Who is Roxanne Wilshire? Jay-Z's mom Gloria Carter marries longtime partner in star-studded wedding

Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Tyler Perry, and many other celebs attended the ceremony held in New York
UPDATED JUL 4, 2023
Jay-Z's mother Gloria Carter has tied the knot with her partner Roxanne Wilshire (Kevin Winter, Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Jay-Z's mother Gloria Carter has tied the knot with her partner Roxanne Wilshire (Kevin Winter, Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

BEDFORD STYVESANT, BROOKLYN: Gloria Carter, Jay-Z's mother, is a major inspiration in his music, especially in the song 'Smile' from the album '4:44' In the song, Jay-Z reveals that his mother is a lesbian, and expresses his admiration and support for her journey. The lyrics are about the challenges she faced, including hiding her true self and the social pressures she faced. Gloria's story adds depth and personal reflection to Jay-Z's music and highlights the importance of acceptance and love for all.

Jay-Z's mother Gloria married Roxanne in a star-studded wedding ceremony in Tribeca, New York. The event, attended by celebrities including Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles, Tyler Perry, Kelly Rowland, Corey Gamble and Robin Roberts, was a celebration of love and acceptance. Carter, who publicly came out as a lesbian in 2017 through Jay-Z's song 'Smile,' is an inspirational figure within the LGBTQ+ community. The wedding marked an important milestone in her journey and showed the support of her son and his wife Beyonce. The joyous event symbolized Carter's resilience and courage and affirmed her path to happiness and public acceptance.



 

Who is Roxanne Wilshire?

It's not clear when the two started dating, as they kept their lives fairly private until their star-studded wedding. According to reports, they have been together for a long time and presumably since before the release of Jay-Z's song 'Smile' Roxanne was seen visiting the Shawn Carter Foundation with Gloria in 2019 while wearing a shimmery red dress. She is not active on her social media and also that she has chosen to keep her life private and away from the public light. Nevertheless, her support for the Shawn Carter Foundation is clear. It was founded in 2003 by Gloria Carter and Jay-Z and is funded by the Carters themselves. The goal of this foundation is to provide educational opportunities, travel experiences and enlightenment to people who may have never imagined such opportunities. Therefore, it shows her passion to help society because even though she had the chance to be in the public eye, she chose the Shawn and Carter Foundation gala to showcase herself.


 
 
 
 
 
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Gloria Carter, Jay-Z's mother, had a difficult childhood and became a single mother after her husband left her following the birth of their fourth child. While raising her children, she struggled with financial difficulties and there were moments when she self-medicated. However, Jay-Z's success in the music industry marked a turning point for the family. Together with her son, Gloria founded the Shawn Carter Foundation, which works to help people in socioeconomic hardship continue their education.

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