjoyed Beyoncé. “I’m so honored. This is like a highlight of my career.”
While Beyoncé was still basking in the glory of her show-stopping set, which included megahits from her catalog and covers of songs from Alanis Morissette, Kings Of Leon and The Eurythmics, the 4 singer explained that her husband Jay-Z paved the way for her performance.
“I was able to see my husband perform here a couple years ago, and it was one of the most exciting nights for me, and I don’t know if I would have been asked to come if he didn’t do the performance,” explained the singer.
Adding, “I don’t normally do festivals and 175,000 people, and I was very nervous. And everyone gave me so much love, and I will never, ever, ever, ever forget this.”
In 2008, Jay-Z famously broke ground for hip-hop when he became the first rapper to headline the typically rock-oriented festival since its inception in 1970. Despite initially receiving criticism for his appearance from longtime fans of the show as well rock band Oasis’ singer Noel Gallagher, Jay-Z went on to wow a sold-out crowd at Glastonbury.
“That was a real triumph to bring hip-hop from the streets of New York to Glastonbury,” show promoter Michael Eavis told the BBC, following Jay-Z’s performance. “All that doom and gloom about ticket sales, but we were completely sold out by Thursday, and we had such a younger audience.”
Now that Beyoncé and Jay-Z both have given groundbreaking performances at the Glastonbury Festival, we wonder who will be next from the world of hip-hop and R&B to headline the famous U.K. festival. –nicholas robinson
