In January 2010, Knowles was interviewed by USA Today and announced plans to take a break from music in 2010. She stated, "it's definitely time to take a break, to recharge my batteries. ... I'd like to take about six months and not go into the studio. I need to just live life, to be inspired by things again."[103] During this time, a 60 Minutes segment aired, revealing Knowles was homeschooled as a child and prays before every performance.[104] In February 2010, she featured on Lady Gaga's song, "Telephone". The song reached number one on the US Pop Songs chart, thus becoming the sixth number-one on the chart for both Knowles and Gaga. With this, they both tied with Mariah Carey for most number-ones since the Nielsen BDS-based Top 40 airplay chart launched in 1992.[105] It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 53rd Grammy Awards.[106]
In late 2009, producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins confirmed via Twitter that he had been working on tracks for Knowles' fourth album.[107] In November 2010, Knowles revealed that she had begun work on the album, and was writing and producing new material.[108] She explained that she was using live music to create her own music genre. She later clarified the statement, "Well, I wouldn't say I'm inventing a new genre... I'm mixing every type of genre that I love and I'm inspired by every type of genre... It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."[109] She also revealed that the album was inspired by several musicians, including Fela Kuti, The Stylistics, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.[109] Producers and songwriters working with Knowles on the album, include Jim Jonsin,[110] Ne-Yo[111] Sean Garrett[112] The Dream, Symbolyc One,[113] Diplo, Switch, Derek Miller[114] and Frank Ocean.[115] The album will be released in June 2011.[116]
Aside from music, Knowles will be making a return to acting, starring in a remake of A Star Is Born, to be directed and produced by Clint Eastwood for Warner Bros. The remake will be the fourth telling of the A Star Is Born tale, the most memorable in recent years being the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.[117] In February 2011, it was confirmed that Knowles will be a headline act at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, performing a 90-minute set on the last day of the festival on June 26, 2011.[118] Knowles came under fire from music industry executives after documents revealed that she had received as much as $1 million to perform for family members of Libyan dictator Col. Muammar Gaddafi.[119] However, a spokesperson for Knowles revealed she had donated the money to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, established to aid the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[120] On March 28, 2011, it was announced that Knowles would no longer be managed by her father Mathew Knowles, who had been managing her since Destiny's Child.[121]
