# Hollywood

Bradley Cooper’s unforgettable meeting with Beyonce and Jay-Z

Bradley Cooper recounts his nerve-wracking pitch to Beyoncé, with Jay-Z watching “Judge Judy” in the background, in his pursuit to cast her in “A Star Is Born.

Statesman Web | February 22, 2024 4:57 pm

Bradley Cooper’s unforgettable meeting with Beyonce and Jay-Z

In a recent chat at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Bradley Cooper shared some amusing anecdotes about his efforts to woo Beyonce for his directorial debut in “A Star Is Born.” Picture this: Cooper nervously pitching the role to Queen Bey while Jay-Z casually tuned into “Judge Judy” in the background. “I had this weird cough,” Cooper recalled with a chuckle, trying to keep his composure. Despite his nerves, Cooper praised Beyonce’s brilliance, reminiscing about their year-long collaboration on the project.

Beyonce was initially linked to the film for nearly two years, with speculation even swirling about Jay-Z potentially taking on a role. But when Beyonce bowed out, Cooper found himself pondering, “Maybe it’s Adele?” Yet, his attempts to reach out to the acclaimed singer were met with radio silence. It wasn’t until a serendipitous encounter at a cancer benefit that Cooper found his leading lady.

Enter Lady Gaga, whose captivating rendition of “La Vie En Rose” at the benefit left Cooper spellbound. Their subsequent meeting, over pasta and impromptu duets, solidified Gaga as the perfect fit for the role. Reflecting on their first encounter, Gaga echoed Cooper’s sentiments, highlighting their shared East Coast roots and Italian heritage as instant bonding points.

Gaga’s recount of their meeting on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” adds another layer to their friendship, emphasizing Cooper’s warmth and genuine nature. “He makes you feel comfortable right away,” Gaga gushed, describing cozy kitchen chats over leftovers as they delved into life’s intricacies.

Cooper’s journey from nervously coughing through a pitch to sharing pasta and dreams with Lady Gaga paints a picture of Hollywood serendipity. What started as a daunting task of convincing Beyonce morphed into a fateful encounter for Bradley that birthed one of cinema’s most unforgettable collaborations. And as for Beyonce and Jay-Z’s cozy “Judge Judy” night? Just another quirky detail in the whirlwind of Hollywood tales.