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By  NEKESA MUMBI MOODY

Beyonce became the most decorated female on a Grammy night as she collected six trophies, including song of the year for her anthem “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” but it was another diva — Taylor Swift — who nabbed the top honor, album of the year, for her best-selling “Fearless.”

Swift, who won a total of four awards, jumped around like the 20-year-old kid that she is when beat out Beyonce, the Dave Matthews Band, Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas for the honor.

“Oh wow — thank you so much! I just hope that you know how much this means to me…. that we get to take this back to Nashville,” said Swift, whose “Fearless” was last year’s best-selling album of any genre.

“Oh my God, our families are freaking out in their living rooms,” she added. “My dad and my little brother are losing their minds in the living room right now.”

Although Beyonce also lost out on record of the year, which went to the Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” the multihyphenate entertainer still owned the most awards of the evening.

Beyonce, who in 2004 won five Grammys on the strength of her debut album “Dangerously in Love,” a mark tied by the likes of Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Alison Krauss, reached that milestone again Sunday en route to the new record. She is the first to reach that mark twice.

She shared the song of the year trophy with three writers for “Single Ladies” and also won best R&B contemporary album for “I Am … Sasha Fierce.”

“This has been such an amazing night for me and I’d love to thank the Grammys,” Beyonce said after winning best female pop vocal for “Halo.”

The Kings of Leon were a bit more entertaining when they picked up their record of the year trophy, the family quartet’s third of the night.

“I’m not going to lie, we’re all a little drunk. But we’re happy drunks,” said lead singer Caleb Followill.

Lady Gaga won two Grammys during the pre-telecast ceremony but didn’t get a chance to show her multitude of outrageous dresses during the primetime show, losing out on record, song and album of the year. But she made her presence felt when she kicked off the night with a sequined green leotard with massive shoulders as she sang her Grammy-nominated hit “Poker Face,” then brought out Elton John as they melded her song “Speechless” and his classic “Your Song” together in a performance that featured dueling pianos, and glitter-painted faces.

Swift, who was second to Beyonce in Grammy nominations with eight nods, also won best country album among her other awards. The victory capped an amazing run for Swift, whose “Fearless” is only her second album. Her self-titled debut was a platinum success but “Fearless,” with songs like “You Belong With Me,” took her into the superstar stratosphere, as she won accolades across genres.

Another country act to take a top award was the Zac Brown Band, which won best new artist.

The Black Eyed Peas also had three trophies, as well as Jay-Z, who won for best rap solo performance and two awards for “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West.

Rihanna — who was forced to bow out of last year’s awards as a performer after being assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, accepted the trophy along with Jay-Z and with Beyonce’s young nephew in tow. West — who has kept a relatively low profile since his dustup with Swift a few months back — was a notable no-show.

Maxwell, up for six awards, also won his first Grammys — best R&B male vocal for the ballad “Pretty Wings” and best R&B album for “BLACKsummers’ night.” The album marked the R&B crooner’s return after an absence of eight years from the music business.

Many participants in the program wore red cross buttons in support of Haiti earthquake relief. Mary J. Blige joined Andrea Bocelli in a rousing rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which was not only designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song’s big Grammy wins, but to raise money for the people in Haiti. The performance, introduced by Haitian native Wyclef Jean, will be available via iTunes.com/target, with the funds going to earthquake relief.

The show also included a special 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson featuring a video clip he made of “Earth Song” as Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson sang along.

Jackson’s young children, Prince and Paris, accepted a lifetime achievement award for their late father.

“Through all his songs his message was simple, love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world,” Prince said.

___

On the Net:

http://www.grammys.com

Source: AP News

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Allure:

Beyonce addresses her alter ego in the article as well saying “I don’t need Sasha Fierce anymore, because I’ve grown, and now I’m able to merge the two”. You can see what she means from the outtake photos from the Allure shoot really with Michael Thompson (where she listened to Solange and Kelly Rowland’s music, how sweet is that?). She looks sexy yet soft, a big contrast to the light and feminine pictures from her last appearance in the magazine in 2002.

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The Daily Star newspaper is reporting that Beyonce Knowles and her husband Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter are to take on eachother’s surnames in an effort to carry on the Knowles moniker.

If true, Jay-Z will be known as Shawn Knowles-Carter, while Beyonce is to become Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

“They want to keep Knowles because Beyonce’s parents didn’t have any sons and they’re keen to keep the name going strong, especially if they don’t produce any children themselves,” a source told the publication.

WATCH VIDEO CLIP BELOW:

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Sisters Beyonce and Solange Knowles are said to be devastated by the divorce of their parents Tina and Mathew Knowles following 29 years of marriage.

“It’s a rough time for the family — especially over the holidays,” Usmagazine.com quotes of a source close to the family. “The kids are sad, but it’s been unraveling for some time.”

News broke Friday that Tina Knowles filed the papers on Nov. 11 in Houston. While infidelity reports have surfaced, the source claims the divorce “really wasn’t about affairs.” 

Instead, Tina, 55, and Mathew, 58, simply “drifted apart” and led “busy, separate lives. They will try to make it cordial. They put their kids first, and will still be around each other.”

The estranged couple also has a grandchild – Solange’s four-year old son, Daniel.

Source

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by Nadeska Alexis

Former Destiny’s Child members Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have narrowly avoided a “reunion” that would have landed them in court. This weekend, the group finally tied up some loose ends over a pending copyright infringement case for their single ‘Cater 2 U,’ from the 2006 album ‘Destiny Fulfilled.’

Chicago singer and performer Rickey Allen accused the former trio of ripping off his song, bearing the same title and spelling and reproducing it as their own. The group was scheduled to begin an eight-day appearance in a Chicago federal court this Tuesday to sort out the matter but the two parties have managed to settle the issue out of court.

“I can confirm that yes, it did settle,” Allen’s attorney, Matthew Wildermuth said in a statement. “The terms of the settlement are confidential. All of the issues have been amicably resolved and the case is going to be dismissed. [Allen is] excited about being able to devote time to posturing his musical career.”
According to the New York Daily News, the lawsuit, which was filed back in 2006, was another source of irritation for Kelly Rowland, who had always been a critic of Beyonce’s father Matthew Knowles and his odd business tactics. Knowles, the group’s former manager, released one comment on the case, explaining that he was not to blame for the copyright mix up. “The lawsuit is questioning the validity of the writers involved,” Knowles said. “I am not a writer on this song.”

Source

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R&B diva Beyonce teams with pop shock artist Lady Gaga in the Hype Williams directed-video for her latest single off ‘I Am … Sasha Fierce.’

Watch video clip below:

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In a shocking display of poor diplomacy, Egypt’s chief Egyptologist Zahi Hawass allegedly called American pop-star Beyonce a “stupid person” during her brief tour of the Giza pyramids earlier this week. Writing in al-Shorouk newspaper, Summer al-Gamal said that Hawass became fed up with the pop star’s attitude after she did not show the interest Hawass felt was deserved of the pyramids.

According to Gamal, during Hawass’ self-guided tour, he said “I showed her the Sphinx and I gave her a book on King Tutankhamen,” but then his anger and frustration made its way to the forefront.

“Then he stopped being diplomatic and said in anger, ’she’s a stupid person and she doesn’t understand a thing and she doesn’t want to understand’,” wrote Gamal.

Hawass is known for his outbursts. A number of foreigners have told Bikya Masr that he has employed Arabic to insult others at dinner events and gatherings, believing the non-Egyptians will not understand his Arabic. Beyonce, obviously, did not understand his jabs, Gamal said.

“She’s coming here to take pictures and that’s it,” Gamal quoted Hawass as saying.

Source

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Beyonce’s world tour has run into more Islamic resistance.

After canceling a stop in Malaysia following Muslim outrage over her “gyrating moves” and “sexy outfits,” a Muslim group in Egypt voiced similar concern before her gig Friday at the Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib.

Hamdi Hassan, a lawmaker from the Muslim Brotherhood, wrote to the speaker of the house and the interior minister labeling the show a “sex party” and demanding to know why she was allowed to perform.

He said the concert advertisement, in which the singer sports a leotard fitted with motorbike handlebars extending from her crotch and a headlight nestled in her cleavage, “threatens social peace and security.”

“I do not know who agreed to this sinful, unacceptable advertisement, or indeed who agreed to these blatant sex parties,” Hassan wrote, accusing the government of encouraging “sin and debauchery.”

Meanwhile, a Facebook group opposing her concert has attracted nearly 10,000 members. One poster displayed on the site, showing the silhouette of a curvacious woman with a diagonal red line through it, was entitled “This is not Egypt.”

Last month, Beyonce postponed a concert outside Kuala Lumpur after an official of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party expressed sharp disapproval.

“We are not against entertainment, but it’s the way she performs — her gyrating moves on stage and her sexy outfits. It will erode the moral values of our young people,” PAS youth chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi told AFP.

The banned party Muslim Brotherhood is effectively Egypt’s main opposition party and is widely popular for its social work. It runs candidates as independents in parliamentary elections to get around the ban. The party, which calls for the establishment of an Islamic state by peaceful means, normally focuses its flak on government corruption and foreign policy but has campaigned against what it considers prurient literature and art.

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Actress Monique Coleman as Beyonce from the Single Ladies video.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom as Batman and Catwoman.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon as a pair of Angels.

Michelle Obama as The First Lady Leopard.

Jay-Z hit the stage in Toranto Canada last night as Jason.

John Macenroe as a lonely cowboy.

Tyra Banks as Kim Kardashian.

Ellen DeGeneres as Oprah’s O Magazine.

Beyonce as Spiderwoman

CoCo & Rihanna - Meeeow & Prrrrrr…

Ice T & CoCo as Man & Wife

LaToya Jackson all dress in Silver.

Wendy Williams as Dolly Pardon.

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EgyptSaidSo.com Reports:

The Muslim Brotherhood In Egypt is a political organization that once included Sayyid Qutb, the man who inspired Al-Qaeda. It was founded to promote Islamic law, oppress women etc. And now it wants to keep Beyonce out of Egypt! according to Gawker.com.

Bey is scheduled to perform her first ever concert in the ancient land of  Khemet and pyramids on November 6.  But apparently a crazy and reportedly dangerous Islamist MP named Hamdi Hassan, from a gang called The Muslim Brotherhood In Egypt,   wants regulators to mount up and get her permission to perform revoked.

“The government is trying to make people indulge in sin and licentiousness to cover up the other crimes it is committing against them,” said Hassan in parliament….Not exactly sure what he means but I can only deduce that they don’t want no big booty half naked women coming over there and tainting the minds of their women and children.

Right now the extremists are just verbally condemning the performance but if I were Beyonce and her camp I would probably PROCEED WITH CAUTION because those crazy islamic extremist mother jokers over there don’t play.

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The 2009 Soul Train Awards is scheduled to tape at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center on Nov. 3. In addition to Academy Award nominated actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard hosting this year’s annual event, some of today’s most prominent music stars are scheduled to perform.

Network producers decided to assemble an all-star lineup including Toni Braxton, Trey Songz, Erykah Badu, Robin Thicke, Fantasia, Ryan Leslie, Chrisette Michelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Karyn White, Boyz II Men, Ledisi, Chico Debarge, Angie Stone, Brian McKnight, Ginuwine, Melanie Fiona, and Johnny Gill among others.

The two-hour ceremony will also honor the late, great Michael Jackson, who holds the record for most Soul Train awards won, with the special Entertainer of the Year Award.

As for this year’s nominations, pop superstar Beyonce alongside Keri Hilson, and Maxwell lead the pack with four nominations each.

In addition, this year’s show will honor the illustrious careers and musical influences of Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny “Baby Face” Edmonds.

Officially titled, ‘Centric Presents: 2009 Soul Train Awards Show,’ the event will premiere simultaneously on the new BET spin-off channel Centric and BET on Nov. 29 at 9 pm ET. Centric went live on air Sept. 28 via digital cable and satellite cable carriers.

Below is a complete list of nominees and categories.

BEST NEW ARTIST

o. Drake
o. Jazmine Sullivan
o. Keri Hilson
o. Ryan Leslie
o. Solange

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE

o. Beyonce
o. Chrisette Michele
o. Jennifer Hudson
o. Ledisi
o. Whitney Houston

BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE

o. Charlie Wilson
o. Maxwell
o. Musiq Soulchild
o. Raphael Saadiq
o. Robin Thicke

SONG OF THE YEAR

o. “God in Me” - Mary Mary
o. “Pretty Wings” - Maxwell
o. “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)” - Beyonce
o. “Spotlight” - Jennifer Hudson
o. “Turnin Me On” - Keri Hilson/ ft Lil Wayne

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

o. Beyonce - I am… Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music
o. Jamie Foxx - Intuition (Platinum) J Records
o. Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (Platinum) Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
o. Maxwell - Blacksummer’s Night (Gold) Sony Music
o. Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman

RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)

o. Beyonce - “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)”
o. Drake - “Best I ever had”
o. Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain - “Blame it”
o. Keri Hilson - “Knock You Down”
o. Maxwell - “Pretty Wings”

BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD

o. Movado
o. Sean Paul
o. Serani
o. Taurus Riley
o. Ziggy Marley

CENTRIC AWARD - SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND

o. Corneille
o. Eric Roberson
o. Laura Izibor
o. Maysa
o. The Knux

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP

o. BeBe and CeCe Winans - “Close To You”
o. Fred Hammond f/John P Kee - “They That Wait”
o. Marvin Sapp - “Praise Him in Advance”
o. Mary Mary - “God In Me”
o. Smokie Norful - “Justified”

BEST COLLABORATION

o. Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - “Knock you Down”
o. Keyshia Cole featuring Monica - “Trust”
o. Mario featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett - “Break up”
o. Mary Mary featuring Kierra (KiKi) Sheard - “God In Me”
o. Trey Songz featuring Drake - “Successful”

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

o. Michael Jackson

Source

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The Evil Beet Reports:

I can’t believe I’m about to ask this, but can we please discuss Beyonce and her history with southeast Asia?

Two years ago, Beyonce cancelled a scheduled performance in Malaysia because she wasn’t willing to put some clothes on.  The Malaysians have rules and she wasn’t willing to pay respect to a nation’s culture by putting on a shirt.  She ended up performing for those progressive Indonesians instead.

A few weeks ago, Beyonce said that she’d be performing in Kuala Lampur as part of her “I Am” tour — should be the “I Am A Liar” tour.  The concert promoter has announced that her performance has been “postponed to a future date to be announced shortly.”  In other words, this show is never going to happen because Beyonce still won’t robe up and obviously thought she could change the mind of an entire government body.

I think it’s high time that B accept the facts:  Malaysia isn’t ready for your jelly.

Source

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by LadyBaby

This is isn’t the first time that Beyonce has been put on blast for not actually being a songwriter, but according to an inside source she didn’t write any of the songs on her “I Am…Sasha Fierce” album.  Here is what they had to say.

A lot of these artists claim to be songwriters, but don’t always write a thing. Some, like Beyonce, serve as vocal arrangements, which points to part of the song’s composition, and thus, receive a songwriting and production credit. Others, like Beyonce, can demand credit based on their name alone. I myself have heard of new song writers looking for placement with Beyonce’s last album being told Beyonce demands a certain amount of publishing upfront (and it’s substantial) or they could “be paid handsomely” to politely remove their name from the song altogether. Fact is, Beyonce didn’t write one song on “I Am…Sasha Fierce.” Beyonce and her team have bought the rights from the songwriters and then Beyonce took credit for it. I have no idea about previous albums but it’s obvious that Beyonce never had a pen in her hand, which is a shame because Beyonce claims something she isn’t.

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Apparently not to be outdone, Lil Mama decided that she needed to jump up on the stage when Jay-Z and Alicia Keys were performing Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”. Even going so far as to strike a pose at the end of the song with the pair as if she were one of the performers.  Watch the clip below as Beyonce attempts (but obviously fails) to stop her.

Fifa, football’s world governing body, is set to unveil plans which will see a Live-8 style event take place on the eve of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The three-hour event will feature a mix of global superstars such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas as well as popular African artists.
Singer Diana Ross memorably fluffed her lines at the 1994 World Cup when she failed to convert a penalty and the concert is seen as a shift away from the flag-waving era towards a more youthful market. The Fifa-sanctioned event will take place at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Fifa has contracted Kevin Wall, who has been responsible for live collaborations with Madonna and Michael Jackson, to produce the events, which have been billed as the “greatest entertainment event to date on the African continent”.

Wall said: “We believe sports and music transcend cultural, language and geographic barriers, and through this international event, Control Room will present the sights and sounds of unity and celebration for an unforgettable experience of which all will want to be a part.”

Meanwhile, Beyoncé and Aerosmith are set to headline concerts at the first ever Formula One race in Abu Dhabi. The performers will open and close the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend next month.
Courtesy Of: Telegraph U.K

Props

Beyonce Knowles wants to help her fans get into shape with a new fitness video game based on her energetic dance routines.

Now Beyonce wants to channel her love of dance into a new computerized venture by creating a fun work-out for her devotees because she’s a big fan of Nintendo’s fitness game Wii Fit.

She tells Billboard, “I’d like to get involved in videogames, since I really love Wii Fit. I think it would be a great idea to incorporate choreography, because, for me, my workout is way more fun when it involves dancing, as opposed to running on a boring treadmill. So I would love to do some kind of fitness game but incorporate dance and performance into it. I think a lot of women would enjoy that.”

Beyonce became a spokesmodel for the Nintendo DS handheld console earlier this year. (Watch the commercial - also featuring her nephew, Solange’s son Daniel Julez, below).

Props

Beyonce has made her first public comments about the “MTV Video Music Awards” incident in which Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video to say that the “Single Ladies” clip should’ve won.

“When he walked on the stage I was like no, no, no,” she recalled laughing.

Speaking at Billboard’s Women in Music luncheon, which crowned her as its “Woman of the Year,” Beyonce added “I knew his intentions and I knew he was standing up for art,” she said.

Beyonce, who ended up winning a VMA for video of the year, invited Swift back onstage to give her acceptance speech — and said in the end, everything worked out.

“Taylor Swift had her moment and I didn’t have to give an acceptance speech!”

As for Bey’s Woman of the Year honor, Billboard’s Editorial Director Bill Werde introduced her by saying: “It is theoretically possible someone on some other planet had a better year than Beyonce. But I’m not buying it.”

“It’s obvious how classy she is,” Werde continued about Beyonce, who was accompanied by her mother and father, Matthew and Tina Knowles, and Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child.

Beyonce accepted the award, remarking “I am the luckiest woman in the world.” She was then interviewed by radio personality and Oprah Winfrey’s best friend, Gayle King, for a Q&A during which she was probed about her relationship with husband Jay-Z, her position as a role model for young women, and her goals for the future.

“I really want to win an Oscar,” she revealed.

The event, held at New York’s Pierre Hotel, closed with heart-rending renditions of Beyonce’s hits “Halo” and “Single Ladies,” performed by Staten Island grade schoolers, the P.S. 22 Chorus.

Watch video clip below:

Source

TMZ has learned a woman has filed a paternity case against Beyonce’s dad, Mathew Knowles.

We’ve learned Alexsandra Wright filed the case in L.A. County Superior Court. Wright lives in L.A. — she works in the name-branding business. We’re told she’s in her late 30s.

Wright, who is 6-months pregnant, filed the case last week, alleges Knowles is the father. Sources say Wright is repped by Neal Hersh, who is currently repping Lamar Odom in the prenup negotiations with Khloe Kardashian.

Mathew has been married to Tina Knowles since 1980.

Mathew could not be immediately reached for comment. Ditto Neal Hersh.

Billboard writes:

Fans are still getting to know Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé’s musical alter ego, formally introduced on the singer’s 2008 album, “I Am…Sasha Fierce.”

Most probably don’t know, however, that the singer/songwriter has been friends with Fierce since elementary school.

Manager and father Mathew Knowles will never forget the moment he first met Fierce. A 7-year-old Beyoncé was entered in a talent search open to Houston elementary and middle school students. The song she sang? John Lennon’s “Imagine.” “Beyoncé was the youngest,” Knowles says. “She got up onstage and when she was finished, she received a standing ovation. Her mother [Tina Knowles] and I looked at each other and said, ‘That can’t be our Beyoncé. She’s shy and quiet.’ ”

Twenty-two years later, that simmering brew of shy, quiet talent peppered with fierce determination and ambition is at a boiling point. The former frontwoman of Destiny’s Child has come into her own, enjoying one of the best years of a still-evolving solo career.

On Oct. 2, Beyoncé will add one more honor to her array of accolades when she accepts Billboard’s Woman of the Year Award. The presentation will be made at Billboard’s Women in Music brunch in New York, recognizing the year’s top 30 women in the music business.

“Beyoncé is a multiplatinum artist and a multitalented woman who clearly embodies the qualities of excellence and achievement that the Billboard Woman of the Year Award was created to honor,” Billboard editorial director Bill Werde says. “She has not only influenced pop culture with her hit songs and her signature dance moves, but has inspired women everywhere with her unique style, business savvy and dedication to charitable causes.”

In the past 12 months alone, Beyoncé has accomplished several career milestones. She not only sang “American the Beautiful” during the opening ceremony of the 2009 presidential inauguration, she also sang the Etta James hit “At Last” as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama danced their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.

In March Beyoncé launched her worldwide I Am…tour, which has grossed some $53.5 million to date, according to Billboard Boxscore. She’s also the star and executive producer of the 2009 film “Obsessed,” which opened at No. 1 and has grossed more than $68.3 million in North America, according to Nielsen EDI.

“I Am…Sasha Fierce” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it was released by Columbia Records in November. The album, the singer’s third solo set, has spun off a string of Billboard Hot 100 hits: “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Halo,” “Ego” and “Sweet Dreams.”

After accepting MTV’s video of the year award for her iconic “Single Ladies” video a few weeks ago, Beyoncé gained a new level of fan and industry respect at the Sept. 13 event when she unselfishly brought Taylor Swift back onstage to complete the acceptance speech cut off by Kanye West’s surprise interruption.

Beyoncé also continued her commitment this year to ongoing philanthropic projects and entrepreneurial activities from fashion to fragrances.

“She’s incredibly creative,” says Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony Music Label Group. “She also works phenomenally hard to create the opportunities she has. People tend to think there’s always an image-maker behind female pop stars. That’s not the case with Beyoncé. There’s no element of diva or difficulty about her; she takes control of the process and makes it happen. She’s grown beautifully in that role.”