'Beyonce' producer was kept in the dark.

• Author: Evatt, Nicole
• Position: Living

Byline: Nicole Evatt

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- Beyonce's new album was so secret, one of its producers only knew of its release 90 minutes before it dropped.

Beyonce released her self-titled album in surprise form last week. Ryan Tedder produced the single "XO,'' and he learned about the release not long before it went public.

"I knew 90 minutes before it dropped. Ninety minutes. And I said nothing because I love Beyonce and I don't want her to hate me,'' Tedder said in an interview Tuesday.

"I heard a rumor and then I didn't say anything. I told my wife, 'I think Beyonce's album is dropping in 90 minutes,' and then I knew that 'XO' was on the album,'' he said. "I knew it was a single. I didn't know if it was first or second. I didn't know anything, and then today I found out that it was the lead.''

The OneRepublic frontman made the comments at the season finale of the NBC singing competition "The Voice,'' where his band performed.

In just three days, "Beyonce'' sold more...