50 Photos That Prove Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Love Has Always Looked This Damn Good
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's love story hit a milestone in 2018 when the couple celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary, released a joint album, Everything Is Love, and embarked on their On The Run II stadium tour. Here's how they got here.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's love story began long before this photo was taken during their appearance on MTV's Total Request Live. Years later, Beyoncé would tell Seventeen that she first met Jay when she was 18 (around 1999-2000), and Jay would tell Vanity Fair that they were "just beginning to try to date each other" during a cover shoot for the magazine in 2001. But as far as everyone was concerned during this "03 Bonnie and Cylde" promo visit, things between them were just business.
Bey and Jay are spotted sitting together at a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It would be the first of many, many sightings of the couple sitting court side at NBA games. (FYI: Basketball photos make up approximately 25 percent of this gallery.) At this point, they are still not officially dating.
Bey and Jay perform together for the first time at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall, singing "Crazy In Love." When you're done obsessing over Bey's golden outfit, take a minute to acknowledge the fact that this happened two months after the release of Bey's first solo album, Dangerously In Love, and four months after Jay told Playboy that he and Bey were "just friends."
Bey, Jay, and Jay's gum take in the sights and sounds of the Rosa Cha by Amir Slama show during New York Fashion Week. Remember, they're still not dating here, but who were they kidding at this point?
Not long after releasing The Black Album, Jay-Z is joined by Beyoncé on stage at his "retirement" concert inside Madison Square Garden. Of note: Jay says he's "got the hottest chick in the game wearin' my chain" on the song "Public Service Announcement."
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have never confirmed that watching the Knicks is their favorite past time, but just look at how happy the activity made them. And look how Bey matched her earrings with her pink sweater!
Though Bey and Jay skipped the red carpet together, they did end up sitting near each other at the 2004 Grammy Awards. Also present: Mama Tina Knowles and sister Solange. That night, Bey won five Grammys, including Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Crazy In Love" and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Dangerously in Love.
Where were you when Beyoncé and Jay-Z made their first ever red carpet appearance together? The historic moment happened at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami, where Bey took home just one VMA while Jay added four more to his collection.
Bey rocked some incredible bangs for this Knicks outing with Jay in the dead of winter in New York City. To stay warm, Bey sported this sweater shawl hybrid, complete with (fake) fur that covered most of her arms. Jay, meanwhile, kept busy with what appears to be a Blackberry (the first iPhone would not come out for another two years).
By 2005, Bey and Jay were pretty much official and going to everything together, even though they didn't really talk about it. Here they are hamming it up at the Marc Jacobs show during New York Fashion Week.
And here they are at the Academy Awards! That year, Bey and Jay watched Million Dollar Baby take home the Oscar for Best Picture, even though The Aviator won the most Oscars of the night. (None for Leonardo DiCaprio though - it would be another 11 years before his first Oscar, FYI.)
You might want to frame this photo of Beyoncé and Jay-Z leaving dinner in Manhattan for several reasons: (1) the Virgin Megastore no longer exists, (2) Beyoncé is wearing a pom pom beanie, (3) this car was mad futuristic with thing between Bey and Jay.
Bey was a dream at the 2006 Grammy Awards thanks to this sleek up do and embroidered Elie Saab couture dress. That evening, Bey and Jay took home one Grammy each, further solidifying their places in music royalty.
Bey and Jay watched NBA games outside of New York City from time-to-time. Case in point: this match between the Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. What do you think they were laughing about? Jay's striped polo? The people in the cheap seats? Or the fact that Jay would become part owner of the Nets during their first years in Brooklyn? (He sold his stake in 2013.)
In 2006, Bey released her second studio album, B'Day, on her 25th birthday. The album, which was later certified triple platinum by the RIAA, included hits like "Irreplaceable," "Ring the Alarm," and the Jay-Z collabs "Déjà Vu" and "Upgrade U." That same year, Jay released his ninth studio album, Kingdom Come, which included his Bey collab "Hollywood" and the song "Lost One," a track that alludes to Bey loving "her work more than she does me."
During the 2006-2007 movie awards season, Bey earned two Golden Globe nominations, including one for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for her work as Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. That year, she lost to Meryl Streep, who starred in The Devil Wars Prada. In other words, Bey had no chance, but any other year, she probably would have won! Good thing Jay wore a suit and tie (yep) to support her anyway!
Leave it to Beyoncé and Jay-Z to make a basketball game look like a party, despite what Kelly Rowland's face suggests in this photo. Maybe it's the sugar from the sprite Bey was drinking, or maybe they were making fun of people in the cheap seats again?
Some four years after the first 40/40 Club opened in New York City, Jay and Bey flew to Las Vegas looking like royalty to open the chain's newest location. Yes, that's Lebron James. And no, the Vegas outpost doesn't exist anymore. Sad, yes. But look at Beyoncé's fuzzy purse, eyelashes, and big smile!
The only thing you need to know about this photo is that Beyoncé and Jay-Z would get married some two months later. As history tells us, Bey and Jay tied the knot on April 4 in a teeny, tiny ceremony at his penthouse apartment in New York City. The public would not see footage (not even a photo!) of this blessed union until the couple's first "On the Run" tour and Beyoncé's Lemonade film.
It's time for our favorite game! Care to guess why Beyoncé and Jay-Z are smiling while sitting court side at a Knicks game? Some possible explanations: They're still on that newlywed high; Bey just made fun of Jay's glasses; they're just elated over the fact that Barack Obama was elected to become the 44th president.
Beyoncé went with a strapless Elie Saab creation again for the 2009 Golden Globe Awards, which Jay also attended. But the real star of the evening was Bey's jaw-dropping Lorraine Schwartz diamond loop necklace. That year, Bey was nominated for Best Original Song for "Once in a Lifetime" from Cadillac Records, but lost to Bruce Springsteen's song for The Wrestler.
Bey and Jay kicked off their 2009 by attending the first inauguration of Barack Obama. Also in attendance: Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Muhammad Ali, and Oprah, NBD.
No, this isn't just another cute photo of Bey and Jay. Look closely and you'll get the most excellent look at Bey's $5 million Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring (that's 18-carats, FYI) and her "IV" tattoo. Ah, to be rich and in love...
The 2010 Grammys belonged to Beyoncé, 100 percent. In case you don't have this memorized, Bey led in nominations that year (10) and took home six, including Song of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)." Her haul broke the record for the most wins by a female artist in one night, a record which Adele tied in 2012. (They still sit on top, though.)
Bey and Jay took their love to the desert when she dropped by his Coachella set unannounced to perform "Young Forever" in short shorts and a cute hat. Bey would return to headline Coachella in 2018 - one year after postponing her show due to the fact that she was expecting!
Remember that time Jay-Z went on tour with Eminem? Beyoncé also dropped by the rappers' shows at Yankee Stadium in NYC. As always, Bey was pure fire. The next month, Mama Tina would go on Access Hollywood to deny the latest wave of Knowles-Carter pregnancy rumors.
Who run the world? Beyoncé and her diamond encrusted Louboutins from the comfort of her court side seat at the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. Jay-Z wore jeans and sunglasses even though they were indoors.
For the 2011 Met Gala, Bey and Jay actually got booed despite looking divine. The cause of the uproar? The couple's time on the red carpet was too brief, and then things got awkward when Bey had to be helped up the stairs (because her Emilio Pucci dress was a tad tight).
Despite Bey and Jay's big baby news at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, the couple were not photographed together at the ceremony. Here's the next best thing: Bey and Jay sitting together at the US Open just a few weeks later, smiling and soaking up all that bliss and New York heat.
Beyonce, her Louboutins, and Jay do a fist pump during a game between the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The couple welcomed their first child, Blue Ivy Carter, just one month prior. To celebrate the arrival of his daughter, Jay released a new song named "Glory," which features the sweet sounds of Blue crying.
Bey and Jay, seen here at yet another NBA game, reportedly renewed their vows on the fourth anniversary of their wedding. One month later, Jay would tweet (yes, tweet!) that, "BEYONCE is the best performer in the world. Period." Can't really argue with that!
Bey and Jay do a little dance from their seats while watching the Brooklyn Nets (!) play at the Barclays Center. Three days later, Barack Obama would be reelected for a second term as president. (Bey and Jay probably had a good feeling about this and couldn't help but celebrate early, right?)
Bey and Jay dress up to the nines to attend President Barack Obama's second inauguration, where Bey performed "The Star Spangled Banner." One year later, Bey would reveal that she had to lip sync because she's a "perfectionist" and "did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra."
Bey and Jay celebrate the release of her HBO documentary, Life Is But a Dream. The film included a raw look at the couple's marriage, the birth of Blue Ivy, and Beyoncé's miscarriage, which happened before she got pregnant with Blue. "I went into the studio and wrote the saddest song I've ever written in my life... and it was the best form of therapy for me, because it was the saddest thing I've ever been through," she said in the doc.
One month after the surprise release of Bey's self-titled visual album, the Carters perform "Drunk In Love" at the Grammys. Of course, they had a change of clothing for the rest of the evening, but do relive the super sexy performance if you have a few minutes.
Bey and Jay hit the red carpet for the 2014 Met Gala, hours before the now-infamous elevator incident involving Bey's sister Solange attacking her brother-in-law inside an elevator. TMZ's release of the footage one week after the Met Gala prompted the family to issue a statement to the Associated Press. "At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same," reads part of the statement.
Bey and Jay take their On the Run tour to her hometown of Houston. The stadium tour, which grossed some $109 million over 21 shows, happened not long after her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour and his Magna Carter World Tour. Fun fact: Bey changed the lyrics of "Resentment" from "been ridin' with you for six years" to "been ridin' with you for 12 years" during the Cincinnati show, just in case anyone needed a reminder.
An emotional Bey accepts the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards from Jay and Blue. In her acceptance speech, Bey, who had just performed a 16-minute medley, thanked Jay and said, "My beloved, I love you." That same month, Bey would reference the elevator incident in a remix of "Flawless" with Nicki Minaj, adding the lyrics, "Of course sometimes shit goes down when it's a billion dollars on an elevator."
Bey and Jay show their support for Kanye West at his Yeezy Season 1 show with Adidas Originals. That same month, the couple would make headlines after photos of Bey yelling at Jay over dinner surface. If you must know, they were having sushi.
Bey and Jay ooze of old Hollywood while attending the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills. Between Bey's emeralds, her short hair, and Jay looking sleek in an off-white suit jacket, it was hard to take your eyes off the Carters that night.
With the elevator incident well behind them, Bey (in Givenchy) and Jay returned to the Met Gala in 2015. In a 2017 interview, Jay said he and Solange have "always had a great relationship." Bottom line: "We've had one disagreement. Before and after, we've been cool. That's my sister. Not my sister-in-law, no, my sister. Period."
Bey and Jay attend a Clippers game not long after the official start of the Lemonade era. Earlier that month, Bey dropped "Formation" and its stunning music video before performing it for the first time at the Super Bowl halftime show, complete with an all-female drum line.
Some three months after Bey dropped Lemonade (album and film, thxvm), the Carters cheered on Serena Williams from the stands at Wimbledon. The connection here, of course, is that Serena was one several stars in the Lemonade film, appearing during the "Sorry" segment. "I got really sore from dancing," Serena later told WSJ Magazine of her cameo.
Jay helps Bey close out The Formation World Tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, following nearly 50 shows in North America and Europe. The tour grossed approximately $256.2 million worldwide and was only the second biggest tour of 2016 behind Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.
Eleven days after blessing the world with news that she was pregnant with twins, Beyoncé dressed up her baby bump to attend the 2017 Grammy Awards, where she was nominated for nine awards for Lemonade. She also delivered a flawless performance that included holographic imagery that featured her mother Tina and daughter Blue Ivy, a golden gown and headdress, and the expecting goddess leaning back in her chair, NBD.
Beyoncé wears a Gucci silk kimono while attending the 2017 NBA All-Star Game with Blue Ivy and Jay-Z. Bey would give birth to daughter Rumi and son Sir four months later. Jay, meanwhile, would release 4:44 in late-June. The album is an honest account of the couple's relationship and the growth they've had since their marital problems.
Bey and Jay enjoy a rare parents' night out to attend Rihanna's 3rd Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation in NYC. In an interview with The New York Times during the release of 4:44, Jay said, "You know, most people walk away, and like divorce rate is like 50 percent or something 'cause most people can't see themselves. The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone's face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself."
Bey, Jay, and Blue Ivy attend the 2018 Grammy Awards, where Bey is her daughter's temporary juice box and snack holder. Despite being the most nominated artist of the evening (with eight), Jay went home empty handed (save for Blue's empty juice box and other snack-related trash, probably).
Bey and Jay kick off their On the Run II Tour in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Exactly 10 days later, at their second London show, the couple surprised-dropped the music video for "Apeshit," which was filmed at the Louvre in Paris, along with Everything Is Love, their long-awaited, long-rumored joint album. Like their previous solo releases, the album references Bey and Jay's past marital problems and other topics including Jay's recent Grammys snub and the fact that Lemonade isn't on Spotify.
Bey and Jay kiss in front of a screen at their On the Run II Tour in Glasgow. The couple, who celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in April, is featured prominently in the show's visuals, which include footage of Bey and Jay renewing their vows in a ceremony attended by their twins. This really is, real love.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's love story hit a milestone in 2018 when the couple celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary, released a joint album, Everything Is Love, and embarked on their On The Run II stadium tour. Here's how they got here.
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