Beyoncé has opened up about her initial reluctance to have her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, join her on stage during the Renaissance world tour, revealing that the 12-year-old "earned” the opportunity.
In her latest series of shows, the 43-year-old superstar would bring the tween on stage to lead a troupe of dancers during My Power and Black Parade, including when she performed in London last year.
Asked if her work has become a family business, Beyonce told the October issue of GQ magazine in a rare interview that it is “natural” her children, Blue Ivy as well as seven-year-old twins Sir and Rumi, would learn choreography because they come with her everywhere.
She added: “Blue is an artist. She has great taste in music and fashion. She is a fantastic editor, painter and actress. She has been creating characters since she was three. She’s a natural but I did not want Blue on stage.
“Blue wanted it for herself. She took it seriously and she earned it. And most importantly, she had fun! We all watched her grow more and more every night before our eyes.”
The Grammy winner also said it is “extremely hard” to make sure her children with husband Jay-Z have as “much normalcy and privacy as possible”.
She shared: "One thing I’ve worked extremely hard on is ensuring my kids have as much normalcy and privacy as possible, making sure my personal life isn’t turned into a brand.
“It’s easy for celebrities to turn their lives into performance art. I’ve made a serious effort to stay true to my boundaries and protect myself and my family. No amount of money is worth my peace.”
Blue Ivy is also among the cast of The Lion King prequel Mufasa, having been cast as the voice of Kiara, daughter of King Simba (Donald Glover) and Queen Nala (Beyonce).
Offering a rare look into her family life, Beyoncé also revealed that she only tours when her three children are out of school, as she wants to expose them to different cultures.
"I try to only tour when my kids are out of school," she explained. "I always dreamt of a life where I could see the world with my family and expose them to different languages, architecture, and lifestyles."
She added, "Raising three kids isn’t easy, but I love it. It’s grounding and fulfilling. My kids come with me everywhere. They come to my office after school, they’re in the studio with me, and they join me in dance rehearsals."
Reflecting on her approach to fame, she concluded: "I only work on what liberates me. Fame can sometimes feel like a prison, so when you don’t see me on red carpets or when I disappear until I have art to share, that’s why."
