Here's How Old Beyoncé Was When She Met Jay-Z
For Beyoncé and Jay-Z, age is but a number. Both have superstardom, but when they are together, they seem almost unstoppable. The couple has had a long relationship with one another that only seems to get better with time.
Although they are some of the biggest musicians in the world, Beyoncé and Jay-Z tend to keep their life out of the public eye. The couple's privacy only continues to grow as their fame increases with time. However, every now and then fans will catch a glimpse of what the couple is like from interviews or social media posts. Back in 2013, Beyoncé spoke with Oprah about how important Jay-Z has been to her life. She said, "I would not be the woman I am if I did not go home to that man. It just gives me such a foundation." Beyoncé shared they were able to build that foundation because they had been friends before they started dating. She said, "He has helped me on so many levels ... just to have someone that you just like is so important. And someone that is honest." The "Cuff It" singer even said she's a better woman because Jay-Z is in her life, and the same could be said for him.
It was truly fate because if they weren't some of the biggest musicians in the world, they might have never met, per Glamour. Not, just because of where they grew up, but because of the significant age difference between the two.
Beyoncé was 20 when she began dating Jay-Z
Beyoncé and Jay-Z seem to be made for one another, regardless of their significant 12-year age gap. While it's unclear when the couple first met, Glamour believes it was anywhere between 1999-2000. This means Beyoncé was just 18 or 19 years old when she crossed paths with an almost 30-year-old Jay-Z. Beyoncé later confirmed with Oprah the two were friends for about a year and a half before they decided to pursue anything romantically.
Glamour reports, in 2001, the duo decided to give it a go and begin dating. Beyoncé was 20, and Jay-Z was 32. Jay-Z recalled Beyoncé was full of "Southern charm" and he knew in order to win her over, he had to put in some effort, per Vanity Fair. He said, "Well, you know, you've got to try first. You got to dazzle ... wine and dine." Jay-Z even confessed to the outlet that he was actively pursuing the singer. Luckily, for the couple, their connection was developing from their friendship.
In fact, it was their chemistry that inspired some of the duo's collaborations including "03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Crazy In Love." Although it seemed obvious the two were falling for one another, Beyoncé and Jay-Z tried to keep it as private as possible. That was until they made their 2004 red carpet debut at the VMA awards. From that point on, the two continued to stand by each other's side.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's marriage was tested
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are two of the biggest musicians in the world, but they kept their wedding quiet. In 2008 after seven years of dating, they got secretly married, per E! News. Beyoncé shared, "What Jay and I have is real. We've been together a long time. We always knew it would happen."
Trouble for the couple came in 2014 when a leaked video showed Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé's sister, Solange, fighting in an elevator, per Glamour. Solange was seen attacking the Grammy-winning rapper inside the elevator. Rumors spread that Solange's actions were because Jay-Z had cheated on Beyoncé. The family released a statement after the video was released. They said, "There has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it."
Beyoncé seemingly confirmed the rumors when she dropped her album "Lemonade." Two songs, "Hold Up" and "Sorry," focused on a centralized theme of cheating, affairs, and love. In 2017, Jay-Z admitted to the rumors, per Vogue. He said, "So even with women, you gonna shut down emotionally, so you can't connect ... In my case, like, it's deep. And then all the things happen from there: infidelity." The rapper's confession left people wondering whether the two would seek a divorce. But, as Beyoncé said, their love is real. The couple worked through whatever troubles they had and stay married.