Beyonce Knowles was so impressed by the girls auditioning to be in her backing band that she has decided to expand her group.

The singer announced last month that she would be holding auditions to find drummers, keyboard players, bassists, guitarists, horn players and percussionists for a nine-strong all-girl group, but the standard was so high she decided to pick 12 "fierce" females for her troupe.

Jay-Z is removing all references to Cristal Champagne from the lyrics to his songs - as he continues his boycott of the alcoholic drink.

The star - who is dating Beyonce Knowles - has changed the words to a number of his songs ahead of his performance at New York's Radio City Music Hall this coming Sunday, June 25.

Beyonce Knowles is holding auditions to find an all-girl backing band to support her on her upcoming tour.

The former Destiny's Child star has launched a US search to find talented female musicians to play with her during her forthcoming shows.

The Daily Dish says that former Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles has admitted to going on a strict diet of water with cayenne pepper to lose weight for her role in the new movie "Dreamgirls."

The highly anticipated movie loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes - the role Bouncy says she was born to play, also stars Eddie Murphy and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx.

Beyonce Knowles lost 20 pounds for her role in Oscar-tipped musical, 'Dreamgirls.'

However, the singer-turned-actress - who has been promoting the film at the Cannes Film Festival in France - felt the massive weight loss was the only to way to make her character convincing.