Gloria Carter, the mother of musician Jay-Z and the mother-in-law of Beyoncé, got married to her longtime partner Roxanne Wiltshire on July 2, 2023. The wedding ceremony took place at Tribeca 360º, a prestigious venue in Manhattan, New York City. The event was attended by numerous celebrities, with Jay-Z standing beside his mother and Beyoncé taking a break from her Renaissance Tour to be there.
A Family Affair with Celebrity Guests
The wedding witnessed the presence of not only immediate family members but also close friends and notable personalities. Among the attendees were Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter, Blue Ivy, as well as Kelly Rowland, Corey Gamble, Tyler Perry, Robin Roberts, and Tina Knowles-Lawson.
Supporting Her Journey: Jay-Z’s Celebration of his Mother
In 2017, Gloria Carter came out as a lesbian, and her son, Jay-Z, wholeheartedly supported her decision. He commemorated his mother’s coming out by incorporating her into his song “Smile” from the 4:44 album. This song originally began as a poem written by Gloria during a flight to Los Angeles, where she intended to visit her son. Through “Smile,” she bravely opened up about her experience of “living in the shadows” as a homosexual woman.
Jay-Z didn’t stop at the song; he openly expressed his joy upon learning that his mother had found love with another woman. During an appearance on the Netflix show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,” he emotionally shared his feelings. Jay-Z tearfully revealed, “Imagine having to live your life as someone else, and you think you’re protecting your kids. For her to sit in front of me and tell me, ‘I think I love someone,’ I really cried…I cried because I was so happy for her that she was free.”
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The Joyous Union: Gloria Carter and Roxanne Wiltshire
Roxanne Wiltshire, Gloria Carter’s wife, is not only a loving partner but also a dedicated philanthropist. She is the co-founder and President of the Wiltshire Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at breaking socioeconomic, academic, environmental, health, judicial, and cultural barriers and inequalities through advocating literacy. The foundation’s goal is to help everyone, but it has a special focus on people from marginalised, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised backgrounds.
The youngest of the Wiltshire sisters, commonly known as “the Wiltshire Four” by their friends, Roxanne Wiltshire was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Prior to enrolling in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, she attended the Holy Name Convent in Port of Spain. Later, she graduated with a Master’s in Legal Studies from Newark, New Jersey’s Rutgers School of Law. Roxanne lives in New Jersey with her family and is the mother of two girls.
Roxanne is a mother to two daughters and resides with her family in New Jersey. Prior to their marriage, she frequently visited Gloria Carter in her Manhattan apartment, building a strong foundation for their relationship.
The Accomplishments of Gloria Carter
In addition to being the mother of Jay-Z, Gloria Carter is also the CEO of the Shawn Carter Foundation, which she and her son established in 2002. She empathises with Roxanne’s drive to change the world as a philanthropist. The Shawn Carter Foundation aims to provide financial assistance to high school and undergraduate students with exceptional academic potential but limited resources to pursue their dreams and ambitions.
In 2017, Gloria Carter appeared on the D’Usse Friday podcast, where she courageously discussed her journey of revealing her true self to her son. She recalled the day when she at last let herself be vulnerable with him and said, “I just recently started telling him who I was. Besides your mother, this is the person that I am, you know? This is the life that I lived… My life was never horrible. It was just different.”
A Lifetime of Love and Resilience
Gloria Carter’s remarkable story goes beyond her personal life. She is a musician, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and the proud mother of three other children besides Jay-Z: Eric Carter, Andrea Carter, and Michelle Carter. She has been a single parent since the 1980s, demonstrating her fortitude and tenacity in the face of difficulty.
Jay-Z’s music career has been deeply influenced by his mother, as he has openly acknowledged on multiple occasions, including the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards. His dedication to LGBTQ+ members of the entertainment industry serves as a testament to the impact of Gloria Carter’s journey on his own life and artistry.
Conclusion
The union between Gloria Carter and Roxanne Wiltshire is a celebration of love, acceptance, and resilience. Their wedding day marked a significant milestone in their lives and resonated with fans worldwide. Beyond their personal relationship, both Gloria and Roxanne are passionate philanthropists dedicated to making a positive difference in society. With Jay-Z’s unwavering support and admiration for his mother’s journey, their story continues to inspire and uplift others.