FUSE TV - Beyonce's New Album: A Timeline Leading Up to the Surprise Release

Oh Beyonce! You sneaky little thing, you! 

Queen Bey dropped a surprise self-titled album just before midnight yesterday, sending an electric shock through the music world. But wait: Where'd this album come from? For nearly two years, conflicting and confusing reports circulated claiming that a new Beyonce album was coming, that it wasn't coming, that a single hadn't been picked, that she was pregnant again, etc., etc., etc. Then she just dropped the new record upon our pathetic souls late last night.

MORE » Fuse is exclusively premiering all 17 'BEYONCE' videos this Monday at 8PM ET

Here's the timeline of the long, complicated roll-out for Beyonce, starting from when Bey revealed her pregnancy in late 2011...

• Late 2011: Any plans to tour behind her 2011 release 4 were scrapped when Bey discovered that she had a bun in the oven. She gave gave birth to baby Blue Ivy Carter on January 7, 2012. Her 2009 "I Am…Tour" hit every continent back in 2009, so fans were left clueless when to expect to see the singer again.
• February 11, 2012: Proud parents Beyonce and Jay reveal pictures of their new daughter along with a handwritten note saying, "Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time." A new baby and Bey wanting her privacy? Doesn't sound like music music making was happening over on Bey's end, though Jay did drop "Glory" featuring a vocal sample of the new babe.
• February 27, 2012: We learn Bey's been hard at work ...not on music, but House of Dereon, her joint fashion line with her mother Tina. 
• April 5, 2012: Beyonce launches a Twitter, Tumblr and new website. Having one's social media platforms all updated and ready to go is a necessary strategy to release most albums in today's age.
• May 25, 2012: She's back!!! On stage, at least. Bey doesn't miss a beat at her live comeback show at Atlantic City's Revel Resort. No new music was revealed... maybe it's not ready?
• June 1, 2012: Bey reveals she will voice a character in upcoming animated film Epic. 
• October 10, 2012: The singer/actress drops out of Clint Eastwood's remake of A Star Is Born... to focus on music?
• October 16, 2012: Beyonce confirms she will perform at the Super Bowl. OK, obviously an album release is imminent in early 2013. This is the biggest platform to promote new music!