Jay-Z's Mother Gloria Carter Talks About Coming Out On His '4:44' Album: 'I Was Never Ashamed Of Me'

Gloria Carter Talks Coming Out On Jay-Z’s Album

One of my most favorite songs on Jay-Z‘s 4:44 album is “Smile.” The song, featuring a gorgeous Stevie Wonder sample, set the perfect stage for Gloria Carter to share something very personal…like her sexual orientation.

In her exclusive interview on the D’ussé Friday podcast, Gloria, who had spent many years of her life living in the closet, recalled the convo that led to her coming out to Jay.

Me and my son share a lot of information, so I was sitting there and I was telling him one day, I just finally started telling him who I was.

Besides your mother, this is the person that I am, this is the life that I live. So my son actually started tearing, because he was like, ‘That had to be a horrible life, Ma.’ And I was like, ‘My life was never horrible, it was just different.’

So that made him want to do a song about it.

Gloria Carter explained that her decision not to come out had nothing to do with her being ashamed of who she was. She was more concerned about her family considering the fact that her son is so high profile.

I was never ashamed of me, but my family, it was something that was never discussed because everybody knows who I am, I don’t hide who I am … I’m tired of all the mystery.

I’m gonna give it to ’em. I don’t have to worry about anybody wondering whether I’m in the life or not – I’m gonna tell them.

Now it’s time for me to be live my life and be happy, be free.

Listen to the full interview below.