‘Hey Mrs. Carter’: How this local HBCU welcomes Beyoncé ahead of concert in Charlotte

Beyoncé fans in and around Charlotte are eagerly waiting for her concert at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday. BeyHive members from all over the region are going to the show, but one local college is going above and beyond to showcase its excitement about Queen Bey coming to the Queen City.

The global superstar will be hitting the stage as part of her Renaissance World Tour, her first solo tour in six years.

Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte’s only HBCU, released a unique Beyoncé-themed welcome video ahead of the big show.

“We want to welcome Queen Bey to the Queen City and let her know that faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of JCSU admire not only her artistry, but the ways in which she and her family uplift the world, especially communities of color like Johnson C. Smith University,” school officials said.

Students, faculty and alumni gathered on campus this summer to create the video featuring some of Beyoncé’s biggest hits.

“The video pays homage to Bey’s RENAISSANCE album, featuring the CUFF IT Challenge made popular on TikTok as well as voguing, which was made popular by Willi Ninja in the 1980s and adopted as a popular dance amongst the LGBTQ+ community, which is heavily celebrated in Bey’s newest album,” school officials said.

[RELATED: Voguing, ballroom and Black culture culminate for Beyoncé fans in the Carolinas]

The video was a collaborative effort among students, staff and alumni, with the mix made by JCSU student Jasmine Woosley, and the filming and production completed by the university’s Communications and Marketing Team.

“We are proud of the ENERGY our staff, students and alumni put into this project,” school officials said. “As JCSU is experiencing a SUMMER RENAISSANCE with updates around campus, changes in leadership and much more, we were excited to take a break and MOVE to some of Beyoncé’s hits.”

This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 9:00 AM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription