Ryan Tedder Only Knew About ‘Beyonce’ 90 Minutes Before It Was Released

Mike Wass | December 18, 2013 11:34 am

Beyonce‘s stealth fifth album release was a complete surprise to Ryan Tedder. In fact, the man behind King B classic “Halo” and new single “XO” only found out an hour and a half before it hit iTunes. “I knew 90 minutes before it dropped,” he said backstage at The Voice finale last night (December 17). “And I said nothing because I love Beyonce and I don’t want her to hate me.”

“I heard a rumor and then I didn’t say anything,” he continued. “I told my wife, ‘I think Beyonce’s album is dropping in 90 minutes,’ and then I knew that ‘XO’ was on the album.” He was told in advance, however, that the breezy pop song was going to be a single. “I knew it was a single,” he explained. “I didn’t know if it was first or second. I didn’t know anything and then today I found out that it was the lead.”

The One Republic frontman then expressed his admiration for the game-changing diva. Seeing her perform live in Perth, Australia sealed the deal. “Me and my whole band, who are just complete skeptics and like, you know, a bit snobby, we just sat there going … like somehow we have to step our game up and be more like Beyonce.”

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[Via Daily Journal].