Jay-Z's Mom, Gloria Carter, Got Married In A Star-Studded Ceremony.

Gloria Carter and her partner, Roxanne Wilshire, celebrated their wedding in New York, which attracted several notable individuals. Among the attendees were her son and daughter-in-law, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, along with their daughter Blue Ivy, Tina Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and other prominent figures like Tyler Perry, Robin Roberts, and Corey Gamble.

Although official photos and videos of the private wedding have not been released, a leaked photo surfaced showing Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, and Tina Knowles-Lawson dressed up as they enter the exclusive New York venue.

Jay-Z famously shared his mother's story in the song "Smile" from his 2017 album, 4:44. It was the first time either of them had publicly addressed her sexual orientation.

“Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian
Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian
Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate
Society shame and the pain was too much to take,” he rapped.

The track includes a poem in which Gloria Carter discusses her experiences, including her fear of coming out due to potential harm to her loved ones. In a 2018 interview with David Letterman, Jay-Z revealed that his mother's revelation of being a lesbian moved him to tears. He expressed his emotional reaction to hearing her say she loved her partner and the significance of her sharing that part of herself.

"Living in the shadow
Can you imagine what kind of life it is to live?
In the shadows people see you as happy and free
Because that’s what you want them to see
Living two lives, happy, but not free
You live in the shadows for fear of someone hurting your family or the person you love
The world is changing and they say it’s time to be free/But you live with the fear of just being me
Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be/No harm for them, no harm for me
But life is short, and it’s time to be free
Love who you love, because life isn’t guaranteed
Smile"

In a rare interview of her own, Gloria Carter explained how she came out to her son, emphasizing their close relationship and open communication. On the D'USSE Friday podcast in 2017, she shared that she began sharing with him who she truly was besides being his mother and the life she lived.