Gloria Carter shares story of how she told Jay-Z that she's a lesbian

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Gloria Carter Reveals The Story Behind 4:44’s “Smile”

“Smile” is without question a fan favorite from Jay-Z’s critically acclaimed album 4:44.

One of the most poignant and endearing moments on the whole album comes in the first verse of the song where Shawn Carter reveals that his mother, Gloria Carter, had been living her life as as a closeted lesbian for years.

Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian

Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian

Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate

Society shame and the pain was too much to take

Cried tears of joy when you fell in love

Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her

Jay spoke briefly about the conversation he had with Gloria that inspired the song, but wouldn’t go into much detail. Well, mama Carter cracked the mic on the D’usse Friday Podcast and opened up about what she told Jay, her concerns about the song’s lyrics, and why she ultimately decided to allow it.

“I just finally started telling (Jay) who I was. Besides your mother, this is the person that I am. This is the life that I live. So my son started actually tearing. ‘Cause he’s like, ‘That had to be a horrible life, Ma’. I was like, ‘My life was never horrible. It was just different.’ So that made him want to do a song about it.”

“I was never ashamed of me. In my family, it was something that was never discussed…I’m tired of all the mystery. I’m gonna give it to ‘em. I don’t have to worry about anybody wondering if I’m in the life or not, I’m gonna tell them. So now that I told you, what do you have to talk about? So now maybe you can focus on the phenomenal things I do, so focus on that…Now it’s time for me to be free.”

Listen to the entire interview below.