JAY-Z opens up about his mother’s coming out story

“Smile” was based on his real reaction.

April 03, 2018

A second trailer for JAY-Z's episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction has been released. In the new clip, JAY-Z tells David Letterman about the moment his mother, Gloria Carter, came out to him, which happened "eight months ago" before the filming, as he was working on his latest album, 4:44. He apparently recorded "Smile," the song describing her, shortly after.

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"For her to sit in front of me and tell me, 'I think I love someone,' I mean, I really cried," he tells Letterman. "That's a real story, like, I cry because I was so happy for her that she was free."

He also states that although he knew his mother was gay, this conversation was the first time she had told him about it, specifically referring to a partner she loved. Watch the full preview above.

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Thumbnail image courtesy of Netflix.

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JAY-Z opens up about his mother’s coming out story