New York, September 2025 — In an evening steeped in love, legacy, and star power, Beyoncé and Jay‑Z joined family, friends, and some of music’s biggest names to celebrate the remarkable milestone of Jay‑Z’s grandmother, Hattie White, turning 100. The centennial gala, held on September 27 in New York, was more than a party—it was a tribute to one of the family’s matriarchs and a showcase of how personal history and celebrity intersect.

This rare public moment offers a glimpse into the Carter family’s roots, the inspiration behind much of their artistry, and the ways in which they honor heritage—even amid the glare of fame.

A Night to Remember: The Celebration in Detail

The event took place in New York City and was characterized as an intimate—but lavish—black‑tie affair. While the gathering was intended for family and close friends, Beyoncé and Jay‑Z’s public profiles inevitably elevated the evening into a newsworthy spectacle.

Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, offered her social media followers a peek behind the scenes, noting that >Stevie Wonder delivered a private performance in tribute to Hattie, one of his longtime admirers. The décor embraced regal touches—gold and purple tones, posh lighting, and a towering multi-tiered cake with gold accents.

Inside the ballroom, guests mingled across generations. Beyoncé, in her role as daughter, spouse, and granddaughter, was visible sharing warm moments with family and greeting VIP attendees. Their daughter Rumi Carter, age eight, was photographed dancing joyfully beside her great-grandmother, wearing an elegant white dress and silver flats.

When it was time for remarks, Hattie White, dressed in a blue tailored suit, took the stage. She delivered a brief but deeply felt message:

I want to thank you for coming out and celebrating my 100th birthday. May God bless all of y’all who traveled the road that I have traveled.”

Jay‑Z stood beside her, visibly proud and attentive. The moment resonated online: clips from her speech went viral, with fans noting the continuity between this centennial address and her earlier appearances, including her voice sample in Beyoncé’s Lemonade.

Tina Knowles also posted that Brooklyn’s mayor declared September 27 “Ms. Hattie White Day” in honor of the milestone.

The Significance of Hattie White

Hattie White is more than a family elder—her voice and values have left an imprint on the Carter legacy. A decade ago, Beyoncé sampled a 90th birthday speech of hers in the outro of Freedom from Lemonade, embedding her grandmother’s words—“I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”—into contemporary cultural life.

Her life bridges vast arc of history: born in 1925 in Aiken, South Carolina, White later moved to Brooklyn, and she witnessed and shaped generations of family amid societal changes—from segregation to the rise of Black cultural power.

For Jay‑Z, she has served as a pillar. He has often credited her strength, wisdom, and resilience as foundational for his own ambition and identity. In accepting the NAACP President’s Award in 2019, he dedicated his tribute to her and his mother Gloria, acknowledging how the lessons of his grandmother shaped his path.

Thus, her 100th birthday was not merely a social occasion, but a public acknowledgment of generational continuity—the direct line from past struggles to present achievements.

Celebrity and Family: The Guest List & Cultural Ties

While the celebration was fundamentally familial, the guest list reflected the Carters’ wide cultural network. Among those attending were Megan Thee Stallion, Nas, Chris Martin, and others. Their presence illustrated how Hattie’s legacy extends beyond her immediate circle into the broader world of music and influence.

Furthermore, Beyoncé’s social posts shared black-and-white photos and clips from the event—mostly in grayscale—adding a dignified, timeless aesthetic to the personal documentation. Rumi’s spirited movement, holding her great-grandmother’s hand as she danced, underscored the gathering’s emotional warmth.

In some posts, guests can be seen singing along to Stevie Wonder’s classics, swaying with candles, laughter, and embraces. Such images created a contrast to the glitz: a family re-centering itself around its matriarch.

Public Response, Social Media & Legacy Moments

Once clips surfaced of Hattie’s speech, social media buzz erupted. Fans marveled at her clarity and gravitas at age 100, noting how her voice still carried the resonance of that Freedom sample. Many tweeted comments like Black joy at its finest”“living history made manifest”, or “the family built an empire but the empire was built on her strength.”

On Reddit and fan forums, longtime followers of Beyoncé and Jay‑Z drew connections between this evening and past tributes. One fan reflected,

She truly loves him… seeing them look at her with that pride is everything.”

Many also speculated whether footage or audio from the event might later be woven into Carter family creative works—a visual album, documentary, or musical tribute. Given Hattie’s previous inclusion in Lemonade, such speculation is not far‑fetched.

Moreover, the Carter family’s deliberate celebration of family elders resonates deeply within Black cultural traditions, where elders are repositories of memory, wisdom, and lineage. The event underscored how celebrity does not erase the roots from which it grows.

Challenges in Reporting: Privacy, Authenticity, and Narrative Framing

As with many celebrity family events, certain aspects must be treated with nuance:

Privacy vs. public interest: While Hattie’s birthday was deeply personal, its celebration amid celebrities made it public interest. Reporters must tread carefully to respect intimacy while acknowledging cultural relevance.

Curated narratives: The images and videos shared by the family are necessarily curated. They present a polished tableau of unity, love, and legacy. Unseen moments—tensions, off-camera conversations—may exist but remain private.

Expectations vs. spontaneity: Observers may read symbolism into every gesture—the choice of guest list, lighting, wardrobe, social posts. But some moments are simply genuine family joy rather than orchestrated messaging.

Legacy pressure: Publicizing a matriarch’s milestone can also place burdens—expectations to perform, to deliver a “speech,” to handle cameras. At 100, Hattie may have had her own idea of what she wanted; dignifying that is as important as dramatizing it.

Despite these complexities, the public dimension of this event offers a rare site for cultural journalism: a high-profile family anchoring itself in history, lineage, respect, and generational love.

Why This Celebration Matters

Centering the matriarch: In a world obsessed with youth, entertainment, and spectacle, this party shifted the spotlight to a woman whose life spanned a century—whose presence shaped more than one career and more than one public persona.

The continuity of voice: Hattie’s words have echoed in Beyoncé’s music. Her emotional sincerity is reused, reinterpreted, and re‑appreciated over time. The celebration affirms that artistic legacy is a conversation across generations.

Cultural affirmation: For Black audiences and fans, witnessing such a dignified, love-filled moment rooted in family history carries resonance—affirming that celebrity does not replace heritage, but can amplify it.

Public memory and storytelling: The event contributes to the archive of the Carter family story, adding color to biographies, documentaries, and fans’ understanding of who they are behind the artistry.

Conclusion

On September 27, Beyoncé and Jay‑Z stepped into roles not just of power couple, but of proud family members, gathering around a central figure whose life is woven into their own. The 100th birthday of Hattie White was more than a party—it was a living, breathing statement about lineage, resilience, gratitude, and love. It bridged the personal and the public, the past and the future.

For fans, it offered a glimpse: beyond albums, chart-toppers, and global tours lies a family that honors its roots. For the Carters, it was a moment of collective homage, a heart turned outward in celebration. And for Hattie White, it was a night that acknowledged not just her longevity, but the life and influence she has lived so fully.