The singer dropped a bombshell on the on the MTV Music Awards red carpet when she cradled her belly to make it clear that she's pregnant.
"OMG Beyoncé just made a huge announcement on the #vma carpet! #baby!!!!!" MTV tweeted shortly after she shared her happy baby news.
Later in the night, the glowing mother-to-be kicked off her song "Love On Top" by asking the audience to stand up because "I want you to feel the love that's growing inside of me."
After her performance, she stripped off her jacket and rubbed her tummy while smiling out at Jay-Z, who could hardly contain his excitement as he waved to his wife up onstage.
When Beyoncé returned backstage to her dressing room, she was greeted by a team of people who enveloped the visibly happy star with hugs, cheers and congratulations.
"I'm free!" she said to one of the well-wishers, indicating that she and Jay are thrilled to not have to keep such a big secret any longer. "We're all free!" she said to the group.
A few minutes after her arrival backstage, she was joined by her husband, a very excited West (whose first words upon entering the dressing-room area were "Where is Beyoncé?") and her former Destiny's Child ladies, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Even with the doors to their dressing rooms closed, the applause and whoops of joy could be heard everywhere backstage.
The 29-year-old singer revealed in an interview for the InStyle's September issue that she was ready for the next phase of life."Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage," Beyoncé, 29, said of her busy career thus far. "I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children.
"I want to make my job a part of my lifestyle so that I always enjoy what I'm doing."
This will be the first child for the singer and husband Jay-Z, 41.
