Beyoncé Knowles is an American singer-songwriter and businesswoman born on September 4, 1981. She’s often called “Queen Bey” and is a huge cultural icon of our time. Rolling Stone even ranks her as one of the best singers ever.
As a kid, Beyoncé started performing in singing and dancing contests. She became famous in the late 1990s as part of Destiny’s Child one of the best-selling girl groups ever. When the group took a break Beyoncé released her first solo album Dangerously in Love in 2003. After that, she topped the charts with albums like B’Day (2006), I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008), and 4 (2011). She also set up her own company Parkwood Entertainment.
Beyoncé got a lot of praise for her experimental visual albums like Beyoncé (2013) and Lemonade (2016) which explore themes like feminism. She made history by having all her solo albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Her hit songs include “Crazy in Love”, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”, and “Halo.” She’s the only woman with at least 20 top 10 hits as a solo artist and 10 in a group.
Besides music, Beyoncé acted in movies like Dreamgirls (2006) and The Lion King (2019). She sold over 200 million records worldwide and won 32 Grammy Awards more than any other artist. Rolling Stone even called her the greatest entertainer of the past decade.
Beyoncé is a true powerhouse in music and entertainment shaping the 21st century in a big way.
| Full Name | Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter |
| Date of Birth | September 4, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Actress |
| Height | 5′ 6″ (1.69 m) |
| Spouse | Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter) |
| Children | Blue Ivy Carter, Sir Carter, Rumi Carter |
| Net Worth | $600 million |
Beyoncé Knowles Early Life and Education
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981, in Houston Texas. Her parents are Celestine “Tina” Knowles who owned a hair salon and Mathew Knowles who worked in sales. Beyoncé has a younger sister named Solange who is also a singer and used to dance for Destiny’s Child a group Beyoncé was part of.
Beyoncé’s maternal grandparents Lumis Albert Beyincé and Agnéz Deréon were Louisiana Creoles who spoke French and had roots in New Iberia. Her ancestry includes Joseph Broussard an Acadian who settled in French Louisiana and Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie Baron de Saint-Castin a French military officer and Abenaki chief. Her fourth great-grandmother Marie-Françoise Trahan was born in France and later moved to Louisiana.
Beyoncé has also explored her ancestry and learned she has connections to a slave owner who married one of his slaves. Her mother has distant roots in Irish Jewish Spanish Chinese and Indonesian ancestry.
Beyoncé Knowles grew up in Houston attending St. John’s United Methodist Church and celebrating Christmas Eve at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church with her Catholic family members. She went to St. Mary’s Catholic Montessori School and began taking dance classes there. Her singing talent was discovered during a dance class when she finished a song her instructor started humming.
Beyoncé’s passion for music and performing started early. She won a school talent show at just seven years old by singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” competing against much older students. She attended Parker Elementary School known for its music program and later the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts followed by Alief Elsik High School.
Throughout her childhood, Beyoncé was actively involved in music singing in her church choir where she eventually performed her first solo. Her upbringing exposed her to both Methodist and Catholic traditions shaping her early years in music and performance.
Career
When Beyoncé Knowles was eight years old she met LaTavia Roberson at an audition for an all-girl group. They formed a band called Girl’s Tyme with three other girls performing rap and dance routines in talent shows around Houston. Despite their efforts, they didn’t win on Star Search a big TV talent show and Beyoncé later admitted their performance wasn’t great. In 1995, Beyoncé’s dad quit his job to manage the group which strained their finances and led to their house and cars being sold.
Beyoncé and her groupmates kept performing and auditioning for record labels. Eventually, they signed with Elektra Records but that didn’t work out. This added to their family troubles and Beyoncé’s parents split up. However, things turned around when Grass Roots Entertainment signed them in October 1995. By 1996 they were recording their first album with Sony Music and soon after they landed a deal with Columbia Records thanks to Teresa LaBarbera Whites.
The group changed its name to Destiny’s Child in 1996 and released its first major song “No No No” in 1997. Their self-titled debut album came out in 1998 and was followed by their hugely successful second album “The Writing’s on the Wall” in 1999. This album featured hits like “Bills Bills Bills” “Jumpin’ Jumpin'” and “Say My Name” which won two Grammy Awards.
During this time Beyoncé also collaborated on other projects like the song “After All Is Said and Done” for a movie soundtrack. Destiny’s Child continued to rise with their song “Independent Women Part I” from the movie “Charlie’s Angels” which topped the charts for eleven weeks.
In 2001, while working on their third album “Survivor” Destiny’s Child faced legal issues from former members. Despite the challenges, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The group continued with more hits like “Bootylicious” and “Survivor” earning them another Grammy Award.
After releasing a holiday album in 2001 Destiny’s Child took a break to focus on their solo careers. During this time Beyoncé starred in movies like “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and “The Fighting Temptations” also contributing to their soundtracks.
Beyoncé Knowles’s solo career took off with her debut album “Dangerously in Love” in 2003 featuring hits like “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy.” The album earned her five Grammy Awards and she embarked on her first solo tour. She continued to shine in both music and film starring in “Dreamgirls” and going on tour again in 2007 with “The Beyoncé Experience.”
In addition to her musical success, Beyoncé Knowles appeared in movies like “The Pink Panther” and continued to grow as a performer and philanthropist. Her career has been marked by numerous accolades and record-breaking achievements making her a global icon in entertainment.
Beyoncé Knowles’s album “I Am… Sasha Fierce” came out in November 2008 and introduced her alter ego Sasha Fierce. Despite mixed reviews from critics it sold 482000 copies in its first week debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album included hits like “If I Were a Boy” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. “Halo” became her longest-running single on the Hot 100 chart. Beyoncé’s success with “Halo” also gave her more top-ten singles in the 2000s than any other female artist.
The music video for “Single Ladies” sparked a global dance craze and won three MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. At the Grammys, Beyoncé earned ten nominations and won six setting a record for the most Grammys won by a female artist in a single night up to that point.
In acting Beyoncé Knowles starred as Etta James in “Cadillac Records” and received acclaim for her performance. She donated her entire salary from the film to Phoenix House a charity for heroin addiction rehabilitation. Beyoncé also appeared in the thriller “Obsessed” which performed well at the box office despite negative reviews.
Beyoncé’s career continued to soar with her “I Am… Tour” grossing $119.5 million from 108 shows worldwide. She took a break in 2010 traveling extensively and writing about her experiences in Essence magazine. Beyoncé also headlined the Glastonbury Festival in 2011 becoming the first solo female artist to do so in over two decades.
Her album “4” released in 2011 debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It featured singles like “Run the World (Girls)” and “Love on Top”. Beyoncé’s “4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé” concert series in New York was a major success and the album eventually achieved platinum status.
In 2013, Beyoncé Knowles performed at President Obama’s inauguration and headlined the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show. She surprised fans later that year by releasing her self-titled fifth studio album exclusively on iTunes which became her fifth consecutive number-one album.
Beyoncé’s visual album “Lemonade” released in 2016 received critical acclaim and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album’s themes and visuals garnered widespread praise and it was one of the best-selling albums of the year.
She continued her success with the Formation World Tour and later starred as Nala in Disney’s remake of “The Lion King”. Beyoncé curated and produced “The Lion King: The Gift” a companion album featuring African producers and artists. The album and its lead single “Spirit” were well-received.
Beyoncé Knowles’s impact extended beyond music with projects like “Homecoming” a documentary about her historic Coachella performance and “Black Is King” a visual album celebrating the Black experience. She also collaborated on charitable efforts and received numerous accolades including multiple Grammy Awards.
In 2021, Beyoncé earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “Be Alive” from the film “King Richard” showcasing her versatility and enduring influence in music and beyond.
In March 2022, Beyoncé Knowles performed her song “Be Alive” at the 94th Academy Awards. She chose to perform on the tennis courts in Compton where Venus and Serena Williams practiced as kids rather than at the main venue. Her performance was praised especially since it was choreographed by her longtime collaborator Fatima Robinson.
In June 2022, Beyoncé Knowles got people buzzing by removing her profile pictures from her social media accounts. This sparked rumors that new music was on the way. Her nonprofit BeyGood also teased fans on Twitter about her upcoming seventh studio album. Finally, on June 15, 2022, Beyoncé officially announced that her new album would be called Renaissance. The first single “Break My Soul” dropped on June 20, 2022. The full album was released on July 29, 2022, and “Break My Soul” marked Beyoncé’s 20th top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 putting her in an elite group alongside Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.
Beyoncé revealed that Renaissance was the first part of a trilogy she had been working on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics loved the album and it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. This made Beyoncé the first female artist to have her first seven studio albums debut at number one in the US. Meanwhile “Break My Soul” also hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming her twelfth song to achieve this feat.
In August 2022, Beyoncé Knowles faced criticism over the lyrics of her song “Heated” which included the word “spaz.” Some argued this term was offensive to people with cerebral palsy. Responding to the backlash Beyoncé’s team stated they would replace the word clarifying it was not used to harm anyone.
Moving into 2023, Beyoncé performed a highly paid private concert in Dubai her first full show in over four years. This event drew criticism due to the country’s stance on homosexuality. Soon after she announced her Renaissance World Tour which became one of the highest-grossing tours by a female artist.
In July 2023, Beyoncé featured on Travis Scott‘s single “Delresto (Echoes)” marking her 100th appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 across her entire career. Later that year she released a documentary concert film called Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé showcasing her world tour.
By February 2024, Beyoncé Knowles expanded her ventures by launching a hair care brand called Cécred. During Super Bowl LVIII she announced the second part of her trilogy project unveiling two new songs “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” “Texas Hold ‘Em” became her highest-charting debut and ninth solo number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. She named her new album Cowboy Carter a blend of country and gospel which received widespread critical acclaim upon its release on March 29, 2024. The album features collaborations with various artists including Miley Cyrus Dolly Parton and her daughter Rumi Carter.
Net Worth
Beyoncé Knowles has an estimated net worth of $600 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Personal life
In 2002, Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z worked together on the song “’03 Bonnie & Clyde” featured on his album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. Beyoncé played Jay-Z’s girlfriend in the music video sparking rumors about their relationship. They quietly married on April 4 2008 and by April 2014 they had sold a total of 300 million records together. Known for keeping their personal lives private they became more open after 2013 despite facing challenges when Jay-Z had an affair.
Around 2010 or 2011, Beyoncé suffered a miscarriage which she described as deeply sad. She turned to music to cope and unexpectedly became pregnant again while in Paris shooting the album cover for 4 in April 2011. By August of that year at the MTV Video Music Awards, she revealed her pregnancy while performing “Love On Top”. This announcement set a Twitter record for the most tweets per second for a single event and became the most Googled phrase of that week. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to their daughter Blue Ivy in New York City.
In 2016, after releasing Lemonade rumors swirled about Jay-Z’s infidelity particularly linked to a woman known as “Becky”. The album’s lyrics pointedly addressed these rumors drawing significant media attention.
On February 1, 2017, Beyoncé Knowles announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with twins. Her post broke records for the most likes on the platform at the time. On July 13, 2017, she shared the first photo of herself with the twins Rumi and Sir confirming their birth at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center via cesarean section a month earlier. In September 2018 Beyoncé controlled her Vogue cover story where she discussed her pregnancy and its impact.
Beyoncé Knowles has been involved in various social and political causes. She performed at President Obama’s 2009 inauguration and supported his campaigns including hosting a fundraiser that raised $4 million in 2012. She endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and later headlined a concert supporting her campaign. Beyoncé has openly identified as a feminist since 2013 incorporating feminist themes into her music and public appearances. She has supported initiatives like the Ban Bossy campaign and has spoken out against discrimination and police brutality.
Known for her financial success Forbes has consistently ranked Beyoncé among the highest-paid celebrities. By 2018, her net worth was estimated at $355 million with her and Jay-Z’s combined wealth surpassing $1 billion. They made headlines in 2023 for purchasing a $200 million house in Malibu setting a record for California’s most expensive home sale.
This recap highlights Beyoncé’s journey in music her personal life with Jay-Z and her significant impact on popular culture and social issues.
Philanthropy
In 2002, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Tina Knowles established the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth in Downtown Houston. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Beyoncé and Rowland launched the Survivor Foundation to provide housing and resources for displaced families. Beyoncé personally donated $250000 to kickstart the effort. Over time the foundation expanded its work to support other charities including relief efforts after Hurricane Ike in 2008 where Beyoncé contributed another $100000 to the cause.
In 2007, Beyoncé founded the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments offering housing for 43 people who were displaced. By 2016, Beyoncé had donated $7 million to maintain this housing complex.
After starring in Cadillac Records in 2009 Beyoncé Knowles learned about Phoenix House a nonprofit helping people with drug and alcohol addiction. She donated her entire $4 million salary from the film to Phoenix House and with her mother established the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center. This center provides a seven-month cosmetology training course to help Phoenix House clients gain job skills during their recovery.
In 2010, Beyoncé Knowles joined the Hope for Haiti Now telethon donating a significant amount and becoming the face of the “Fashion For Haiti” T-shirt. She also collaborated with Michelle Obama and others to fight child obesity.
Beyoncé continued her philanthropy by supporting various causes including aiding victims of disasters like Hurricane Harvey and the Flint water crisis. She and Jay-Z also supported civil rights groups and established funds for Black Lives Matter chapters across the United States. Additionally, Beyoncé has donated to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported black-owned businesses through grants.
In 2020, she provided free COVID-19 tests in Houston and contributed to relief efforts worldwide. Beyoncé has consistently used her platform to support social justice movements including those in Nigeria and other African countries.
Through her charitable work, Beyoncé Knowles has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to communities in need and supporting causes that promote social justice and equality. Her contributions have made a significant impact on various communities and have inspired others to support similar initiatives.
