Beyoncé dedicates album ‘Renaissance’ to her late gay uncle Johnny

Beyoncé, 40, dedicated the Friday release of her long-awaited seventh solo studio album, “Renaissance,” to her late gay uncle Johnny, whom she referred to as her “godmother” in a heartfelt statement.

“A big thank you to my uncle Johnny,” she wrote on her website. “He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of music and culture that inspires this album.

“Thank you to all the pioneers who created the culture, to all the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for a long time. This is a celebration for you,” added Beyoncé.

The singer’s mother, Tina Knowles, shared her daughter’s tribute to Johnny, who was her nephew. She said he was the eldest child of her sister, who died when Beyoncé was 17 and her sister Solange, 12. According to her, Johnny helped her raise their two daughters, who adored him. “[Era] more like a brother to me, that’s why my daughters called him Uncle Johnny,” Tina said.

Tina said that Beyoncé asked her to listen carefully to the end of the song “Heated”. She said she first heard her daughter say that Uncle Johnny made her dress and got teary-eyed. “He’s smiling down at Bey from heaven now,” Tina added.

Beyoncé previously honored Uncle Johnny as the “Most Fabulous Gay Man” she’s met in her speech when she and Jay-Z received the Vanguard Award at the 30th GLAAD Media Awards in 2019.