After Jay-Z's mom, Gloria Carter, came out to her son, the two collaborated together and shared their experience on the 2017 single, "Smile." Of his relationship with his mom, he told the Times, "We never spoke about it. Until, like, recently, now we start having these beautiful conversations, and just really getting to know each other. We were always good friends but now we're really great friends. And then she was sharing that she was in love. She can be herself [now]."
 
"She doesn't have to hide for her kids or feel like she's embarrassing her kids," he added. "It was a much different time then. [Now] she can just live her full life, her whole life, and be her."