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Beyoncé Shines in Her Return to the Stage

Bey’s four-night performance in Atlantic City draws praise from Michelle Obama, Jay-Z and more.

By BET-Staff

Posted: 05/29/2012 08:12 AM EDT

Filed Under Music News, Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Jay-Z

The reviews are in and critics agree; Beyoncé was phenomenal in her first live concert since giving birth to Blue Ivy Carter in January.

The Grammy Award-winning superstar hosted a four-night extravaganza at the newly open Revel casino and hotel during the Memorial Day weekend. The plush resort’s state-of-the-art Ovation Hall was packed every night with over 5,000 revelers who came to see Queen B put on her usual first-class performance.

Of course Bey did not disappoint. She dazzled fans with an assortment of high-energy performances of her upbeat hits like “End of Time,” “Run the World (Girls)” and “Crazy in Love.” Though she made it look easy, keeping up to the beat of the vibrant tunes was no easy task. Bey reminded her fans how much work she put in post-pregnancy to make the show possible.

"Y'all don't know how hard I had to work," Beyoncé told the crowd. "I had to lose 60 pounds. They had me on the treadmill, eating lettuce."

Rest assured Beyoncé’s efforts did not go unwarranted. She drew standing ovations from the audience and high praise from many of the celebrity guests in the audience.

The singer’s husband, rap mogul Jay-Z, let off a rare tweet following one of the shows, "I'm gonna say this and then I'm gonna end mine. Beyoncé is the best performer in the world. Period.”

First Lady Michelle Obama was in attendance with daughters Sasha and Malia. It’s no secret that Mrs. Obama is quite the Bey fan. She recently told PEOPLE, “If I had some gift, I’d be Beyoncé." The first family was thoroughly pleased by the performance, according to reports they sang along to the infectious “Love on Top.”

While Beyoncé had more than enough material of her own to fill a weekend worth of shows, she took a moment to pay tribute to late singers Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. Beyoncé sang a verse of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and acknowledged Donna Summer during a performance of "Naughty Girl," which samples Summer's hit "Love to Love You Baby." She also performed a cover of Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor.”

In the end the four-night concert marked the pop queen’s return to her throne.

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