Beyonce Talks Marriage & Taking Etta James' Attitude Home

2008-12-06T04:19:00.000-08:00

By Access Hollywood

Beyonce on the cover of Elle magazine s January 2009 issue--Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Beyonce's latest big screen venture, "Cadillac Records," opens this weekend. And in a new interview, the singer and actress discussed how while playing the role of Etta James, she took her work home with her.

But it wasn't just in the form of scripts. She took home Etta's attitude.

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"I feel like you get more bees with honey. But that doesn't mean I don't get frustrated in my life," Beyonce told ELLE's January issue. "My way of dealing with frustration is to shut down and to think and speak logically. But playing Etta was a time when I didn't have to do that. I could be loud and let it rip."

And according to the magazine, when Beyonce brought Etta home, at one point husband Jay-Z once suggested, "You better go get a hotel."

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While Beyonce and her husband of just over six months have kept their romance and marriage out of the spotlight, lately, the singer has been hinting at how things work in their superstar household.

"It is a power struggle," Beyonce said of her marriage to the hip-hop kingpin. "But if I didn't respect someone and they didn't have that strength, then I would be bored. I wouldn't be attracted to them. But at the same time, I'm not looking for someone to dominate me."

Though she is a confident 27-year-old woman now, Beyonce said that as a teenage member of Destiny's Child she grew up "really sheltered."

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After concerts, "we would get on the tour bus and read the Bible," she told the magazine.

And she still steers clear of many of the opportunities Hollywood offers, such as after concert parties, in order to protect herself.

"There are a lot of things I never did... because I believe in watching those 'True Hollywood Stories' and I see how easy it is to lose track of your life," Beyonce said. "Think about Marilyn Monroe."

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Beyonc Knowles - TV One - Jay-Z - Marilyn Monroe

A-Rod: Madonna and I Are 'Friends – That's It'

2008-12-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

By Mark Dagostino

Alex Rodriguez Photo by: Isabella / INF

While speaking to PEOPLE about his latest charitable efforts, Yankees star Alex Rodriguez commented for the first time on his relationship with Madonna.

"We're friends," Rodriguez, 33, says.

Asked if there is any romance between them at all, Rodriguez reiterates, "We're friends – that's it."

While rumors have swirled that the slugger and the singer, 50, have been carrying on a romantic relationship and flying around the country in order to spend time together, "I can tell you this," Rodriguez says, "I have never been on a plane with her."

He also finds much of what's been written about them laughable: "I've been to two [of her] concerts, yet I've read that I went to 20. I've also read that we were buying an apartment together. That is absolutely ridiculous and not true."

"You have to have a sense of humor when it comes to this stuff," Rodriguez adds.

When pressed on how much time they have spent together, and whether he had ever stayed the night at Madonna's home, Rodriguez laughed: "If I answered every rumor we'd be here for three weeks."

(A source close to Rodriguez tells PEOPLE that reports of his spending the night with Madonna are "completely, unequivocably false.")

Focused on Charity

While Rodriguez and Madonna were both in Mexico City last weekend, Rodriguez says his time was focused on running a baseball clinic for kids.

"When you're among 200 kids and teaching the game of baseball it gives you an amazing feeling," he says, "just that you may inspire kids to reach their goals, whether it's baseball or whatever their goals might be."

The desire to help children is something he and Madonna have in common – and one reason he has become a supporter of Madonna's Raising Malawi charity.

"I initially knew nothing about her charity," Rodriguez says. But after being invited to one of Madonna's fundraisers, he found that "we shared a lot of the same commitments toward helping children. I was very moved by the whole thing. I saw the documentary and it was very inspiring and informative. I saw an opportunity to help and I jumped at that."

Rodriguez jumped into three other philanthropic efforts on his own recently as well: He's funding the completion of a Pediatric Outpatient Unit at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in New York City; funding a Community DentCare Network at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (to provide preventative dental services for kids); and completing a new learning center at the Boys and Girls Club in Miami that A-Rod himself frequented as a child.

"If it wasn't for the Boys and Girls Club, I wouldn't be where I am today," Rodriguez says. "So I feel a great responsibility to not only give money, but to be there, and to be seen by the kids. I still hang out at the Boys and Girls Club."

Dealing With His Divorce

Rodriguez, who amicably settled his divorce with wife Cynthia, 35, in September, also addressed rumors that he and Cynthia had been arguing.

"I have a wonderful relationship with Cynthia," says Rodriguez, who shared Thanksgiving dinner with his ex and their two children, Natasha, 4, and Ella, 7 months, last week. "We try to be the best parents we can."

As for the amount of time he spends with his children, "I see my children, honestly, seven days a week, which has been great. We both have a lot of respect for each other and she's a great lady."

As for Madonna: "I have a lot of respect for her," he says. "She's very committed to making the world a better place. She's had an amazing career, and we're friends. That's it."

Source: http://www.people.com

Y B Entertainment

Beyonce Talks Marriage & Taking Etta James' Attitude Home

A-Rod: Madonna and I Are 'Friends – That's It'

Focused on Charity

Dealing With His Divorce