By Julie Miller, Vanity Fair
Most of the free world might aspire to spend time with Beyoncé -- flawless beauty, inspiration, and live-performance-capable, Grammy-winning singer. But when it comes to Willow Smith, the 12-year-old singer/actress and daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, there are some things that are more important.
During a promotional appearance at Temple University in Philadelphia last weekend, Will suggested that he may be more Beyoncé-crazed than his daughter is. While explaining why Willow will no longer be starring in Sony's Annie remake, to which Jay-Z is attached to score, Smith made the startling revelation:
Willow was supposed to be doing 'Annie,' we got Jay-Z to do the movie, got the studio to come in and Willow had such a difficult time on tour with 'Whip my Hair' and she said, 'You know Daddy, I don't think so' and I said, 'Baby, hold up! I said no, no, no, listen, you'll be in New York with all of your friends and Beyoncé will be there. You will be singing and dancing,' and she looked at me and said, 'Daddy, I have a better idea, how about I just be 12.'"
While we can't quite fault Willow for preferring that her prepubescent life be free of call times and production-related stresses . . . Beyoncé! To quote Vanity Fair's Chiara Marinai on the subject, "[shaking my head] to be young and naïve . . . " Twelve and naïve, to be exact.