Gloria Carter is the mother of rap mogul Jay-Z and the founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and mentorship to low-income students.
Who is Gloria Carter married to?
Gloria Carter, the mother of rap superstar Jay-Z and the founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation, has tied the knot with her longtime partner Roxanne Wilshire.
The couple exchanged vows in a private and intimate ceremony in New York City on Sunday night, July 3, 2023.
The wedding was attended by some of the most famous faces in Hollywood, including Jay-Z’s wife Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Tyler Perry, Robin Roberts, and Corey Gamble.
The guests reportedly partied until 1 a.m., celebrating the love and happiness of the newlyweds.
Gloria Carter and Roxanne Wilshire looked stunning in their wedding outfits. Gloria wore a white suit, while Roxanne wore a gold and white shimmery dress.
They were seen leaving the party hand-in-hand, smiling and waving to the paparazzi.
Jay-Z song Smile meaning
Gloria Carter’s marriage to Roxanne Wilshire is a milestone in her personal journey of coming out as a lesbian. She revealed her sexuality to her son Jay-Z in 2017, inspiring him to write the song Smile on his album 4:44. In the song, Jay-Z raps about how he cried tears of joy when his mother fell in love, and how he supports her no matter what.
“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. Cried tears of joy when you fell in love. Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her. I just wanna see you smile through all the hate. Marie Antoinette, baby, let ’em eat cake.”
Jay-Z opened up about the emotional conversation they had before he wrote the song, in an interview with David Letterman on his Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. He shared how he cried tears of joy when his mother told him she was in love with a woman, and how he was happy for her to be free.
Gloria Carter Glaad award 2018
In 2018, Carter accepted a Special Recognition Award from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), an organization that celebrates and supports diverse voices in the media that speak for the LGBTQ+ community and their struggles. She dedicated the award to her son, who inspired her to come out of the shadows and embrace her true self.
“Thanks to my family for loving me no matter what, thanks to my partner for loving me and helping me free myself from being in the shadows. Smile became a reality because I shared with my son who I am,” said Carter in her speech.”
