Beyoncé
Since Winning the EMMA Award with Destiny’s Child (Best International Music Act)
Beyoncé is an American Singer, songwriter and businesswoman. In 2001, Destiny’s Child released a Christmas album titled “8 Days of Christmas”. That same year, the group announced a hiatus and the members went on to pursue solo careers.
In 2002, Beyoncé made her theatrical debut in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember, and “Work It Out” was the lead single from the film’s soundtrack album.
In 2003, she released her first solo album, “Dangerously in Love,” which included the hit singles “Crazy in Love” featuring Jay-Z, “Baby Boy”, and “Me, Myself and I.”
Beyoncé’s subsequent solo albums, 2006’s B’Day, 2008’s I Am… Sasha Fierce, 2011’s 4, 2013’s Beyoncé, 2016’s Lemonade, 2022’s Renaissance and 2024’s Cowboy Carter all achieved critical and commercial success and were culturally significant.
Beyoncé continued to appear in films such as 2006’s Dreamgirls, 2008’s Cadillac Records, and 2013’s Epic. 2019’s live-action remake of The Lion King and its 2024 prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, as well as 2020’s Black Is King, which she also directed.
In 2013, she founded the non-profit organisation BeyGood, which prioritises economic fairness by backing marginalised and underprivileged initiatives, amongst other objectives.
Beyoncé has also donated to charities such as the Kids Wish Network, Music Rising, Oxfam, Save The Music Foundation, The Lunchbox Fund, Women’s Fund for Scotland, Feeding America, Artists for Peace and Justice, to name a few.
With a total of 32 wins and 99 nominations from the Grammy Awards, including her work in Destiny’s Child and The Carters alongside her husband Jay-Z, Beyoncé is the most-awarded and most nominated artist in Grammy history as well as the most-awarded artist of the BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards and the Soul Train Awards.
Beyoncé has had a significant cultural impact on the world through her music, performances, image, philanthropy and lifestyle, solidifying her position as a highly influential cultural icon.
Through the “Beyoncé Effect”, she has ignited market trends and boosted the economies of various countries.
Background (before 2001)
Born at the Park Plaza Hospital in Houston, Texas, to a Xerox sales manager father (Matthew Knowles) and a hairdresser and salon owner mother (Tina Knowles).
Beyoncé Knowles attended St. Mary’s Catholic Montessori School in Houston as a child and enrolled in dance classes there. Her singing ability was discovered when her dance instructor began humming a song, and Beyoncé finished it, being able to hit the high-pitched notes.
Beyoncé’s interest in music and performing continued after winning a school talent show when she was 7. A year later, she met LaTavia Roberson at an audition for a girl group named Girl’s Tyme, which later became Destiny’s Child. The group initially consisted of six members: Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, LaTavia, Támar Davis, and Nikki and Nina Taylor.
After losing the Star Search television talent show, Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, stepped in to manage the group and changed the lineup, removing Davis and the Taylor sisters and adding LeToya Luckett.
In 1997, the group was signed to Columbia Records as Destiny’s Child. In 1998, they released their first album, ‘Destiny’s Child’.
The group was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of the song “No, No, No” and their best-selling second album, 1999’s The Writing’s on the Wall.
With the lineup of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, they released their third album, Survivor, in 2001, which reached the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200 Chart.
