Superstar Beyonce battled through a sore throat to headline The Sound of Change charity concert in London on Saturday (01Jun13).

The R&B beauty thrilled fans at Twickenham Stadium by belting out hits including Run the World (Girls), Halo and Crazy in Love with her rapper husband Jay Z, but she admitted to U.S. reporter Samantha Guthrie before the gig that she was struggling with a slight illness.

A clip of the newswoman's backstage interview with Beyonce aired on breakfast show Today on Monday (03Jun13), prompting co-host Natalie Morales to comment on the singer sounding "a little hoarse", to which Guthrie replied, "She did. She said she was struggling with her speaking voice. I said, 'How are you gonna sing?' She said, 'Oh it's different vocal cords.' Let me tell you, she sang her heart out; gave a great performance."

Jennifer Lopez, Florence + The MAChine, John Legend, Jessie J and Ellie Goulding were also among the acts on the all-star line-up, while Madonna, Salma Hayek, James Franco and Blake Lively all made appearances onstage to promote education, health and justice for women worldwide through the Chime for Change foundation.

The sold-out female empowerment benefit helped to raise over $4 million (£2.6 million) for the cause.

Beyonce, who overcame a secret bout of tonsillitis at the start of her The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in April (13), will have a few weeks to rest her voice and recover - she doesn't kick off the North American leg of her trek until 28 June (13), when she will hit the stage in Los Angeles.