Singer Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z are one of the music industry’s most talked-about couples. They have been together since Beyoncé was still in the girl group Destiny’s Child, and today, they share three children and a long history.

While the two ended up getting married, Beyoncé was just 18 when they first met; she once revealed they began dating when she was 19. Jay-Z is 12 years older than his wife, so he would have been in his early 30s. And while he might have been ready to settle down, Beyoncé said she was in no rush to tie the knot.

Beyoncé took so long to marry Jay-Z because she was so young

Having only been a teenager when she and Jay-Z met, Beyoncé’s career was on the verge of exploding; Jay-Z had already made a major name for himself. Their romance became even more clear when Beyoncé released “Crazy in Love” featuring Jay-Z back in 2003. After dating for nearly a decade, the couple tied the knot in a secret wedding in 2008. And that same year, Beyoncé told Ellen DeGeneres why she waited so long to marry her man.

“I’m only 27, so I was really young,” Beyoncé said. “I feel like it’s important for women and men to have their goals and their own life before they can complete someone else. So, we took our time.”

When describing why she and Jay-Z chose to keep their wedding private, Beyoncé later said in an interview with Essence Magazine that her relationship with Jay-Z “is real” and “not about interviews or getting the right photo op.”

Ultimately, Beyoncé was right. Through thick and thin, she and Jay-Z have remained at one another’s side, even while both of their careers took off. They were met with some major trials and tribulations through the years, and Jay-Z did admit to infidelity at one point, but he and Beyoncé worked through it.

Beyoncé has remained steadfast in Jay-Z’s life

No matter the difficulties, Beyoncé has remained by Jay-Z’s side. In addition to moving past the infidelity, Jay-Z was accused of sexual assault in 2024. He vehemently denied the allegations, and ultimately, the alleged victim withdrew her lawsuit and was reportedly recorded confirming that Jay-Z did not assault her. Of course, Beyoncé was not quick to make assumptions and stood by him through the rough waters of that month.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé share three children together: daughter Blue Ivy, who was born in 2012, and twins Rumi and Sir, who were born in 2017. Jay-Z and Beyoncé have continued to make music, and Beyoncé is now bringing Blue Ivy to some of the award shows, too.