Entertainment Deputy Editor
Pius Imafidon
Hip-hop billionaire Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter marked a major family milestone this week by hosting an elegant private celebration in New York for his grandmother, Hattie White, who turned 100 years old.
The intimate yet high-profile gathering brought together generations of the Carter family alongside some of the couple’s closest friends and collaborators. Guests included Beyoncé, Nas, Memphis Bleek, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, among other notable figures from the worlds of music, fashion, and philanthropy.
The evening was designed as a heartfelt tribute to the family matriarch — a woman long admired for her wisdom, perseverance, and steady influence on her grandson’s life and career. Hattie White, who once lent her voice to Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album, took the microphone during the party to thank guests for their love and prayers.
“I want to thank you for coming out and celebrating my 100th birthday,” she said, drawing applause from the crowd. “May God bless all of y’all who have travelled the road that I have travelled.”
In addition to the lavish décor and live performances, the celebration incorporated a charitable element: proceeds from an associated benefit show were directed toward the Water For Life initiative, a cause close to the family’s heart.
Photos and videos from the party, now circulating online, show Jay-Z beaming with pride as he posed for pictures with his grandmother and other relatives. Fans and celebrities alike have since flooded social media with tributes and well-wishes for Hattie White, hailing her as an enduring symbol of strength and grace.
The event served not only as a milestone birthday party but also as a public acknowledgment of the remarkable woman whose life story has inspired one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.
