>> beyonce, world exclusive, an intimate hour. this is "piers morgan tonight." ♪looking so crazy in love, looking so crazy in love ♪ >> beyonce has won over a dozen grammy. just hours from now she releases her new album titled "4" and beyonce is with you now. it's so nice of you to come all the way to london so i could interview in my back yard. >> it's amazing to see you. >> i sat and watched you, had a couple of beer, turned on the television, you were the first ever woman to headline there. what was it like for you last night? >> well, you know, i'm still walking on the clouds. i'm still kind of shocked. i can't believe what happened to me happened yesterday. and i think it's because i've seen glastonbury in photographs and i've seen it, you know, when i've traveled here and on television and only amazing rock stars perform and it's just the coolest festival and i was able to see my husband perform there a couple years ago and it was one of the most exciting nights. he had a bit of controversy in he came out and performed a song and the crowd went crazy and i thought, oh, my god, i'm just so honored to be here and prayed that one day i'd be able to do it and three years later i was asked to headline and be the first woman and first african-american woman -- >> that's the amazing thing. never mind any other criteria, you were the first woman to ever play at this incredible event. >> yeah. >> headline it. >> it's a little strange when you think about it. i'm just happy that i'm the first woman. there was so many women out there and it was incredible because the men usually when i have them do certain parts, they're trying to be cool but they were like just belting out the songs and everybody was just united and -- >> well, let's watch a little clip from last night and then i'll ask you your reaction to this. >> okay. ♪ ♪ watching that i was struck by several things. one was the glint in your eye when you said you'd always wanted to be a rock star, like you finally felt you were a proper rocker. >> exactly. >> is that what glastonbury does for you? >> it's not about fashion, it's not about trying to be cool, everyone is cool. it's not about production and how many hits you have. it's about good music and everyone has so much love and appreciation for a good performance. and, you know, i love when i cannot have to think about all the other things that are not as interesting and i can just belt out the songs and dance from the heart and i know that it's appreciated. >> so here's the weird thing. watching you last night you seemed about 20 feet tall. you were like this giant coming at me on my big screen tv. and you're quite tiny, aren't you? >> people say they think i'm a lot small are than i am on tv. they say it to other girls in destiny child, they say it to my husband and my mother. i think it's just the television. >> the thing that struck me watching you, i never watched a whole beyonce concert before so i was fascinated to see how you go about this, a, the energy levels you kept up were extraordinary. b, the size of your heels. how did you stay up? >> it was very slippery. and the first song i was like, okay, am i going to make it? i thought i was going to have to switch shoes. i had wellies on the side of the stage just in case. but i've been practicing in heels since i was 13 years old. to be honest, it's kind of second nature. the heels are second nature. it's just a part of it. whenever i rehearse, i have on my heels. >> the whole thing with last night -- i don't like the phrase girl power but it was about empowerment of women. you were like strutting around that stage making men like me feeling pretty useless at home, like i have no right to be near this woman. quite intimidating this thing you do. >> no, but i definitely feel that it is my job to empower women and i remember having this dream that my band was all females and i told my mile band at the time i'm sorry, guys, you all are so talented but you're not women. and they all had wigs on, they came to the performance like we can do it! but i found these incredible women and incredible background singers. do i have men on the stage as well. have i great male dancers. >> washing your shoes for you? >> no, i have incredible dancers. and it's great to have that camaraderie. i feel like i learn so much from the other musicians and it makes me want to be a better musician. >> what do you feel when you're there and you've got 175,000 people going crazy, this is never going to happen to me, much as i'd love to think it will, it isn't. those days are over. when you walk out and you get this surge of energy from a crowd like that, you've never performed to a crowd that big -- >> no. >> what does it feel like? >> well, before i performed, i was so scared. i was like a leaf just -- i was really, really afraid. and i had to just say forget that it's 175,000 people and pretend it's just like the show you did two days ago and you've been doing this your whole life and just have fun and, you know, we all got together, said our prayer, we took our breaths and tried to exhale all the negativity and i just will to tell myself i deserve it, i'm a diva, i've worked hard and i psyched myself up and once you hear the crowd and you get past the first couple of minutes, then it's time to rock, it's time to have a good time and join it. >> so the phrase "i'm a diva," you say that proudly. >> i do. >> some stars shy away. i love being a diva. >> because i've met what a diva is supposed to be. i've met patty labelle and teen a turner. >> what is a diva? >> graceful and talented and strong and fearless and brave and someone with humility and i think it's an appropriate time to be a diva. and, you know, i did not show up in my costume that i wore yesterday because -- >> i was kind of hoping you might. it wasn't really a costume. it was more like a bit of beachwear. >> no, it was not. it was a costume. and i did not wear that because it's appropriate for the stage but there is a certain mentality and a certain aura that's appropriate for the stage but it's only appropriate for the stage. >> so what is the thinking for the outfit for me? i'm fascinating. you walk up you thousand it's piers, it's cnn. >> i just tried on a few dresses and i liked the color. >> how many did you try on? >> i tried on two. i tried on a red suit and i tried on this. i said it makes me feel happy. >> what made you feel that was the right one for me? >> it's all about the color. it's a beautiful day. >> it's the warmest day in five years. you brought the heat, lady. >> what i'm fascinated about is the fact that you took this year off. this is is a woman who has worked so hard in the way that your parents did before you. when you had this year off, what did you learn about yourself? >> i learned a lot about myself. the biggest thing i learned is i love to perform. i love music. i love what i do. i love singing in the studio and writing songs and coming up with video treatment to the point that during that year i do not count the 72 songs i recorded as work because it's what i was born to do. and i learned balance. i learned the importance of taking time for myself and i was moving around so much that i had no idea that i really have 16 grammys. like i've heard that and i got up and accepted my awards but i didn't realize what an amazing accomplishment that was. >> you never had time. it's just this treadmill. >> yes. >> the more successful you get, the less time you have to enjoy anything. >> exactly. >> finally you went enough, i'm having a year out, i'm going to enjoy what i achieved. what was the most fun you had in the real world? >> well, i did everything. i definitely enjoy the simple things like, you know, driving and picking my nephew up from school, traveling but not working and actually visiting museums and seeing ballets and having great conversations with people on the plane. >> really? >> yeah. >> just to have normal -- >> why do i never get to sit next to people like you on a plane? can you let me know your schedule next time? >> okay. >> and you're on a plane and you start talking to some random person? >> yeah. and it's great because some people don't realize who you are. people will say i'm sorry, i just realized, i didn't know. that's why the conversation is so great. >> when they ask you what do you do, what do you say? >> they didn't. not until people start getting weird and asking for pictures and they're like what is going on? but i visited, you know, the pyramids and i was able to sing at the top of the pyramid. >> i heard you sang "ave maria" in one of the toombs and it echoed around. >> yes. it was beautiful. who would ever think i'd get an opportunity to do that? i was there alone with my family. >> i made it up. it's a good one. >> it was a good one. >> maybe it will stick. >> i want to show you incredible footage of a 6-year-old beyonce performing. where it all started. >> where it all started. ♪ so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterol and who ordered the yummy cereal? 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[honks horn] [circus music plays] here you go, pete. thanks, betty. betty: we're out of toner. announcer: if you're facing foreclosure, talk to the right people. speak with hud-approved housing counselors free of charge at... ♪ i think i'm bad, i think i'm bad, take a sip of my potion ♪ >> so even at 6 you were showing off? >> i was. it's very embarrassing for me. it's not something you need everyone to see. >> even as a kid, can you remember the thought process? did you always know i was going to be a star no matter what it takes? >> i didn't at all know that i was going to be a star. but i did know that i felt very comfortable when i was on the stage. i was really shy and i did not speak much. i was more comfortable with adults because my mother owned a hair salon. i was in grown people's business all day trying to listen to their conversations. when i got on the stage, my mother put me in dance lessons and i really loved it and i think, you know, when they saw me perform they were like, wait a minute, she's like in heaven and they realized that it was where i could step out of my shell and i just felt the most like myself. >> i thought that last night watching you. you just seemed like in utopia for you. like it just couldn't get better. yet i keep hearing how shy you are. last night i've never seen such self-confidence in almost any performer. where do you get it from? how do you create that kind of aura when by nature you're not really like that in. >> i don't know. for one, i'm not shy anymore. i am the person at the dinner party that is quiet and observing and having a one-on-one conferring. i get embarrassed when it's a lot of people and a lot of eyes. and i'm still that way. i wouldn't say shy. but now, you know, on the stage i've been doing it for a while and it's my place to be me and to be free and i don't feel like i'm being judged. i feel like it doesn't matter how irritated i am or angry i am or excited or in love or whatever emotion. when i get on the stage i'm just purely free. and it's -- i feel so honored every time i get on the stage because i know i've been doing this for 15 years and it's what i love to do and so many other people that love to do the same thing and they don't get to perform in front of 175,000 people. >> a lot of performers come from quite damaged backgrounds or dysfunctional in some way. what's quite refreshing about your story it's not really like that. you came from a remarkably successful family. not lots of money but your dad was a top xerox guy when you were young, your mom ran this incredibly successful salon. they both taught you if you want to successful you you have to work really hard and when you get successful, to be humble. >> absolutely. my mother worked 13 hours a day and i never heard her complain. she worked until her feet were calloused. and my father was such an incredible entrepreneur. and any and everything he said he would have, he worked until he had it. he taught me there's no such thing as no. i had a lot of great support and i think the support is really a huge, you know, factor in my success, knowing that if something didn't work out, i still was loved and, you know, having that security is really important. >> your mom is only ten feet away as we speak. >> she's here. >> so she's here protecting you even now. and she does go where you go. >> she does. >> what are the values that you think she's instilled in you in. >> well, beauty fades and who you are is forever and definitely be a woman of your word and hard work. she is always correcting me and i feel like it doesn't matter if you are the janitor or the president, everyone's the same. making sure that i keep my humility and my spirit. she is always honest with me. >> since you became famous and successful, when has she been the most angry with you? >> i remember when we first had our single on the radio and i was starting to feel like i was hot and i was in the record store and she was talking to me and i started singing because i didn't want to hear whatever she was saying and i was about 15 and the song was playing on the radio and i'm like, yeah, and these guys were looking look, ooh, that's beyonce and i thought i was hot. and she smacked the crap out of me in that store. when i tell you whap, whap. >> really? >> yes. and sent me to the car and was like i don't care what song you have on the radio, you are my child, you do not disrespect me and i will never forget it. >> so you've never sung like that again in a shop like that with your mom. >> no. >> when i met her, a, she's got her beauty but there was a steely look in her eyes as to if to say you mess with my girl young man -- old man, and i'm going to get it. i'm just a smack, smack away with one question. she's there. >> she is. she is my friend. we don't agree on everything and i'm an adult and we have our moments because we work together with our clothing line and she is -- >> what is she most proudest of that you've achieved do you think? what is the moment for your mom? >> i can say probably when i sang "the last" for the president. i think, you know, my father, all of his history he grew up in gaston, alabama and he was escorted to school every day because he was one of the first african-americans in his school and my mother, you know, in her day she couldn't ride the front of the bus. so for her to see her child -- >> doesn't it sound amazing when i say things like that now, in this day and age, only in our generation even that's what your parents had to go through. i find that a staggering thing. even now when i hear it. >> it's true. but it's a new day and my parents saw me being a part of that history. now i see my nephew and he's like i don't understand why everyone saying that obama is black because it's just normal to him and that makes me -- that's my, you know, my joy. so, you know, it's great to see the growth and it's great that my parents could live to see that and it makes me very proud. >> hold that there because i want to talk to you more about that amazing night when you sang at the inauguration. i can imagine you talk about nerves at glastonbury. the nerves at that event? >> yes. >> let's discuss that. ♪ what goes around come become ♪ what goes around come become around ♪ [fans whirring] announcer: chill raw and prepared foods promptly. one in 6 americans will get sick from food poisoning this year. check your steps at foodsafety.gov. ♪ oh and then a spell was cast and here we are in heaven ♪ ♪ for you are mine at last >> you have got a pair of chops on you, haven't you? >> thank you. >> wow, you belted that. >> waiting before you went to sing that, knowing the background, knowing what you told me about your parents, the struggle they had to come through like so many african-americans in america and here you had barack obama has become president, this sea change and on the night that america celebrates, you are selected to sing. what are you feeling just before you go out? >> right now i'm -- i'm very emotional because it like i'm reliving it and it was really powerful and overwhelming and i kept telling myself, okay, this is not about you, you have to do this for them. you have to do this for history. and it's the only way i was able to get through this song. because i want to bawl and i wanted to stare and i wanted to watch and i wanted to, you know, but i was a part of it so it was probably the -- oh, my god. i can't believe i was there. answered can't believe it was my voice for that moment. and so honored and so many memories, so many stories from my father and my grandparents and my mother and just all going through my mind and it was really fantastic. >> have you had to put up with racism as you grew up? did you experience the bad side of it? >> a bit. but, you know, i -- i feel like now people, at least with my career, i've kind of broken barriers. and i don't think people think about my race. i think they look at me as an entertainer and a musician and i'm very happy that that's changing because i think that's how i look at people and that's how i look at my friends. it's not about color and race. i'm just happy that that's changing. >> there was a moment around that time when you had the most powerful man in the world, barack obama, african-american, you had the biggest tv star in the world, oprah, you, the biggest singing star in the world, tiger woods was then the number one golfer in the world which would have been unthinkable 20, 30 years before, the sea change really came through achievement as much as anything else. did you feel that? >> absolutely. and i'm proud of it. and i'm praying we continue to grow and people continue to see the right things in people. >> what did your parents say after you performed the inauguration? >> my mom cried forever. and i did, too. it was -- it was a beautiful night and like i said, definitely the most proud moment for her and for myself. >> and the president, what did he say? the first lady? >> i did not speak to them. i wish i had it like that but i've seen them years later -- >> i've heard and you can clear it up this rumor, it's a brilliant rumor, even if it's not true. but i've heard that jay-z has the president on the speed dial of his cell phone. is this true? >> i don't know. >> that means it is. >> no, it doesn't. >> they are amazing. they are wonderful. and actually i just worked with the first lady with the let's move initiative. >> because she's a remarkable woman. >> she is. >> whatever side you're on the political divide, michelle obama has barely put a foot wrong and is a remarkable role model. >> and she cares so much. her idea was so brilliant. the girls and boys were practicing their choreography, not even realizing they were taking care of their bodies and moving around. i'm so happy she's asked me to be a part of it. >> how do you think he's doing as president? >> i think he's doing fantastic. i think he needs more time, another term. >> will you campaign for him? >> absolutely. i did the first time and i will again. >> you must have met him? >> i've met them. they're so gracious. >> he has gotten around to thanking you. >> of course. >> and i performed at the white house. they were so gracious. they not only spoke to me. they spent time with every single member of my band. they're just the epitome of class and heart. it's