Beyoncé sells out intimate New York show to promote new album 4 in just 22 seconds

She proved she was hot stuff live at Glastonbury Festival earlier this summer - but Beyoncé showed just how in demand when she sold out a gig in just 22 seconds today.

The Single Ladies singer announced the first show of her Four Intimate Nights With Beyoncé tour at New York's Rosedale Ballroom - and it sold out in just 22 seconds.

Beyoncé, who turns 30 next month, will perform her new album 4 in its entirety at the four dates, including hit singles Run The World (Girls) and Best Thing I Never Had.

The remaining three consecutive New York dates were released throughout the day and all quickly sold out but none beating the initial 22 seconds.

However, the remaining trio of dates at the 2,500 capacity venue still sold out within a minute.

In comparison, Michael Jackson's ill-fated 2009 This Is It dates at the O2 which sold 33 of its 360,000 seats each minute.

The speedy sell-out comes just a week after Beyoncé spoke out for the first time about playing Egypt in the weeks just before the country's uprising.

Talking in this month's Harper's Bazaar, she said that despite protests from ultra-conservative Islamic groups beforehand, her concert at Port Ghalib on the Red Sea was a massive success.

She told the September issue of the magazine: 'There were a lot of women in the audience in burkas. They were singing along to Irreplaceable – it was amazing!

'Some of the men got really upset! They were like to their women, "We have to get you out of here!"....I guess some of them (men) do get annoyed. But I never want to do "the banner thing".'

The former Destiny's Child singer is hoping to begin a new chapter in her life when she turns 30 on September 4.

The star, who married rapper Jay-Z, 41, three years ago, said: 'This is such a pivotal moment in my life! I’m transitioning as a woman, and I’m finally able to express myself as I am.'

The full interview is in the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which is on sale now.