Friday marks another cultural reset, with music superstar Beyoncé preparing to release her seventh solo studio album, Renaissance, which was announced to the world when she dropped its lead single “Break My Soul” in June. On Thursday, a letter was posted to Beyoncé’s website that included a special message of thanks to her uncle Jonny, who was gay.
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“A big thank you to my uncle Jonny,” she writes. “He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and the culture that serve as an inspiration for this album.”
Beyoncé has previously spoken about her uncle Jonny during an emotional acceptance speech at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards, when she called him the “most fabulous gay man I’ve ever met.” She added that Jonny had helped raise both her and Solange and that he eventually died from complications related to an AIDS diagnosis.
“He lived his truth. He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn’t as accepting,” she said while accepting the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization’s Vanguard Award alongside her husband, Jay-Z, who has also spoken publicly about his gay mother. “And witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever lived. I’m hopeful that his struggle helped to open pathways for other young people to live more freely. LGBTQIA rights are human rights.”
Beyond her uncle, Beyoncé also highlighted the artists who originated the sound of her new album. “Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long,” Queen Bey writes. “This is a celebration for you.”
Since the release of “Break My Soul,” many outlets have highlighted the origins of house music, which lie in underground clubs frequented by Black gay men during the 1970s and 1980s.
Beyoncé has also upped the queerness of her latest album by calling in a number of LGBTQ+ collaborators, including the New Orleans icon and Queen of Bounce herself Big Freedia, who was featured on “Break My Soul.”
“It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyoncé once again I’m so honored to be apart of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord,” Freedia tweeted upon the track’s release.
With only hours to go until the album’s release, it’s clear that fans are ready to embrace Beyoncé’s latest. Here’s hoping it returns us the dance floors that helped influence it.
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