Jay-Z & Beyoncé: Headliners, Married or Not

April 7, 2008 — -- Mary J. Blige is the first close pal to Jay-Z, 38, and Beyoncé, 26, to nearly confirm what media outlets haven't been able to get on the record. At a North Carolina concert, where Blige was headlining with Jay-Z on Saturday, she wished the couple congratulations, stopping short of saying "marriage" or "wedding." The secretive couple are said to have wed on Friday. USA TODAY checks out their linked past.

2002

October. Jay-Z's '03 Bonnie & Clyde, featuring Beyoncé Knowles, enters the national airplay chart at No. 57. It is the couple's first collaboration.

November. The couple appear on MTV's "TRL" and don't mention romance.

2003

May. Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love," featuring Jay-Z, enters the national airplay chart at No. 67. By mid-summer, it hits No. 1.

July. Beyoncé's album, "Dangerously in Love," makes its debut at No. 1 on the album sales chart.

August. The couple put on a sizzling performance of "Crazy in Love" at the MTV Video Music Awards, where Beyoncé takes home prizes for best female and best R&B videos for that song.

September. While doing interviews to promote her musical comedy "The Fighting Temptations," Beyoncé won't discuss Jay-Z. "There are just certain things that I like to keep to myself," she tells USA TODAY. Days earlier, the couple are photographed sitting together at the U.S. Open in New York. Later that month, they are photographed at New York's Fashion Week.

2004

January. They're spotted courtside at a New York Knicks-Houston Rockets game.

February. They attend the 2004 Grammy Awards. During the ceremony, Beyoncé's mother, Tina, sits between them. Beyoncé takes home five awards, including R&B duo and rap/sung collaboration for Crazy in Love. A few days later, it becomes apparent that the couple share an enthusiasm for basketball as they are spotted together at the NBA All-Star Game in L.A.

Through spring. They're together courtside at several NBA games.

May. She watches from backstage as he performs at HFStival in Washington, D.C.

June. Sean "Diddy" Combs greets the couple as they attend the Sean John/Zac Posen Council of Fashion Designers of America awards after-party in New York. Later that month, they attend the 2004 BET Awards with her mom.

August. Beyoncé and Jay-Z allow themselves to be photographed arm-in-arm at the MTV Video Awards in Miami. During the broadcast, they give shout-outs to each other: She says, "What up, J?" He says, "What up, B?" But is it love?

2005

February. The couple add another high-profile award show to their list of engagements: the Academy Awards. Afterward, they attend the Vanity Fair party.

June. Beyoncé is in the crowd as Jay-Z announces that a new branch of his 40/40 Club is opening in Atlantic City. The couple is also snapped vacationing in the Italian and French rivieras.

October. They are photographed together at Paris Fashion Week and later at the 40/40 Club opening in Atlantic City.

2006

Early months. NBA games, red-carpet awards shows and parties.

May. They are seated together at a dinner to celebrate Jay-Z's Rocawear and S.Carter/RBK fall collection.

June. They attend music producer Antonio "LA" Reid's 50th birthday party in New York. Later that month, she joins Jay-Z on stage at his Radio City Music Hall concert show. And on June 27, they rock the stage together at the BET Awards show.

August. Beyoncé starts promotional engagements for "Dreamgirls" and her solo album. During interviews, she is asked about reports she will marry Jay-Z in a gown that resembles Princess Diana's wedding gown. "I wish I could talk to whoever wrote that, because it's fabulous," she tells USA TODAY. "Somebody is so creative that they should plan weddings, because they have a great one planned for me and Jay! It even has a menu with caviar. I don't even like caviar!" On Aug. 31, she celebrates her 25th birthday and the release of her album, "B'Day," at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in New York. He joins her mother and friends at the party. The same night, the couple attend the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall.

December. He is photographed arriving at the New York premiere of "Dreamgirls."

2007

January. They attend the Golden Globes together. She is nominated for best actress for her role in "Dreamgirls."

Summer. The couple is photographed at various European venues including Portofino, Italy, and the French Riviera.

September. He announces plans for the opening of the Las Vegas 40/40 Club, and in December they attend the grand opening.

2008

Feb. 10. The couple are in the audience at the Grammy Awards. Several days later, they are at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game festivities in New Orleans.

April 1. People.com reports that the couple have taken out a marriage license in Scarsdale, N.Y.

April 4. Flowers and other decorative material are seen being delivered to Jay-Z's Manhattan residence. That evening, People.com reports that they got married.

April 5. Without any official confirmation from either Jay-Z or Beyoncé's camp, his concert co-headliner, Mary J. Blige, offers up best wishes. "Congratulations to my man, Jay-Z, and my girl B," Blige says before kicking off her song 'You're All I Need.'

Oops.