Highlights

• Beyoncé kept her relationship with Jay-Z secret despite Oprah Winfrey's probing.
• Beyoncé's upbringing in Texas influenced her desire for privacy.
• Beyoncé and Jay-Z started dating around 2001 and secretly got married in 2008.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are the epitome of a power couple. Ever since their coupling in 2001, it's hard to mention one without the other, despite their individual successes in the music industry.Although the two began appearing alongside each other at events, subtly launching their relationship to the public, they never really shared a lot of details about their blossoming romance. Even when Oprah Winfrey tried to get Beyoncé to divulge details about the relationship, Beyoncé wasn't having it.

Beyoncé Refused To Tell Oprah About Her Relationship With Jay-Z

Everyone knew that Beyoncé and Jay-Z were kindling a romance as they both rose up the ranks in the music industry. However, Beyoncé wanted to keep some things private as she started to become a household name, and that included her relationship with Jay-Z.

Beyoncé's reasoning for wanting to keep her private life away from the prying eyes of the press became evident in a 2003 interview on The Oprah Show.

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During the show, Oprah asked the then 22-year-old Beyoncé about the rumors that were going around about her and then 37-year-old Jay-Z dating. Although the question was in the form of a statement, Oprah's tone was looking for confirmation from Beyoncé. Beyoncé appeared reluctant at Oprah's matter-of-fact inquiry, but eventually replied with a simple, "yeah."However, this simple response was quickly followed by Beyoncé explaining why she doesn't want to disclose any more details about her romantic relationship, ultimately shutting down any further questioning from Oprah:

"I don't actually talk about who I'm dating, who i'm not... because I think it's important that I concentrate on the music, and when you start talking about those things, they become bigger than the art."

Oprah, paradoxically, responded in agreement to Beyoncé's choice not to reveal information about her and Jay-Z's relationship, saying, "It should be private, and I wish if I had to do it all over again, I would have never mentioned what's his name's name."Beyoncé's refusal to broadcast her relationship with Oprah and the world wasn't the first time, and it sure wasn't the last.

Why Does Beyoncé Want To Keep Her Life Private?

Beyoncé's choice to keep her relationship private with Jay-Z has roots in the way she was raised.Growing up in the southern state of Texas, Beyoncé believes her upbringing had an impact on the way she approached fame. She told Oprah Winfrey this in a 2013 interview: "Probably because of my mother and my foundation... it's one of the things I've always been connected to. I always knew who I was... and I never felt the need to... do whatever one else was doing."

This was followed by Oprah asking Beyoncé if she had trouble with balancing her private and public life in the midst of trying to stay current in pop culture.

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Beyoncé responded by saying that over the last 16 years of being in the industry, she has tried to only share herself through her music.

"I feel like after so many years... I've only shared who I am through my music, and I feel like that mystic is very important. And there are things I still just don't feel comfortable talking about."

When Did Beyoncé And Jay-Z Start Dating?

It's hard to pinpoint the exact date Beyoncé and Jay-Z's romantic rendezvous turned into something official. However, it's speculated that they started seeing each other sometime in 2001 after being spotted at Nobu, a restaurant frequented by celebrities.

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This spotting was then followed with various appearances of the two together at red carpets and in music collaborations. This inevitably sparked more speculation and rumors that Beyoncé and Jay-Z were beginning to fall crazy in love.

A few years after being spotted wining and dining in Nobu, news broke out that the couple had secretly tied the knot. The press caught wind of this after the two were spotted picking up a marriage license in New York. This marriage came as a surprise, since the two never announced that they were engaged.

Beyoncé And Jay-Z's Relationship Timeline:

• 2001: Spotted having dinner together at Nobu
• 2002: First music collaboration ("'03 Bonnie & Clyde")
• 2003: Second music collaboration ("Crazy in Love")
• 2004: Red carpet debut at MTV Video Music Awards
• 2008: Secret wedding ceremony

The same year the two secretly wed, Jay-Z did an interview with Vibe, and he was seen holding the same opinion regarding privacy as his wife:"That's ridiculous for me to confirm... I think that was a ridiculous question. I just think it's really a part of your life that you gotta keep to yourself... You have to, or you'll go insane in this type of business."

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As of now, the power couple are still going strong 17 years later in their marriage, and they plan to continue to keep things under wraps, according to Queen Bey:

"Jay and I have always been very discreet when it comes to our relationship. Even after we got married, nothing changed about that. I think that saved us a lot of trouble."

Beyoncé's intention to keep her public and private life separate has stayed strong and intact throughout her career, especially when it came to her relationship with her now-husband Jay-Z. Given her level of fame, who can blame her?

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