Beyoncé @ 2008 Bermuda Music Festival & honored by the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation

Beyoncé was honored @ the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation's 2008 Diamond Ball and Private Concert October 4th.

Beyonce's charity work honoured at Miami children's fundraiser

5 OCTOBER 2008
It may have been the Diamond Ball yet songstress Beyonce Knowles chose to leave her own 18-carat wedding ring rock behind as she was recognised for her charity work.

Just two days earlier, the sparkler - said to be worth £2.5 million - was on display while she boogied at the Bermuda Music Festival. On Saturday, though, the singer obviously wanted to focus the attention on the fundraising night and not her recently acquired ring.

Beautiful Beyonce was guest of honour at a glitzy Florida gala to raise money for the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation. In recognition of all her hard work for others, the kind-hearted chanteuse was being inducted into the centre's Hall Of Fame.

And while she may have been the focus of the ball, where tables cost up to £5,500, Beyonce was more than happy to share the stage with another prodigious talent. Along with the glitzy crowd, the Bootylicious star was entranced by the skills of seven-year-old pianist Ethan Bortnick, who was playing to thank the hospital for treating his younger brother's heart defect.

Posted Oct 3rd 2008 1:11AM by Karu F. Daniels
Filed under: Entertainment Newswire, Entertainment

By Karu F. Daniels



Yes, Beyoncé Knowles is married.

Yes, she's still putting out her brand new album next month.

And yes, she's still wowing international audiences with her exhilarating performances.

Last night, the multiple Grammy Award winning superstar weathered tropical rain storms and delivered an over-two-hour set of songs and dance that thrilled eager masses at the National Sports Centre on the tiny, little island of Bermuda.

It was her first show since performing overseas last November. And the 'Bootylicious' diva was in tip-top form.

From the Destiny's Child chart-toppers 'Survivor,' 'Independent Woman,' and the near 10-year-old platter 'Say My Name,' to her solo hits 'Dangerously In Love,' 'Me, Myself and I,' 'Get Me Bodied' and the song she said was her favorite to sing, 'Irreplaceable,' Beyonce gave the drenched audience a whole lot more than they bargained for, with what seemed like an endless stream of infectious songs.

Unlike other "divas," who perform at Caribbean music festivals, the 'Dreamgirls' star didn't hold back on all of her vocal bravado -- and didn't restrict massive jumbotron screens from getting up-close and personal visuals of her while sweating up a storm of her very own onstage.


"This is the first time I'm seeing her live and I am amazed," exclaimed Laverne Jones, a frequent visitor to Bermuda from Atlanta, who partook in the second night festivities of the "2008 Bermuda Festival," which also included opening acts Solange Knowles and Lyfe Jennings.

While Beyonce – as she is affectionately known as -- didn't showcase any new songs from her forthcoming yet-to-be-titled album – due out Nov. 18 – she did offer the first live concert version of her rendition of the Etta James' classic 'At Last,' which she sang with much passion. While mentioning her connection to the legendary R&B singer (she plays her in the upcoming movie 'Cadillac Records'), the 27-year-old powerhouse advised the audience to google information about the 70-year-old trailblazer if they were not familiar.

"I am in a different place right now and I wanted people to see the many sides of me," she said in a statement released earlier in the day about the new Columbia Records project, which some have speculated will come out later in the year. "I have taken risks here. I am not afraid and my music will explain it all."