Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born inHouston, Texas, on September 4, 1981.[5][6] Her mother,Tina Knowles (née Beyoncé), was a hairdresser and salon owner,[7][8] while her father,Mathew Knowles, was a sales manager atXerox.[9] Mathew is African-American,[10] while Tina isLouisiana Creole with African, French, Irish,Breton,Norman, and Native American ancestry.[11][12][13] Beyoncé's younger sister,Solange, is also a singer and actress.[14][15] They are descendants ofAcadian militia officerJoseph Broussard, who was exiled toFrench Louisiana after theexpulsion of the Acadians.[16] Both sisters also have Belgian ancestry fromHainaut Province, Wallonia.[17][18] Beyoncé was raised within multiple religious traditions, attending both St. John's United Methodist Church and St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in Houston.[19][20] Her first job as a child was sweeping hair and occasionally performing for customers at her mother's hair salon.[21]
Beyoncé began her education at St. Mary's Catholic Montessori School, where she also took dance classes.[22] Her vocals were discovered by her dance instructor, who began humming a song that Beyoncé completed.[23] Beyoncé's interest in music and performing grew after she won a school talent show at the age of seven by singingJohn Lennon's "Imagine", winning against older competitors aged fifteen and sixteen.[24][25] In 1990, nine-year-old Beyoncé enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a musicmagnet school in Houston, where she performed with the school's choir.[26][27] She later attended theKinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and subsequentlyAlief Elsik High School.[28] Beyoncé was also a member of the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church, where she sang her firstsolo and was a soloist for two years.[19][29]
1990–2001: Early career and Destiny's Child
In 1990, Beyoncé met singerLaTavia Roberson while in an audition for an all-girl entertainment group.[30] Joined byKelly Rowland two years later,[30] the trio was placed in Girl's Tyme, a group that performed rap and dance routines on Houston's talent show circuit.[31][32] In 1993, the group was entered inStar Search, the largest national talent show on television at the time. Competing in the show's singing category, the group lost the competition, which Beyoncé attributed to a poor song choice.[33][34] AfterLeToya Luckett joined in 1993, Girl's Tyme continued performing as anopening act for established R&B girl groups.[30] In 1995, Mathew left his job to manage the group, which halved the Knowles family's income, leading to them moving into separate apartments.[30][35][36] The group was briefly signed byElektra Records and later dropped; ensuing tensions led to a six-month separation of Beyoncé's parents.[37][38] The Knowles family later reunited and the group secured a contract withColumbia Records, aided by talent scoutTeresa LaBarbera Whites.[24][39]
Following several lineup changes, Destiny's Child ultimately comprised Beyoncé, Rowland, andMichelle Williams.[52] In early 2001, while the group were completing work on their third album, Beyoncé secured a leading role in theMTV made-for-television filmCarmen: A Hip Hopera, an interpretation of the 19th-century operaCarmen.[53] Destiny's Child's third studio album,Survivor, was released in May 2001; it debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, selling 663,000 copies in its first week.[54] The album produced theBillboard Hot 100 number-ones "Independent Woman Part I" and "Bootylicious", as well as thetitle track, which peaked at number two.[55][56][57] "Survivor" earned the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[57] Following the release of their holiday album,8 Days of Christmas (2001), Destiny's Child announced a hiatus to allow each member to pursue solo careers.[30]
2002–2007:Dangerously in Love andB'Day
Beyoncé in 2004
In July 2002, Beyoncé made her theatrical film debut, portraying Foxxy Cleopatra inAustin Powers in Goldmember.[58] She released "Work It Out" as the lead single from the film's soundtrack.[59] Her breakthrough as a solo artist came when she featured onJay-Z's track "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" from his albumThe Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002).[60] The single peaked at number four on theBillboard Hot 100.[61] Beyoncé appeared as Jay-Z's girlfriend in the music video for the song, fueling speculation about a relationship.[62] She later shared that they began dating when she was nineteen, after a year and a half of friendship.[63]
On June 14, 2003, Beyoncé premiered songs from her debut solo album,Dangerously in Love, during her first solo concert, which was broadcast as apay-per-view television special.[64] Released ten days later,[30] the album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 chart, selling 317,000 copies in its first week.[65] The album's lead single, "Crazy in Love", featured Jay-Z and became Beyoncé's first number-one single as a solo artist on the USBillboard Hot 100.[66] The single "Baby Boy" also reached number one,[67] while "Me, Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl" both reached the top five.[68]Dangerously in Love earned Beyoncé five awards at the46th Annual Grammy Awards, includingBest Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song for "Crazy in Love".[69] Having sold 11million copies since its release, it is one of thebest-selling albums of the 21st century.[70] She starred alongsideCuba Gooding Jr. in the musical comedyThe Fighting Temptations (2003), portraying a single mother and the love interest of Gooding's character.[71][72]
Beyoncé's second studio album,B'Day, was released internationally on September 4, 2006, to coincide with her twenty-fifth birthday.[85][86] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 chart with 541,000 copies sold in its first week.[87][88] The album's lead single, "Déjà Vu", featuring Jay-Z, reached number four on theBillboard Hot 100,[89] while the second worldwide single, "Irreplaceable", topped the chart for ten weeks.[90]B'Day's other singles—"Ring the Alarm", "Get Me Bodied", and "Green Light"—each saw moderate chart success.[91][92] At the2007 Grammy Awards,B'Day and some of its songs received five nominations, winning Best Contemporary R&B Album.[93] At the2008 Grammy Awards, the album garnered two more nominations, includingRecord of the Year for "Irreplaceable".[94]
Beyoncé's first acting role in 2006 was in the comedy filmThe Pink Panther.[73] She performed "Check on It" as its theme song, which was included on#1's and on the European deluxe version ofB'Day. "Check on It" peaked atop theBillboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks.[95][96] Later that year, she starred inDreamgirls, a cinematic adaptation ofthe 1981 Broadway musical; Beyoncé portrayed a pop singer modeled afterDiana Ross.[97] In support ofB'Day, Beyoncé embarked onthe Beyoncé Experience in 2007, her first worldwide concert tour, which visited 97 venues.[98] Simultaneously,B'Day was re-released with additional tracks,[99] including her duet withShakira, "Beautiful Liar", which peaked at number three in the US.[100] In December 2007, Beyoncé and Jay-Z became engaged.[101]
2008–2010:I Am... Sasha Fierce and marriage
On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z married in a small, private ceremony;[102] the latter confirmed their marriage in an interview later that year.[103] Their marriage served as a creative inspiration for her third studio album, titledI Am... Sasha Fierce. Released on November 12, 2008,I Am... Sasha Fierce formally introduced heralter ego Sasha Fierce.[104][105] Adouble album, it comprises two discs—I Am... andSasha Fierce; the former contains slow andmidtempo pop andR&Bballads, while the latter focuses on uptempo beats that blendelectropop andEuropop elements.[106][107] Debuting at number one on theBillboard 200, it sold 482,000 copies in its first week, marking Beyoncé's third consecutive US number-one album.[108]
I Am... Sasha Fierce included Beyoncé's fifth number one on theBillboard Hot 100, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", as well as the UK chart-topping single, "If I Were a Boy".[109][110] "Halo", which peaked at number five in the US, helped Beyoncé attain more top-ten singles on the list than any other woman during the 2000s.[111][112] Parodied and imitated around the world, the "Single Ladies" music video was described by theToronto Star as the "first major dance craze" of theInternet age.[113] At the2009 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won three categories, includingVideo of the Year.[114] To promoteI Am... Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé embarked on the worldwideI Am... Tour, her second headlining worldwide concert tour; it grossed $119.5 million.[115][116]
I Am... Sasha Fierce went on to become one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, with over 10million copies sold worldwide.[117] Soon after its release, Beyoncé starred as blues singerEtta James in themusicalbiopicCadillac Records (2008).[115][118] Her portrayal garnered several nominations, including anNAACP Image Award nomination forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.[119] In the psychological thrillerObsessed (2009), Beyoncé played Sharon Charles, a woman protecting her family from her husband's stalker, which co-starredAli Larter andIdris Elba.[120][121] The film was critically panned, but Beyoncé's acting saw favorable reception.[122]Obsessed performed strongly at the US box office, earning $68 million on a $20 million budget.[123][124]
Beyoncé performed "America the Beautiful" at presidentBarack Obama's2009 presidential inauguration and "At Last" during the first inaugural dance.[125] At the52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010, she received ten nominations—both forI Am... Sasha Fierce and for her work in film soundtracks—tying withLauryn Hill for most Grammy nominations in a single year by a female artist.[126] Beyoncé won six of those nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album forI Am... Sasha Fierce andSong of the Year for "Single Ladies",breaking a record she previously tied in 2004 for the most Grammy awards won in a single night by a female artist.[127] In 2010, Beyoncé provided vocals onLady Gaga's single "Telephone", from the latter's extended playThe Fame Monster (2009).[128] It peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100.[61]
2010–2012:4 and first child
In January 2010, Beyoncé announced a hiatus from her music career.[129] Over the nine-month break, she traveled to several European cities, theGreat Wall of China, theEgyptian pyramids, Australia,English music festivals, and attended museum exhibitions and ballet performances.[130][131] "Eat, Play, Love", a cover story written by Beyoncé forEssence that detailed her career break, won her a writing award from theNew York Association of Black Journalists.[132] Around this time, she miscarried, retrospectively describing it as "the saddest thing" she had endured.[133] Beyoncé returned to the studio and wrote music to cope with the loss.[134][135] In September 2010, Beyoncé made her runway modelling debut atTom Ford's Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show.[136] In March 2011, her father Mathew stopped managing her career.[137]
In April 2011, during a photoshoot inParis for her upcoming album cover, Beyoncé unexpectedly discovered she was pregnant.[138][139] Her fourth studio album,4, was released on June 24, 2011, in the US and debuted atop theBillboard 200, selling 310,000 copies in its first week.[140][141] It was her fourth consecutive number-one album in the US.[142]4 marked Beyoncé's first project of creative control since she split from her father, and was conceived as a traditionalR&B andsoul record that stood apart from contemporary popular music.[143][144][145] It contained fiveBillboard Hot 100 songs: "Run the World (Girls)", "Party", "Countdown", "Best Thing I Never Had", and "Love on Top".[146][147] The latter two peaked at numbers sixteen and twenty.[148][149]
On June 26, 2011, Beyoncé became the first solo female artist in over two decades to headline the main Pyramid Stage at theGlastonbury Festival.[150]The performance received praise from critics, with some outlets praising her growth as a live performer.[151][152][153] In August 2011, Beyoncé and Jay-Z attended theMTV Video Music Awards, in which the former performed "Love on Top" and revealed her pregnancy.[154] Her announcement contributed to the ceremony becoming the most-watched broadcast in MTV history at the time, drawing 12.4 million viewers.[155][156] The moment also set aGuinness World Record for the mosttweets per second for a single event, with 8,868 tweets per second, and "Beyonce pregnant" became the mostGoogled phrase during the week of August 29, 2011.[157][158]
In April 2013, Beyoncé embarked onthe Mrs. Carter Show World Tour,[171] released a cover ofAmy Winehouse's "Back to Black" withAndré 3000 forThe Great Gatsby'ssoundtrack,[172] and in May, voiced Queen Tara in the animated filmEpic.[173] On December 13, 2013, she unexpectedly released her fifth studio album,Beyoncé, on theiTunes Store without prior announcement or promotion.[174] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 chart, selling 617,000 copies in its first week.[175] It marked her fifth consecutive US number-one debut, making her the first woman in the chart's history to achieve this milestone with her first five studio albums.[176][177] The album received widespread critical acclaim,[178] and sold one million digital copies globally within six days—a record for any album on iTunes at the time.[179]
Musically rooted inelectro-R&B,Beyoncé explored darker, more personal themes than her previous work, includingbulimia,postnatal depression, and the emotional complexities of marriage and motherhood.[180][181] As avisual album, the album's music videos were recorded in secrecy to accompany to album's unexpected release.[182][183]Beyoncé is credited with helping popularize digital releases, as well as surprise and visual album formats; its release influenced theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry to adopt Friday asGlobal Release Day.[184][185] The record spawned five singles: "Blow", "XO", "Drunk in Love", "Partition", and "Pretty Hurts".[186][187][188] "Drunk in Love" featured Jay-Z and peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100.[189][190]Beyoncé sold 2.3million units worldwide by the end of 2013, making it the one of the best-selling albums of the year.[191]
The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 and sold 653,000 copies in its first week.[204] The number-one debut made Beyoncé the first artist inBillboard history to have her first six studio albums debut atop the chart.[205][204] All twelve tracks fromLemonade entered theBillboard Hot 100, making her the first female artist to chart twelve songs simultaneously.[206] After the album's release, "Sorry", "Hold Up", "Freedom", and "All Night" were released as singles.[207] It was the third best-selling album in the US in 2016, with 1.554 million copies sold, and the best-selling album globally that year, with 2.5 million copies sold.[208][209] Beyoncé embarked onthe Formation World Tour from April to October 2016, with stops across North America and Europe.[210] It was the first all-stadium tour by a female artist[211] and received Tour of the Year at the44th American Music Awards.[212]
The album's visuals earned eleven nominations at the2016 MTV Video Music Awards—the most Beyoncé had ever received in a single year—and won eight awards, including Video of the Year for "Formation".[213][214] Beyoncé became the show's most-awarded artist with 24 total awards, surpassingMadonna's previous record of 20 wins.[215] In January 2017, Beyoncé was announced as a headliner for theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which would have made her only the second female artist to headline the event. However, on February 23, it was confirmed she would no longer perform as a result of her second pregnancy.[216][217] Festival organizers later announced she would headline the 2018 edition instead.[216]
At the59th Grammy Awards in February 2017,Lemonade led with nine nominations, includingAlbum of the Year, and Record and Song of the Year for "Formation".[218] Beyoncé won two awards:Best Urban Contemporary Album forLemonade andBest Music Video for "Formation".[219] That month, Beyoncé announced onInstagram that she was expecting twins.[220] The post garnered over 6.3 million likes within a few hours, setting a world record for themost-liked image on the platform at the time.[221] On July 13, she shared the first photo of herself with the twins, confirming they were born a month earlier on June 13.[222] That post became the second most-liked on Instagram, following her original pregnancy announcement.[223][224] The twins—a daughter, Rumi, and a son, Sir—were born viacaesarean section in California.[225][226] Later that year, Beyoncé featured on the remix ofEd Sheeran's "Perfect", which reached number one in the US, marking her sixth chart-topper as a solo artist.[227]
2018–2021:Everything Is Love andThe Lion King
Beyoncé at the European premiere ofThe Lion King in 2019
Beyoncéheadlined both weekends of the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[228][229] Her performance on April 14 was the most-tweeted-about performance of the first weekend and became the most-watched live performance on YouTube.[230][231][232] It received widespread praise from critics, many of whom described it as historic.[233][234][235] The performance paid homage to Black culture—particularly focusing onhistorically Black colleges and universities—and included a brief reunion of Destiny's Child.[236][237]
On June 16, 2022, Beyoncé announced the title of her seventh studio album,Renaissance.[263][264] The album's lead single, "Break My Soul", was released four days later[265] and peaked atop theBillboard Hot 100,[266] becoming Beyoncé's eighth number-one and twentieth top-ten song on the chart. This placed her alongsidePaul McCartney and Michael Jackson as the only artists in chart history to earn at least twenty top-ten singles as solo acts and ten as members of a group.[267]
Renaissance was released on July 29, 2022, to critical acclaim.[268][269] The album featuresBlackdance music styles such asdisco andhouse and largely pays homage to the historically overlooked contributions of Blackqueer pioneers to those genres.[270][271] The album debuted atop theBillboard 200, with 332,000 copies sold in its first week.[272] Its number-one debut made Beyoncé the first artist to have her first seven studio albums debut at number one in the US.[273][274] All of its sixteen songs charted on the Hot 100,[273] with its second single, "Cuff It", peaking at number six.[275] Upon the release ofRenaissance, Beyoncé revealed that it was the first installment of a trilogy developed and recorded during theCOVID-19 pandemic—a period she described as her "most creative".[276][277]
On February 11, 2024, Beyoncé announced the second installment of her trilogy project and released its first two singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages".[287][288] "Texas Hold 'Em" became her ninth solo number-one on theBillboard Hot 100 and her first on theBillboard Global 200.[289][290] On March 12, 2024, she announced the album's title,Cowboy Carter, releasing it to universal acclaim on March 29.[291][292][293] AnAmericana-inspired record,[294]Cowboy Carter highlights the historically overlooked contributions of Black pioneers tocountry music.[295] It debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, making Beyoncé the only female artist to debut her first eight studio albums at number one in the US, with 407,000 copies sold in its first week.[296][274] The album's third single, "II Most Wanted", featuringMiley Cyrus, debuted at number six in the US.[297] In July 2024,NBC released two promotional commercials featuring Beyoncé for their coverage of the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[298]
Beyoncé returned as Nala inMufasa: The Lion King (2024), a prequel to the 2019 remake.[299] In December 2024, she headlined the first-everNFL Christmas Gameday Halftime Show, debuting songs fromCowboy Carter.[300] At the67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025, she became the first Black artist in 50 years to win in the country categories,[301] and the first Black artist to winBest Country Album.[302] She also won Album of the Year, the first Black woman to do so in 25 years.[303] That year, Beyoncé embarked on theCowboy Carter Tour across the US and Europe, which went on to become the highest-grossing country tour of all time.[304][305]
Artistry
Musical style
Beyoncé's music is primarily R&B,[306]pop,[307][308] and hip-hop,[309][310] and also incorporates elements of soul andfunk.[144][311] With continuous musical reinventions,[312][313] Beyoncé has been described as a musical "chameleon" by publications such asVox andBillboard.[314][315] Expanding beyond the hip-hop and R&B sound she featured in her previous two albums—Dangerously in Love andB'Day—I Am... Sasha Fierce incorporates a 1980s electropop- and Europop-imbued sound, featuring instruments such assynthesizers and theacoustic guitar.[316][317] With the album4, she expanded her use of soul and hip-hop compared to earlier work.[318][319] Drawing from 1970s funk, 1980s pop, and 1990s soul influences,4 featured elements ofhard rock,reggae, andadult contemporary.[320][321]Minimalism inspired Beyoncé's self-titled album,[322][323] which employed emotive falsetto and oftenbraggadocio, using fragmented song structures that rejected traditional pop formats in favor ofatmosphere.[324][325]Lemonade incorporated a broader range of genres, includingrock, country, gospel, reggae, andblues.[326][327][328]
The Lion King: The Gift was conceived as a record rooted in cultural celebration. As such, Beyoncé recruited artists and producers from across the African continent and explored genres such asAfropop and gqom.[329] Delving into disco,ballroom culture, and1990s club sounds,[330][331]Renaissance extensively made use offour-on-the-floor beats and pulsating synths, with interpolations of queer and Black dance music pioneers.[311][332][333] Beyoncé conceivedCowboy Carter as a multi-genre reclamation of Americana music.[334][335] The country and gospel-tingedepic features instrumentation such as the accordion, harmonica, acoustic guitar, and banjo.[336][337][338] Although she mainly records in English, Beyoncé released Spanish-language tracks forIrreemplazable (2007)—a Spanish reissue of songs fromB'Day.[339][340]
Beyoncé's possesses amezzo-sopranovocal range.[348][73]T'sJody Rosen praised hermusical tone andtimbre as especially distinctive, calling her voice "one of the most compelling instruments in popular music".[349] While Rosen credited the hip-hop era for shaping her rhythmic vocal style, he also noted her traditionalist leanings through balladry,gospel, andfalsetto.[349] Her voice was described as "velvety yet tart, with an insistent flutter and reserves of soulbelting" byJon Pareles.[350]
OnDangerously in Love, Beyoncé's vocals balance between sultry utters and powerful belting,[351][352] whileB'Day incorporatedmelismatic vocals andstaccato phrasing.[353][354] ThroughoutI Am... Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé employsvibrato yelps and trills,[317] often singing in a lower register on several tracks.[355][356] With4, she opted for "brass[y] and gritt[y]" vocals.[357] "Love on Top" has multiple key changes with sustained vocal power,[358] while growls and raspy textures characterize such songs as "Start Over".[359] She embraced more breathy and airy vocals onBeyoncé, with squeaky falsettos and wordless ecstasies accompanied by spoken word and rap-singing—whatKitty Empire dubbed "hood rat rapping".[360] Beyoncé adopted a looser, more genre-fluid approach onLemonade, drawing on Southern roots with thetwang of "Daddy Lessons";[361] a hushed and intimate tone on "Pray You Catch Me";[362] and raspy, distorted, and shouted vocals to channel raw anger on "Don't Hurt Yourself".[363]
OnRenaissance, Beyoncé's vocals are processed with electronic effects such asreverb, distortion, and modulation.[364] She predominantly sings in her natural Texan accent onCowboy Carter, withSouthern American English elements.[365] However, on theCaro mio ben excerpt in "Daughter", she adopts a classicaloperatic vocal style.[366] Chris Richards, in an article forThe Washington Post, highlighted her vocal range and power, noting she could "punctuate any beat with goose-bump-inducing whispers or full-bore diva-roars".[367] InRolling Stone's 2023 list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time", Beyoncé ranked eighth, with the magazine stating, "in [her] voice lies the entire history of Black music".[368]
Songwriting and themes
Beyoncé has a collaborative and experimental songwriting process, often merging different song parts to create new structures.[369][370][371] Early in her career with Destiny's Child, her lyrics often focused on themes offemale empowerment, as seen in songs like "Independent Women" and "Survivor". When her relationship with Jay-Z began, her songwriting style shifted to include more romantic and relationship-focused content with songs such as "Cater 2 U".[372]Dangerously in Love explored sexual and romantic themes, with the follow-upB'Day delving into Black women's personal and spiritual discontent, fulfillment, self-worth, and agency.[373]I Am... Sasha Fierce examined themes of love, heartbreak, and the tension between Beyoncé's self and her stage alter ego;[356] more personal themes characterized4 andBeyonce, which delved into marriage, monogamy, and intimacy.[319][374][375]
Around the mid-2010s, Beyoncé began exploring historical and political themes.[376] Storytelling and poetry inspiredLemonade, an album that discusses Black womanhood, reconciliation, and heartbreak—particularly in light of Jay-Z's alleged infidelity.[377][378][379] Scholar Emily J. Lordi described the album as a "cinematic and sonic Afrodiasporic journey from betrayal to redemption".[380]Renaissance andCowboy Carter were conceived to highlight the historically overlooked and marginalized contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history. The former pays tribute to the influence of Blackqueer artists in shaping dance music, while the latter centers on the role of Black people in the development of country music.[381][382]
Critics and music artists have analyzed Beyoncé's distinctive style of songwriting.Caroline Polachek, who worked on "No Angel", praised her ability to make connections between ideas, and called her a "genius" writer and producer.[383] While writing with Beyoncé, record producerSean Garrett described her as "very particular about her brand", stating that she rejects anything that feels off-brand.[384] Dubbed a "meticulous curator" byThe New Yorker,[385] Beyoncé has been studied by some academics as a musical archivist,[386][387] while others have likened her storytelling to that of a modern-daygriot.[388][389] She has received co-writing credits on most of her songs.[390] Beyoncé often faces scrutiny over the number of writing credits she receives, with some questioning the extent of her contributions.[391][392]
Beyoncé has namedMichael Jackson as her greatest musical influence.[393][394] At the age of five, she attended her first concert where Jackson performed, an experience she later said helped her realize her purpose as a performer.[395] She has also creditedTina Turner as a major inspiration, admiring how she embodied strength while remaining feminine and sexy.[396] Diana Ross influenced her as an "all-around entertainer",[397] andWhitney Houston inspired her to pursue performing, saying Houston made her believe she could do the same.[398][399]
Beyoncé has citedMichelle Obama—44thFirst Lady of the US—as a personal inspiration.[416][417] She describedOprah Winfrey as "the definition of inspiration and a strong woman".[413] Beyoncé has stated that her husband, rapper Jay-Z, inspires her, and she has praised his lyrical talent and the challenges he has overcome.[418] She expressed admiration for artistJean-Michel Basquiat, stating that she wants to emulate his lyrical and raw artistic traits in her music.[419] Beyoncé has named Ross andCher as some of her fashion inspirations.[420]
Videography and stage
Beyoncé featured over 148 different styles of clothing during theRenaissance World Tour (examples pictured).[421]
Beyoncé'smusic videos are known for their visual storytelling, frequent choreography, and thematic cohesion.[422] Albums such asBeyoncé (2013) andLemonade (2016) were released as "visual albums", with each track paired with a music video to form a continuous narrative.[183] Beyoncé has worked with numerous directors for her music videos, such asMelina Matsoukas,[423]Jonas Åkerlund,[424] andJake Nava.[425]
Beyoncé is known for her meticulously produced and physically demanding performances that incorporate elaborate costumes, striking visuals, and stage design.[426] Her shows are characterized by large-scale production elements such as LED staging, supporting ensembles, theatrical props, and numerous costume changes.[427] When performing, Beyoncé uses different fashion styles that coordinate with the music she is singing.[428] According to Barbara Ellen, writing forThe Guardian, Beyoncé is the most in-charge female artist onstage,[429] while Alice Jones ofThe Independent wrote she "takes her role as entertainer so seriously she's almost too good".[430]
Beyoncé has been praised for her stage presence and voice during live performances,[431] and she is often deemed one of the greatest performers of all time.[432][433][434] She created the alter ego Sasha Fierce to separate her stage persona from her personal attributes. She characterized her persona as "too aggressive, too strong, too sassy [and] too sexy", adding that she is not like her in real life at all.[435] Sasha Fierce was created during the production of "Crazy in Love"[436] and was introduced with the release of her third solo studio album,I Am... Sasha Fierce, in 2008.[437] By February 2010, Beyoncé stated she no longer needed the alter ego, having grown more comfortable with herself.[438] In May 2012, she announced Sasha Fierce would return for herRevel Presents: Beyoncé Live performances later that month.[439]
Public image
Beyoncé attending the launch ofUsher's fragrance line in 2007
Beyoncé has been described by critics as havingsex appeal.[440][441][442] Writing forRolling Stone, music journalistTouré noted that she became a "crossoversex symbol" after the release ofDangerously in Love (2003).[443] Scholar Adrienne Trier-Bieniek argued that Beyoncé's fair skin, ethnically ambiguous features, and hair are central to her status as a sex symbol and "beauty icon within the [B]lack community".[444] The media often used the term "bootylicious"—aportmanteau of "booty" and "delicious"—in reference to her curvaceous figure; the phrase was popularized by Destiny's Child's 2001 single of the same name.[445][446] In 2004, "bootylicious" was added to theOxford English Dictionary, defined as "(of a woman) sexually attractive".[447]
Known for her "diva" persona,[448] Beyoncé has beennicknamed "Queen Bey" (also spelled "Queen B") by the media.[449][450] Her fanbase is known as the BeyHive, having previously been known as the Beyontourage until 2011.[451][452]The Guardian called them "the most dedicated group of superfans ... on the planet".[451] She was named the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" byPeople[453] and the "Hottest Female Singer of All Time" byComplex in 2012.[454] In January 2013,GQ placed Beyoncé on its cover, featuring her atop its "100 Sexiest Women of the 21st Century" list.[455]VH1 listed her at number one on its 2013 list of the "100 Sexiest Artists".[456] Beyoncé is known for rarely granting interviews, especially to traditional media; she largely stopped participating in conventional press interviews in 2013.[457] Active on social media, Beyoncé has over 300 million followers on Instagram; she was themost-followed account on the platform until 2015 and remains one of its most-followed users.[458][459]
Beyoncé's lighter skin tone and styling choices have drawn criticism, with some arguing that they may perpetuateEurocentric beauty standards and contribute to issues ofcolorism, particularly regarding the underrepresentation of darker-skinned Black women in mainstream media.[460][461][462] Emmett Price, a professor of music atNortheastern University, wrote in 2007 that he thinks race plays a role in many of these criticisms, saying white celebrities who dress similarly attract fewer comments.[460] In 2008,L'Oreal denied accusations of whitening her skin in theirFeria hair color advertisements;[463][464] Beyoncé herself criticizedH&M for their proposed "retouching" of promotional images of her in 2013, requesting only "natural pictures be used".[465] In 2007, she became the second African American woman to appear on the cover of theSports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue magazine,[466] andPeople recognized her as the best-dressed celebrity.[467]
Beyoncé is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in music history.[4]Billboard features her on its list of the greatest artists of all time, and later named hergreatest pop star of the 21st century in 2024.[468][469] Beyoncé has repeatedly been named as the defining artist of both the 2000s and 2010s.[470] Writing inThe New Yorker, Rosen called her "the most important and compelling popular musician of the twenty-first century[...] the result, the logical end point of a century-plus of pop".[471] Critics have hailed several of Beyoncé'salbums,singles,music videos, andlive performances as amongst the greatest of all time.[472]
Beyoncé is considered one of the most significant cultural figures of the 21st century, with her contributions to music and performance, alongside her highly publicized three-decade career and activism, making her prominent worldwide.[473] She is credited with revolutionizing themusic industry, transforming theproduction,distribution,promotion, and consumption of music.[468][474][475] Beyoncé has been credited with revitalizing thealbum format in an era dominated bysingles, with albums becoming increasingly cohesive and narrative-led.[476] Her 2013 albumBeyoncé popularizedsurprise releases, prompting widespread adoption of unconventional promotional strategies throughout the 2010s and 2020s.[477][468][478] Beyoncé is also recognized for reviving the music video as an art form, popularizing the visual album format, and inspiring the industry to move Global Release Day from Tuesday to Friday.[184][479][480][481]
Beyoncé's enduring popularity as a musician has received extensive recognition and is often praised for its longevity.[468][482] Her use of staccato rap-singing and chopped and re-pitched vocals helped them become prominent in 21st-century music.[483][484][485][486] Beyoncé's work transcends traditionalgenre boundaries, creating new artistic standards that shaped contemporary music and set the precedent for music artists to move between and beyond genre confines.[184][487] She has helped repopularize such subgenres of music as R&B,[488] country,[489][490] dance,[491] and house,[492] while also being credited with introducingAfrobeats to the US mainstream.[493][494] Beyoncé is known for transforming concert tours into cultural and artistic events.[495] By using her platform to advocate for women's empowerment andsocial justice, she has become an influential figure insocio-political matters.[496][497] Critics credit her with significantly influencing political conversations and movements, such asfourth-wave feminism andBlack Lives Matter.[498][499]
Beyoncé has been recognized for setting new standards for success in the modern era, withmusicians from across genres, generations, and countries citing her as a major influence on their career.Taylor Swift called her a major influence, crediting her with showing other artists how to oppose industry standards and create new opportunities.[500][501] Lady Gaga said Beyoncé inspired her to become a musician,[502] whileRihanna was motivated to pursue music after watching Beyoncé.[503]Ariana Grande said she learned to sing by mimicking artists like Beyoncé,[504] whileAdele described her as part of her artistic influence since she was a preteen.[505] McCartney andGarth Brooks have also cited Beyoncé's live performances as inspirational, with the latter recommending that both new and veteran musicians analyze these performances to improve their work.[506][507]
Beyoncé's influence extends into academia and cultural institutions, with her artistry and career beingextensively studied in universities around the world.[508][509] Museum exhibitions analyze her impact on music, fashion, activism, and popular culture.[510][511] She has popularized phrases that entered mainstream culture: "put a ring on it" (from "Single Ladies") to signify a marriage proposal;[512] "I woke up like this" (from "Flawless"), which sparked a trend of morning selfies;[513] and "boy, bye" (from "Sorry"), used as a way to break up with a romantic partner.[514] In January 2012, Australian research scientist Bryan Lessard named a species ofhorse-fly,Scaptia beyonceae, after her, due to the insect's distinctive golden hairs on itsabdomen.[515] Severalwax figures of Beyoncé are found atMadame Tussauds Wax Museums in major cities around the world.[516] InMinnesota, May 23 is designated as "Beyoncé Day" to mark the same day she performed the Formation World Tour in the state in 2016.[517]
Beyoncé hasreceived numerous awards and is one of the most-awarded performers of all time.[518] Having sold over 200 million records worldwide (and an additional 60 million with Destiny's Child), she is one of thebest-selling music artists of all time.[519][520] RIAA listed Beyoncé as the top certified artist of the 2000s decade, with 64 certifications.[521][522] In 2024, she became the most RIAA-certified female artist in history.[523] Several of her tours have been ranked amongst the highest-grossing by a female artist, and she is one of thehighest-grossing live acts in history.[524][525]
Beyoncé is one of thewealthiest musical artists; as of June 2025,Forbes estimates her net worth to be $780 million.[550] The magazine named Beyoncé the annualhighest-earning female musician in 2008,[551] 2010,[552] 2014,[553] and 2017.[554]Forbes began reporting on her earnings in 2008, calculating that the $80 million earned between June 2007 and June 2008 made her the second highest-paid musician in 2008.[555][551] On theForbes Celebrity 100 list, Beyoncé was placed fourth in 2008 and 2009,[556][557] second in 2010,[558] and fourth in 2013.[559] She ranked at number one on the Celebrity 100 list in 2014, earning an estimated $115 million.[560]Billboard named Beyoncé the highest-paid musician of 2016, with estimated earnings of $62.1 million.[561] She was listed as the thirdhighest-paid musician of the 2010s byForbes, earning $685 million.[562]
Forbes placed Beyoncé and Jay-Z at number one on the "World's Highest-Paid Celebrity Couples" list, collectively earning $78 million and $107.5 million in 2012 and 2016, respectively.[563][564] The couple made it into 2011'sGuinness Book of World Records as the "highest-earning power couple" for collectively earning $122 million in 2009.[565] They officially became a billion-dollar couple in 2017, whenForbes estimated a combined net worth of $1.16 billion.[566]
Other ventures
Social activism
Beyoncé has conducted several fundraising and donation campaigns during her tours.
Beyoncé identifies as a "modern-day feminist".[575] Her self-identification incited debate about whether her feminism is aligned with older, more established feminist ideals;Annie Lennox referred to her use of the word feminist as "feminist lite".[576][577] Beyoncé publicly aligned with feminism by samplingChimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013TEDx speech "We should all be feminists" in "Flawless", released later that year.[578] Adichie described Beyoncé's feminism as leaning towardheteropatriarchal ideals, emphasizing men's needs and diverging from her own views.[579] Beyoncé performed at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards before a giant "Feminist" backdrop.[577] Some critics suggest that her portrayal of empowerment tends to be individualized, with limited engagement in structural issues affecting marginalized groups.[580][581]
Beyoncé has spoken againstpolice brutality toward African Americans.[586][587] She attended a 2013 rally after the acquittal ofGeorge Zimmerman inthe killing ofTrayvon Martin,[588] and featured the mothers of Martin,Michael Brown, andEric Garner holding photos of their deceased sons in the music video for "Freedom".[589] Her 2016 single "Formation" was interpreted as a critique of law enforcement, though she clarified it was a celebration of her heritage.[590] Performing the song during the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, with dancers dressed in outfits referencing the Black Panther Party, sparked backlash fromconservative figures and law enforcement groups.[591] Beyoncé responded to the criticism by selling "Boycott Beyoncé" merchandise on her tour.[592]
Philanthropy
In 1999, Beyoncé, her mother Tina Knowles, and former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland established the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth.[593] FollowingHurricane Katrina in 2005, Beyoncé, Solange, Tina, and Rowland co-founded the Survivor Foundation to offer transitional housing for displaced families and support the construction of new homes.[594] They extended aid afterHurricane Ike in 2008, with Beyoncé donating $100,000 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund.[595] In 2007, she launched the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments, a housing development that accommodates 43 displaced individuals.[596][597]
Beyoncé at the opening of the Cosmetology Center in 2010
After learning aboutPhoenix House—a nonprofit focused on drug and alcohol rehabilitation—during the filming ofCadillac Records in 2008, Beyoncé donated her entire $4 million salary from the film to the organization.[598][596] She later founded the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center, a program at Phoenix House that provides a cosmetology training course.[596][599] In April 2011, Beyoncé participated in the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation's campaign againstchild obesity by reworking "Get Me Bodied".[600][601] She was an ambassador for the 2012World Humanitarian Day campaign,[602] and took part inGucci's 2013 "Chime for Change" initiative to promote global female empowerment.[603]
Beyoncé and Jay-Z donated tens of thousands of dollars to post bail for Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters inBaltimore andFerguson, and contributed to building the infrastructure needed to establish BLM chapters across the US.[604] In April 2016, she pledged to fund ten college scholarships for students in financial need.[605] In June, she donated over $82,000 to theUnited Way ofGenesee County to assist victims of theFlint water crisis and provided financial support for fourteen Michigan students pursuing higher education.[606] That August, Beyoncé and Jay-Z donated $1.5 million to civil rights organizations including BLM,Hands Up United, and Trayvon Martin Foundation.[607]
In August 2017, duringHurricane Harvey, Beyoncé launchedBeyGood Houston to support those affected and donated $75,000 worth of new mattresses to survivors.[608] Later that month, she released a remix ofJ Balvin andWilly William's "Mi Gente", pledging all proceeds to disaster relief efforts across Puerto Rico, Mexico, the US, and the Caribbean in response to Hurricanes Harvey,Irma, andMaria, as well as theChiapas andPuebla earthquakes.[609] In April 2020, Beyoncé donated $6 million to the National Alliance on Mental Illness,UCLA, and local community-based organizations to provide mental health and wellness services for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.[610] She featured on the remix of Megan Thee Stallion's "Savage" (2020), with proceeds supporting Bread of Life Houston's COVID-19 relief efforts.[611]
Beyoncé worked with theFeminist Coalition in theEnd SARS movement in Nigeria to cover medical costs for injured protestors, legal fees for arrested protestors, and resources for those in need. Beyoncé also supports theAnglophone Crisis in Cameroon,ShutItAllDown in Namibia,Zimbabwean Lives Matter in Zimbabwe, and the Rape National Emergency in Liberia.[612] In December 2020, Beyoncé donated $500,000 to alleviate the housing crisis in the US caused by the cessation of theeviction moratorium.[613] In partnership with BeyGood, in 2024, she introduced an annual grant program to support cosmetology students and professional hair stylists with financial assistance.[614] In January 2025, she donated $2.5 million to Los Angeles fire relief funds amidst thewildfires that month in Southern California.[615]
Entrepreneurship
In 2008, Beyoncé foundedParkwood Entertainment, an entertainment company established as an imprint of Columbia Records.[616][617][618] Parkwood has since grown to include a music division, signing artists such asChloe x Halle.[619]
In 2005, Beyoncé and Tina launchedHouse of Deréon, a women's fashion line inspired by three generations of women in their family.[620] The two also established Beyond Productions to handle licensing and brand management for House of Deréon and its junior line, Deréon.[621] The collection features sportswear, denim offerings with fur, outerwear, and accessories like handbags and footwear.[621] In 2005, Beyoncé partnered with House of Brands, a footwear company, to produce a range of shoes for House of Deréon.[622] In January 2008,Starwave Mobile launched Beyoncé Fashion Diva, amobile game with a social networking component, featuring the House of Deréon collection.[621] In July 2009, Beyoncé and her mother launched a junior apparel label, Sasha Fierce for Deréon, for the back-to-school season. The collection included sportswear, outerwear, handbags, footwear, eyewear, lingerie, and jewelry.[623]
In April 2016, Beyoncé launchedIvy Park, a 50–50 joint venture with fashion retailerTopshop. The brand's name was inspired by her daughter, Blue Ivy, Beyoncé's favorite number, four (IV), and the park where she used to run in Texas.[624] Following allegations that Topshop ownerPhilip Green had sexually harassed, bullied, and racially abused employees, Beyoncé bought out his 50percent stake in the company.[625][626] In April 2019, she partnered withAdidas as a creative collaborator to relaunch Ivy Park and develop new apparel and footwear, with the first collection debuting in January 2020.[627][628] The brand struggled financially and by March 2023, Beyoncé and Adidas mutually ended their partnership.[629] That same month, Beyoncé collaborated withBalmain creative directorOlivier Rousteing on a couture collection inspired byRenaissance. With sixteen looks—one for each track—it was the first time a Black woman led the design of a Parisian couture house collection.[630] In February 2024, Beyoncé launchedCécred, a hair care line designed to serve a wide range of hair textures.[631]
In March 2015, Beyoncé became a co-owner of the music streaming platform Tidal, alongside several other artists.[643] In November 2020, she entered a multi-year partnership with fitness and media companyPeloton.[644] In 2021, Beyoncé and Jay-Z partnered withTiffany & Co. for the company's "About Love" campaign. Beyoncé became the fourth woman, and first Black woman, to wear the 128.54-caratTiffany Yellow Diamond.[645] The campaign drew criticism, as the diamond is considered a blood diamond and a symbol of British colonial exploitation in Africa.[c][648][649] On August 20, 2024, Beyoncé announcedSirDavis, awhiskey in collaboration withMoët Hennessy developed for years prior and co-founded withmaster distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden.[650] In October 2024,Levi's launched a four-part global campaign titled "Reiimagine" with Beyoncé, spotlighting women's history with the company and featuring herCowboy Carter track "Levii's Jeans".[651]
^Mined under harsh conditions during colonial rule in South Africa, the diamond is considered a "blood diamond". Some critics deemed it insensitive to wear a gem associated with oppression.[646][647]
^Laird, Cheryl (November 11, 1990)."A Knowles Family Christmas".Houston Chronicle.Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. RetrievedMarch 15, 2021.
^Williams, Christian (January 17, 2009). "Lily Allen the Singer Speaks out on Emi, Endorsement Deals, And How She Deals with Perez and the Paparazzi".Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 2. p. 34.
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