Beyoncé

For other uses, see Beyoncé (disambiguation).

Beyoncé
Beyoncé in 2023
Born	Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (1981-09-04) September 4, 1981 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Other names	Harmonies by the Hive Queen Bey Queen B Third Ward Trill
Occupations	Singer songwriter actress businesswoman philanthropist producer director
Years active	1990–present
Organizations	BeyGood Parkwood Entertainment Ivy Park Cécred SirDavis
Works	Albums singles songs videos performances
Spouse	Jay-Z ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	3, including Blue Ivy
Parents	Mathew Knowles Tina Knowles
Relatives	Solange Knowles (sister) Angela Beyincé (cousin)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop hip hop
Instrument	Vocals
Labels	Parkwood Columbia Music World
Member of	The Carters
Formerly of	Destiny's Child
Website	beyonce.com
Signature

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (/biˈɒnseɪ/ ^ⓘ bee-ON-say; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 21st century through her vocal ability, musical versatility, and live performances. Credited with revolutionizing the sound of popular music, Beyoncé is often deemed one of the most influential artists of all time.

Beyoncé rose to fame in 1997 as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love (2003), became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, producing the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy". After Destiny's Child's disbandment in 2005, Beyoncé released the female empowerment-inspired set B'Day (2006), while her marriage to rapper Jay-Z and portrayal of Etta James in the biopic Cadillac Records (2008) influenced the pop- and electropop-imbued record I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). The albums contained the U.S. number-one songs "Check on It", "Irreplaceable", and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".

Forming management company Parkwood Entertainment in 2010, Beyoncé explored traditional R&B on 4 (2011), electronic on Beyoncé (2013) and hip-hop on Lemonade (2016). Beyoncé is credited with popularizing the visual album and surprise album, while Lemonade was the best-selling album worldwide in 2016. Her ongoing trilogy project—currently consisting of the queer-inspired dance album Renaissance (2022) and Americana epic Cowboy Carter (2024)—highlighted the contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history, spawning the U.S. number-one singles "Break My Soul" and "Texas Hold 'Em". She voiced Nala in The Lion King (2019) and its sequel Mufasa: The Lion King (2024).

Beyoncé is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 200 million records. She is the only female artist in history to debut all of her eight studio albums at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. Beyoncé is the most awarded artist of all time; her accolades include thirty-five Grammy Awards—the most of any person in history—and a Peabody Award. She is also the most awarded artist at the NAACP Image and Soul Train Music Awards. The first woman to headline an all-stadium tour, Beyoncé is amongst the highest-grossing live acts of all time. She has been listed amongst history's greatest artists by various publications.

Life and career

Early life

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, on September 4, 1981. Her mother, Tina Knowles (née Beyoncé), was a hairdresser and salon owner while her father, Mathew Knowles, was a sales manager at Xerox. Mathew is African-American, while Tina is Louisiana Creole and has African, French, Irish, Breton and Native American ancestry. Tina's parents were French-speakers with roots in New Iberia. Beyoncé's younger sister, Solange, is also a singer and actress. Both sisters are descendants of Acadian militia officer Joseph Broussard, who was exiled to French Louisiana after the expulsion of the Acadians, and of the French military officer and Abenaki chief Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie, Baron de Saint-Castin. The two also have Belgian ancestry from Hainaut Province, Wallonia, and are related to a former mayor of Froidchapelle, Belgium.

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. She received her early education at St. Mary's Catholic Montessori School in Houston, where she also enrolled in dance classes. Her vocal talent was discovered when her dance instructor, Darlette Johnson, began humming a song and Beyoncé completed it, showing her ability to reach high-pitched notes. Her passion for music and performance deepened after she won a school talent show at the age of seven by singing John Lennon's "Imagine", outperforming competitors aged fifteen and sixteen.

In 1990, nine-year-old Beyoncé enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she performed with the school's choir. She later attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and subsequently Alief Elsik High School. Beyoncé was also a member of the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church where she sang her first solo and was a soloist for two years.

1990–2001: Career beginnings and Destiny's Child

Main article: Destiny's Child

In 1990, Beyoncé met LaTavia Roberson while in an audition for an all-girl entertainment group. They were placed in a group named "Girl's Tyme" with three other girls, a group that performed rap and dance routines on Houston's talent show circuit. R&B producer Arne Frager noticed them and later entered the group in Star Search, the largest national talent show on television at the time. After they lost, Beyoncé attributed the failure to a poor song choice. In 1995, Mathew Knowles left his job to manage the group, which halved the family's income and led to them moving into separated apartments. He reduced the group's lineup to four members and they continued performing as an opening act for established R&B girl groups. After being briefly signed by Elektra Records and later dropped, tensions led to a six-month separation of Beyoncé's parents. The Knowles family later reunited and the group secured a contract with Columbia Records, aided by talent scout Teresa LaBarbera Whites.

Beyoncé (center) performing as a member of Destiny's Child, during their 2005 Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It concert tour

The group adopted the name Destiny's Child in 1997, based upon a passage in the Book of Isaiah. That year, they released their major-label debut song, "Killing Time", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Men in Black. In November of that year, the group issued their debut single and first major hit, "No, No, No" followed by their self-titled debut album in 1998, which established the group as a viable act in the music industry. In 1999, the group released their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall, which achieved multi-platinum status. The album featured several hit singles, including "Bills, Bills, Bills"—their first number-one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100—"Jumpin', Jumpin'", and "Say My Name", the lattermost reaching number one. "Say My Name" earned two awards at the 2001 Grammy Awards: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song. The Writing's on the Wall became one of the best-selling R&B albums of all time.

The remaining members of Destiny's Child—Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams—recorded "Independent Women Part I" in 2000, which featured on the soundtrack of the film Charlie's Angels. The song became the group's highest-charting single, spending eleven consecutive weeks at number one in the U.S. In early 2001, while Destiny's Child was completing work on their third album, Beyoncé secured a leading role in the MTV made-for-television film Carmen: A Hip Hopera, an interpretation of the 19th-century opera Carmen. Upon its release in May 2001, Destiny's Child's third album, Survivor, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 663,000 copies in its first week. The album produced "Bootylicious" and the title track, "Survivor", which peaked at number one and two in the United States, respectively. "Survivor" earned the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. 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.

2002–2007: Dangerously in Love, B'Day, and Dreamgirls

Beyoncé performing "Baby Boy", which spent nine consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

In July 2002, Beyoncé made her theatrical film debut, portraying Foxxy Cleopatra alongside Mike Myers in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Beyoncé released "Work It Out" as the lead single from the film's soundtrack. Beyoncé's breakthrough hit as a solo artist came when she featured on Jay-Z's track "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" from his album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002). The single peaked at number four on the Hot 100 chart. Beyoncé appeared as Jay-Z's girlfriend in the music video for the song, fueling speculation about a relationship. She shared that they began dating when she was nineteen, after being friends for a year and a half before going on any dates.

On June 14, 2003, Beyoncé premiered songs from her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, during her first solo concert, which was broadcast as a pay-per-view television special. The album was released on June 24, 2003, following the solo releases of her Destiny's Child bandmates Williams and Rowland. Dangerously in Love debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 317,000 copies in its first week. The album's lead single, "Crazy in Love", featuring Jay-Z, became Beyoncé's first number-one single as a solo artist in the US. The single "Baby Boy" also reached number one, while "Me, Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl" both reached the top-five. The album earned Beyoncé a then record-tying five awards at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song for "Crazy in Love". She starred alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. in the musical comedy The Fighting Temptations (2003), portraying a single mother and the love interest of Gooding's character. It received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office. Beyoncé performed several songs for the film's soundtrack, including its two singles, "Fighting Temptation" and "Summertime".

In November 2003, Beyoncé embarked on the Dangerously in Love Tour across Europe and joined Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys for the Verizon Ladies First Tour in North America. On February 1, 2004, she performed the American national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII. Beyoncé had planned to produce a follow-up to Dangerously in Love using several of the leftover tracks; this was put on hold so she could concentrate on recording Destiny's Child's final album, Destiny Fulfilled. Released on November 15, 2004, in the U.S. and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200, Destiny Fulfilled included the singles "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier", both of which reached within the top five in the U.S. Destiny's Child embarked on a global concert tour titled Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It. The group announced that they would disband at the end of the tour. The group released their first compilation album, #1's, in October and were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2006.

Beyoncé performing during the Beyoncé Experience tour in 2007

Beyoncé's second solo album, B'Day, was released in the United States on September 4, 2006, to coincide with her twenty-fifth birthday. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 541,000 copies in its first week, making it her second consecutive number-one album in the U.S. The album's lead single, "Déjà Vu", featuring Jay-Z, reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second single, "Irreplaceable", topped the charts in several territories, including the U.S. B'Day also produced several additional singles, including "Ring the Alarm", "Get Me Bodied", and "Green Light". At the 2007 Grammy Awards, B'Day received five nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Déjà Vu". In 2008, the album garnered more nominations, including Record of the Year for "Irreplaceable".

Beyoncé's first acting role in 2006 was in the comedy film The Pink Panther, in which she starred alongside Steve Martin. The film was a commercial success, grossing $158 million worldwide. Her second film that year was Dreamgirls, a cinematic adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical; Beyoncé portrayed a pop singer modeled after Diana Ross. In April 2007, Beyoncé embarked on the Beyoncé Experience, her first worldwide concert tour, which visited 97 venues and grossed over $24 million. At the same time, B'Day was re-released with five additional songs, including her duet with Shakira "Beautiful Liar". In December 2007, Beyoncé and Jay-Z became engaged.

2008–2009: I Am... Sasha Fierce and marriage

Beyoncé performing during the I Am... Tour in 2009

On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z married in a small, private ceremony. Influenced by their marriage, Beyoncé released the album I Am... Sasha Fierce in November 2008 and introduced her alter ego Sasha Fierce. A double album, it comprises two discs—I Am... and Sasha Fierce; the former contains slow and midtempo pop and R&B ballads, while the latter focuses on more uptempo beats that blend electropop and Europop elements. It sold 482,000 copies in its first week and debuted atop the Billboard 200, giving Beyoncé her third consecutive number-one album in the U.S.

I Am... Sasha Fierce included her UK number-one single, "If I Were a Boy", and her fifth U.S. chart-topper, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". "Halo" achieved the accomplishment of becoming her longest-running Hot 100 single at the time, and its success in the U.S. helped Beyoncé attain more top-ten singles on the list than any other woman during the 2000s. The music video for "Single Ladies" has been parodied and imitated around the world, with the Toronto Star describing it as the "first major dance craze" of the Internet age. At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won three categories, including Video of the Year. In March 2009, Beyoncé embarked on the I Am... Tour, her second headlining worldwide concert tour, grossing $119.5 million.

Beyoncé portrayed blues singer Etta James in the musical biopic Cadillac Records (2008), garnering several nominations including an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Beyoncé starred alongside Ali Larter and Idris Elba in the psychological thriller Obsessed (2009), portraying Sharon Charles, a wife and mother whose family is endangered by her husband's stalker. Although the film received negative reviews from critics—with Rotten Tomatoes' consensus calling it "instantly predictable and [...] forgettable"—it performed strongly at the U.S. box office, earning $68 million on a $20 million budget, surpassing Cadillac Records by $60 million.

At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010, Beyoncé received ten nominations—both for I Am... Sasha Fierce and for her work in film soundtracks—tying with Lauryn Hill for most Grammy nominations in a single year by a female artist. Beyoncé won six of those nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album for I Am... Sasha Fierce and Song 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 with six. Beyoncé provided vocals on Lady Gaga's single "Telephone", from the latter's extended play The Fame Monster (2009). It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

2010–2012: 4 and first child

In January 2010, Beyoncé announced a hiatus from her music career. Her musical break lasted nine months, during which she visited several European cities, the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, Australia, English music festivals, and attended museum exhibitions and ballet performances. "Eat, Play, Love", a cover story written by Beyoncé for Essence that detailed her career break, won her a writing award from the New York Association of Black Journalists. Around this time, she miscarried, retrospectively describing the experience as "the saddest thing" she had endured. Beyoncé returned to the studio and wrote music to cope with the loss. In March 2011, Beyoncé and her father Mathew parted ways as business partners.

Beyoncé performing during her 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé concert residency in August 2011

The following month, while in Paris with Jay-Z for a photoshoot for her then-upcoming studio album cover, Beyoncé unexpectedly became pregnant. Her fourth studio album, 4, was released on June 24, 2011, in the U.S. and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 310,000 copies in its first week. This marked her fourth consecutive number-one album in the country. 4—the first project of Beyoncé's artistic freedom and creative control since she split from her father—was conceived as a traditional R&B and soul record that stood apart from contemporary popular music. The album's singles include the U.S. top-75 songs "Run the World (Girls)", "Best Thing I Never Had", "Party", "Countdown", and "Love on Top". The lattermost peaked at number 20, becoming the highest-charting single from the album.

On June 26, 2011, Beyoncé became the first solo female artist in over two decades to headline the main Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Her performance received widespread acclaim, with several outlets highlighting her growth and excellence as a live performer. In August 2011, Beyoncé and Jay-Z attended the MTV Video Music Awards, in which the former performed "Love On Top" and revealed her pregnancy. Her announcement contributed to the ceremony becoming the most-watched broadcast in MTV history at the time, drawing 12.4 million viewers. The moment also set a Guinness World Record for the most tweets per second for a single event, with 8,868 tweets per second, and "Beyonce pregnant" became the most Googled phrase during the week of August 29, 2011.

In late 2011, Beyoncé headlined four exclusive shows at New York's Roseland Ballroom titled 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, performing songs from 4. That month, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America after shipping one million copies to retail stores. The album reached one billion Spotify streams on February 5, 2018, making Beyoncé the first female artist to have three of her albums surpass one billion streams on the platform. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy in New York City. In June 2012, she performed for four nights at Revel Atlantic City's Ovation Hall to celebrate the resort's opening, her first performances since giving birth to her daughter.

2013–2014: Beyoncé

Beyoncé performing at The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in 2014

In January 2013, Beyoncé performed the American national anthem during Barack Obama's second presidential inauguration. The following month, she headlined the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show in New Orleans. The performance became the second most tweeted-about moment in history at the time, generating 268,000 tweets per minute. In February, her feature-length documentary Life Is But a Dream premiered on HBO. The film, which offered an introspective look into her personal and professional life, was co-directed by Beyoncé. She launched The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in April 2013, which spanned 132 dates and concluded in March 2014. In May 2013, she released a cover of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" with André 3000 for the soundtrack of the drama film The Great Gatsby. That same month, Beyoncé voiced Queen Tara in the 3D animated film Epic.

On December 13, 2013, Beyoncé unexpectedly released her eponymous fifth studio album on the iTunes Store without prior announcement or promotion. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking her fifth consecutive U.S. number-one debut—making her the first woman in the chart's history to achieve this milestone with her first five studio albums. Beyoncé received widespread critical acclaim and was a commercial success, selling one million digital copies globally within six days. Musically rooted in electro-R&B, the album explored darker, more personal themes than her previous work, including bulimia, postnatal depression, and the emotional complexities of marriage and motherhood. Beyoncé is credited with popularizing digital releases, the surprise album and visual album formats, and with establishing Friday as Global Release Day. The lead single, "Drunk in Love", featuring Jay-Z, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beyoncé sold 2.3 million units worldwide, making it the tenth best-selling album of 2013 and the twentieth best-selling album of 2014. At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, Beyoncé received six nominations and won three: Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for "Drunk in Love", and Best Surround Sound Album for Beyoncé. In April 2014, Beyoncé and Jay-Z—known collectively by their stage name the Carters—announced their first co-headlining stadium tour called On the Run Tour. On August 24, 2014, she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards, and won three additional honors: Best Video with a Social Message and Best Cinematography for "Pretty Hurts", and Best Collaboration for "Drunk in Love".

2015–2017: Lemonade

Beyoncé released "Formation" on February 6, 2016, and performed it live for the first time during the NFL Super Bowl 50 halftime show. The performance sparked controversy due to its apparent reference to the fiftieth anniversary of the Black Panther Party, as the NFL prohibits political statements during its events. Afterward, Beyoncé announced The Formation World Tour, which included stops across North America and Europe. It was the first all-stadium tour by a female artist and concluded on October 7, later winning Tour of the Year at the 44th American Music Awards.

Beyoncé performing during The Formation World Tour in 2016

On April 16, 2016, Beyoncé released a teaser for a project titled Lemonade. An hour-long visual and musical film premiered on HBO on April 23, coinciding with the release of the corresponding studio album of the same name exclusively on Tidal the same day. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making Beyoncé the first artist in Billboard history to have their first six studio albums debut at number one. All twelve tracks from Lemonade entered the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first female artist to chart twelve or more songs simultaneously. With 115 million streams in its first week, Lemonade became the most-streamed album in a single week by a female artist on Tidal. It was the third best-selling album in the U.S. in 2016, with 1.554 million copies sold, and the best-selling album worldwide that year, with 2.5 million copies sold worldwide.

Several music publications included Lemonade amongst their lists of best albums of 2016. The album's visuals earned eleven nominations at the 2016 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". The eight wins made Beyoncé the most-awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history with twenty-four total awards, surpassing Madonna's previous record of twenty wins. In January 2017, Beyoncé was announced as a headliner for the Coachella 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 due to her pregnancy concerns. Festival organizers later announced she would headline the 2018 edition instead.

At the 59th Grammy Awards in February 2017, Lemonade led with nine nominations, including Album of the Year, and Record and Song for the Year for "Formation". Beyoncé won two awards: Best Urban Contemporary Album for Lemonade and Best Music Video for "Formation". On February 1, 2017, Beyoncé announced on Instagram that she was expecting twins. The post garnered over 6.3 million likes within a few hours, setting a world record for the most-liked image on the platform at the time. On July 13, she shared the first photo of herself with the twins, confirming they were born a month earlier on June 13. The post became the second most-liked on Instagram, following her original pregnancy announcement. The twins—a daughter, Rumi, and a son, Sir—were born via caesarean section in California. Later that year, Beyoncé featured on Eminem's "Walk on Water" and on the remix of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect"; the latter reached number one in the U.S., marking her sixth chart-topper as a solo artist.

2018–2021: Everything Is Love and The Lion King

Beyoncé at the European premiere of The Lion King in 2019

Beyoncé played the first of two weekends as the headlining act of the Coachella Music Festival. Her performance on April 14 was the most-tweeted-about performance of the first weekend and became the most-watched live performance on YouTube. Her first of her two performances received widespread praise from critics; they described it as historic and one of the greatest performances at Coachella. The performance paid homage to Black culture—particularly focusing on historically Black colleges and universities—and included a brief reunion of Destiny's Child.

On June 6, 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z launched their On the Run II Tour. At their final stop, the couple released their first studio album, Everything Is Love, which debuted at number two in the U.S. with 123,000 album-equivalent units. It spawned the single "Apeshit", which peaked at number 13 in the U.S. On December 2, 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z headlined the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, a documentary and concert film capturing her 2018 Coachella performances, was released on Netflix on April 17, 2019, alongside a surprise live album. It was later reported that Beyoncé signed a $60 million deal with Netflix for three projects, including Homecoming. The film earned six nominations at the 71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2019.

Beyoncé starred as the voice of Nala in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, released in July that year. She also contributed to the film's soundtrack, performing a remade version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Beyoncé's original song "Spirit" was the lead single from both the official soundtrack and The Lion King: The Gift, a companion album she curated and produced. Featuring gqom and Afrobeat genres, Beyoncé worked with African producers to create The Gift, given the film's African setting. In September, ABC aired Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift, a surprise documentary detailing the album's creation.

A remix of Megan Thee Stallion's "Savage" featured Beyoncé, was released in April 2020, and peaked number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Beyoncé's seventh chart-topper as a soloist. On July 31, 2020, she released Black Is King on Disney+. A visual album inspired by The Lion King: The Gift, it was written, directed, and executive produced by Beyoncé. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021, she led with nine nominations and won four awards, becoming the most-awarded singer, the most-awarded female artist, and the second most-awarded person in Grammy history. That same year, she co-wrote and recorded "Be Alive" for the biographical sports drama film King Richard, earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 94th Academy Awards.

2022–present: Renaissance and Cowboy Carter

Beyoncé performing at the Renaissance World Tour in 2023

Beyoncé performed "Be Alive" at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022 on the Compton tennis courts Venus and Serena Williams practiced on in their childhood. On June 16, 2022, she announced Renaissance, her seventh studio album; the album's lead single, "Break My Soul", was released four days later. It peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Beyoncé's eighth number-one and twentieth top-ten hit on the chart; the latter placed her alongside Paul 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.

Renaissance was released on July 29, 2022, to critical acclaim from critics. The album featured Black dance music styles such as disco and house and largely pays homage to the Black queer pioneers of those genres, exploring themes of escapism, hedonism, and self-expression. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making Beyoncé the first artist to have their first seven studio albums debut at number one in the United States. All sixteen of its songs charted on the Hot 100; its second single, "Cuff It", peaked at number six. Upon the album's release, Beyoncé revealed that it was the first installment of a trilogy developed and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic—a period she described as her "most creative". The three projects are organized into acts, each denoted by Roman numerals.

On January 21, 2023, Beyoncé gave her first full concert in over four years at a private event in Dubai, performing for an audience of influencers and journalists. She was reportedly paid $24 million for the show, which sparked criticism due to the United Arab Emirates' laws criminalizing homosexuality. Later in the year, she headlined the Renaissance World Tour across North America and Europe, which became the highest-grossing tour by a female artist at the time. In November 2023, she released Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a documentary concert that chronicled the tour's creation. It was written, directed, and produced by her in partnership with AMC Theatres. Her four wins at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023 brought her number of awards up to thirty-two, making Beyoncé the most-awarded person at the Grammy Awards in history. The album itself won Best Dance/Electronic Album.

On February 11, 2024, Beyoncé announced the second installment of her trilogy project and released its first two tracks, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages"; the former became her ninth solo number-one in the U.S. She announced the album's title, Cowboy Carter, on March 12 and released it on March 29. An Americana, country, and folk-imbued record, Cowboy Carter highlights the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Beyoncé the first female artist to have their first eight studio albums debut at number one in the United States. In July 2024, NBC released two promotional commercials featuring Beyoncé for their coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Set to Cowboy Carter songs "Ya Ya" and "Just for Fun", she introduced the USA Olympic Team and Gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles.

Beyoncé returned as Nala in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), a prequel to the 2019 remake. In December 2024, she headlined the first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday Halftime Show, debuting songs from Cowboy Carter. At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025, she became the first Black artist in 50 years to win in the country categories, and the first Black artist ever to win Best Country Album. She also won Album of the Year, becoming the first Black woman to receive the honor since Lauryn Hill in 1999. Beyoncé launched the Cowboy Carter Tour on April 28, with dates scheduled through July 26 across the United States and Europe.

Artistry

Voice and musical style

Critics have described Beyoncé's voice as being mezzo-soprano. The magazine T's Jody Rosen praised her musical tone and timbre as especially distinctive, calling her voice "one of the most compelling instruments in popular music". While Rosen credited the hip-hop era for shaping her rhythmic vocal style, he also noted her traditionalist leanings through balladry, gospel, and falsetto. Her voice was described as "velvety yet tart, with an insistent flutter and reserves of soul belting" by Jon Pareles—writing forThe New York Times. Chris Richards, in an article for The Washington Post, highlighted her vocal range and power, noting she could "punctuate any beat with goose-bump-inducing whispers or full-bore diva-roars". In Rolling 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".

Beyoncé's music is primarily R&B, pop, and hip-hop, while also incorporating elements of soul and funk. Expanding beyond the hip-hop and R&B sound she featured in her previous two albums—Dangerously in Love and B'Day—I Am... Sasha Fierce incorporates a 1980s electropop- and Europop-imbued sound, featuring instruments such as synthesizers and the acoustic guitar. With the album 4, she expanded her use of soul and hip-hop compared to earlier work. It drew from 1970s funk, 1980s pop, and 1990s soul influences, while also featuring elements of hard rock, reggae, and adult contemporary. Her eponymous 2013 album was inspired by minimalist production; the record featured emotive falsetto and often braggadocio, employing fragmented song structures that rejected traditional pop formats in favor of atmosphere. With Lemonade, Beyoncé expanded on some of these elements, integrating rock, soul, and reggae into a concept album that explores Black womanhood, identity, and sexuality.

Rooted in diasporic pride and cultural celebration, The Lion King: The Gift featured artists and producers from across the African continent, exploring Afropop and gqom. Renaissance delved into disco, ballroom culture, and 1990s club sounds. It prominently used four-on-the-floor beats, pulsating synths, and interpolations of queer and Black dance music pioneers. Beyoncé continued her genre experimentation with Cowboy Carter, an album that highlights the overlooked contributions of Black musicians to country music. It incorporates country, gospel, and blues, featuring instrumentation such as the accordion, harmonica, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Although she mainly records in English, Beyoncé has also released Spanish-language tracks for Irreemplazable (2007)—a Spanish reissue of songs from B'Day—with guidance from producer Rudy Pérez, who coached her phonetically.

Songwriting

Beyoncé has received co-writing credits on most of her songs. Her early work with Destiny's Child often centered on themes of female empowerment, such as "Independent Women" and "Survivor". When her relationship with Jay-Z began, her songwriting style shifted to include more romantic and relationship-focused content, such as "Cater 2 U". In 2001, she became the first Black woman—and only the second female lyricist overall—to win ASCAP's Pop Songwriter of the Year award. By 2006, she became the third woman to earn writing credits on three U.S. number-one singles in a single year. In 2011, Billboard ranked her at number 17 on its "Top 20 Hot 100 Songwriters" list, noting her co-writing on eight Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits; she was one of just three women on the list, alongside Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift.

[Beyoncé] can take two songs, say, "I like two lines, I like the melody then let me use that for a verse and a bridge and write the whole middle." It's more of a collaboration. You never know what she'll like.

Diana Gordon speaking on Beyoncé

Beyoncé is known for her collaborative and experimental songwriting process, often merging different song parts to create new structures. Sia, who co-wrote "Pretty Hurts", described her as "very Frankenstein when she comes to songs". Diana Gordon, co-writer of "Don't Hurt Yourself", called her a "scientist of songs", while Caroline Polachek, who worked on "No Angel", praised her ability to make connections between ideas, calling her a "genius writer and producer".

Beyoncé has faced criticism over the number of writing credits she receives, with some questioning the extent of her contributions. In interviews, she has described herself as the sole writer of songs she had co-written or where her input was reportedly limited. In 2005 she claimed to have written several Destiny's Child number-one hits, despite shared credits. In a 2007 interview with Barbara Walters, she said she conceived the musical idea for the song "Bootylicious". Rob Fusari objected privately to her manager and later told Billboard that Knowles explained people "want to believe the artist is everything". In 2016 Fusari stated that Beyoncé "had the 'Bootylicious' concept in her head" and "knew what she wanted to say".

Influences

Beyoncé's major influences include Michael Jackson (left) and Tina Turner (right).

Beyoncé has named Michael Jackson as her greatest musical influence. 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. She has also credited Tina Turner as a major inspiration, admiring how she embodied strength while remaining feminine and sexy. Diana Ross influenced her as an "all-around entertainer", and Whitney Houston inspired her to pursue performing, saying Houston made her believe she could do the same.

Beyoncé praised Madonna for her music and roles as a businesswoman. She has cited Mariah Carey's vocal style—especially the song "Vision of Love"—as an early influence that inspired her to practice vocal runs as a child. Other artists that Beyoncé has mentioned as inspirations are Rachelle Ferrell, Aaliyah, Prince, Lauryn Hill, Sade Adu, Donna Summer, Fairuz, Mary J. Blige, Selena, Anita Baker, and Toni Braxton.

The female empowerment themes on B'Day were inspired by her role in Dreamgirls and by singer Josephine Baker. I Am... Sasha Fierce was inspired by Jay-Z and especially by Etta James, whose "boldness" inspired Beyoncé to explore other musical genres and styles. The album 4 was inspired by Fela Kuti, Earth, Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teena Marie, The Jackson 5, New Edition, Adele, Florence and the Machine, and Prince. Michael Jackson's album Thriller (1982) influenced Beyoncé's eponymous 2013 album. Black queer musicians such as Big Freedia, Grace Jones, Telfar Clemens, and Syd inspired Renaissance, while Cowboy Carter was influenced by Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and spaghetti Western films.

Beyoncé has cited Michelle Obama—44th First Lady of the United States—as a personal inspiration. She described Oprah Winfrey as "the definition of inspiration and a strong woman". She stated that Jay-Z inspires her, and she has praised his lyrical talent and the challenges he has overcome. She expressed admiration for artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, stating, that she wants to emulate his lyrical and raw artistic traits in her music. She has named Ross and Cher as some of her fashion inspirations.

Videography and stage

Knowles performing "Run the World (Girls)" on the 2011 Good Morning America Summer Concert Series

Beyoncé has been praised for her stage presence and voice during live performances. According to Barbara Ellen of The Guardian, Beyoncé is the "most in-charge [...] female artist [she's] seen onstage". Alice Jones of The Independent wrote she "takes her role as entertainer so seriously she's almost too good". L.A. Reid, the ex-President of Def Jam Recordings, described Beyoncé as the "greatest entertainer alive". In 2006, Beyoncé introduced her all-female tour band Suga Mama which includes bassists, drummers, guitarists, horn players, keyboardists and percussionists.

Beyoncé has worked with numerous directors for her music videos including Melina Matsoukas, Jonas Åkerlund, and Jake Nava. Bill Condon stated that the Lemonade visuals inspired his film Beauty and the Beast (2017) and credited Lemonade with reintroducing and repopularising the musical trope of characters breaking into song.

Caitlin Johnson of CBS News described Beyoncé as "sexy, seductive, and provocative" when performing on stage. 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. Sasha Fierce was created during the production of "Crazy in Love" and was introduced with the release of her third solo studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, in 2008. By February 2010, Beyoncé stated she no longer needed the alter ego, having grown more comfortable with herself. In May 2012, she announced Sasha Fierce would return for her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live performances later that month.

Public image

Knowles at the premiere for her film Dreamgirls (2006)

Beyoncé has been described by critics as having sex appeal. Writing for Rolling Stone, music journalist Touré noted that she became a "crossover sex symbol" after the release of Dangerously in Love (2003). Due to her curves, the media frequently used the term "bootylicious"—a portmanteau of "booty" and "delicious"—to describe her, a phrase popularized by Destiny's Child's 2001 single of the same name. In 2004, "bootylicious" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as "(of a woman) sexually attractive".

Beyoncé has been nicknamed "Queen Bey" by media publications. Beyoncé's fans are known as the "BeyHive", having previously been known as "The Beyontourage" until 2011. The Guardian's Kuba Shand-Baptiste called them "the most dedicated group of superfans ... on the planet". Time magazine named Beyoncé one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013, 2014, and 2023. She occupied the sixth place for the magazine's 2016 Person of the Year.

In September 2010, Beyoncé made her runway modelling debut at Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show. She was named the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" by People and the "Hottest Female Singer of All Time" by Complex in 2012. In January 2013, GQ placed her on its cover, featuring her atop its "100 Sexiest Women of the 21st Century" list. VH1 listed her at number one on its 2013 list of the "100 Sexiest Artists". Several wax figures of Beyoncé are found at Madame Tussauds Wax Museums in major cities around the world.

Beyoncé's lighter skin color and costuming has drawn criticism from the African-American community. Emmett Price, a professor of music at Northeastern University, wrote in 2007 that he thinks race plays a role in many of these criticisms, saying white celebrities who dress similarly attract less comments. In 2008, L'Oreal denied accusations of whitening her skin in their Feria hair color advertisements, and in 2013, Beyoncé criticized H&M for their proposed "retouching" of promotional images of her, requesting only "natural pictures be used".

When performing, Beyoncé uses different fashion styles that coordinate with the music she is singing. In 2007, Beyoncé became the second African American woman after Tyra Banks to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue magazine, and People recognized her as the best-dressed celebrity.

Wealth

Beyoncé is one of the wealthiest musical artists; as of June 2025, Forbes estimates her net worth to be $780 million. The magazine named Beyoncé the annual highest-earning female musician in 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2017. Forbes began reporting on her earnings in 2008, calculating that the $80 million earned between June 2007 to June 2008 made her the second highest-paid musician in 2008. On the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, Beyoncé was placed fourth in 2008 and 2009, second in 2010, and fourth in 2013. She ranked at number one on the Celebrity 100 list in 2014, earning an estimated $115 million. Billboard named Beyoncé the highest-paid musician of 2016, with estimated earnings of $62.1 million. She was listed as the Forbes third highest-paid musician of the 2010s, earning $685 million.

In 2012, Forbes placed Beyoncé and Jay-Z at number one on the "World's Highest-Paid Celebrity Couples" list, collectively earning $78 million. The couple made it into the previous year's Guinness Book of World Records as the "highest-earning power couple" for collectively earning $122 million in 2009. Beyoncé and Jay-Z also became the highest-paid celebrity couple in 2016, with combined earnings of $107.5 million. They officially became a billion-dollar couple in 2017, when Forbes estimated a combined net worth of $1.16 billion.

Legacy

Beyoncé performing during her I Am... Tour in 2009

Main article: Cultural impact of Beyoncé

See also: Destiny's Child § Legacy

Beyoncé has been recognized as one of the most influential figures in music history by outlets such as Rolling Stone and the Associated Press. In 2024, Billboard named her the Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, while NPR ranked her first on its list of the "21st Century's Most Influential Women Musicians" in 2018. She has been cited as the defining artist of both the 2000s and 2010s. Writing in The New Yorker, critic Jody 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". Critics hailed several of her albums, singles, music videos, and live performances as among the greatest of all time.

Beyoncé has revolutionized the music industry, transforming the production, distribution, promotion, and consumption of music. Beyoncé has been credited with reviving the album format in an era dominated by singles and streaming, with albums becoming increasingly cohesive and narrative-led. She revolutionized how music is released and marketed with the invention of the surprise album, reorienting the music market to cohesive albums and unconventional promotional rollouts; surprise albums became a common practice in the 2010s and 2020s. She is also credited with reviving the music video as an art form and popularizing the visual album format. Her impact on the music industry led to the Global Release Day being moved to Friday.

Wax figure of Beyoncé at Madame Tussauds in London

Beyoncé's use of staccato rap-singing and chopped and re-pitched vocals became defining features of music in the 21st century. With her work frequently transcending traditional genre boundaries, Beyoncé has created new artistic standards that shaped contemporary music and set the precedent for music artists to move between and beyond genre confines. She created new artistic standards that shaped contemporary music and helped to renew subgenres such as R&B, country, dance, house, and Afrobeats. Beyoncé revolutionized the music industry by transforming concert tours into cultural and artistic events.

Beyoncé has been recognized for establishing procedures on how music artists achieve success in the modern era, with musicians 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. Lady Gaga said Beyoncé inspired her to become a musician, while Rihanna was motivated to pursue music after watching Beyoncé. Ariana Grande said she learned to sing by mimicking artists like Beyoncé, while Adele described her as part of her artistic influence since she was a preteen. Paul McCartney and Garth Brooks have also cited Beyoncé's live performances as inspirational, with the latter recommending that new and veteran musicians analyse these performances to improve their craft.

Beyoncé popularized phrases that entered mainstream culture, such as "put a ring on it" to signify a marriage proposal, "I woke up like this", which sparked a trend of morning selfies, and "boy, bye", which was used in the Democratic National Committee's 2020 election campaign. In January 2012, Australian research scientist Bryan Lessard named a species of horse-fly found in North Queensland, Australia, Scaptia beyonceae, after her, due to the insect's distinctive golden hairs on its abdomen.

Achievements

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Beyoncé

See also: List of awards and nominations received by Destiny's Child

Beyoncé has received numerous awards and is the most-awarded female artist of all time. Having sold over 200 million records worldwide (and an additional 60 million with Destiny's Child), Beyoncé is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) listed Beyoncé as the top certified artist of the 2000s decade, with a total of 64 certifications.

Beyoncé at the 2009 Academy Awards

Beyoncé has won 35 Grammy Awards—both as a solo artist and member of Destiny's Child and the Carters—making her the most honored individual by the award show. She is also the most nominated artist in Grammy Award history with 99 nominations. She set the record for the most Grammy awards won by a female artist in one night in 2010 with six awards.

Beyoncé has won 30 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), tying for the most in the award show's history. In 2016, she matched Lady Gaga's 2010 record for the most VMAs won in a single night by a female artist, with eight wins. She also has the most Soul Train Music Awards with 25 wins—21 as a solo artist and four with Destiny's Child—and is the most awarded artist in NAACP Image Awards history, earning 27 wins solo and five with Destiny's Child. In 2011, she was honored with the Billboard Millennium Award at the Billboard Music Awards.

For her role in Dreamgirls, Beyoncé was nominated for Best Original Song for "Listen" and Best Actress at the Golden Globe Awards. Beyoncé won two awards at the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2006; Best Song for "Listen" and Best Original Soundtrack for Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture. The film Lemonade won a Peabody Award in 2017. In 2022, "Be Alive" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Other ventures

Politics

Beyoncé performed "America the Beautiful" at President Barack Obama's 2009 presidential inauguration and "At Last" during the first inaugural dance. She held a fundraiser for President Obama's 2012 presidential campaign and voted for him in the 2012 presidential election. She performed "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States, at his second inauguration in January 2013. In May 2015, Beyoncé attended a celebrity fundraiser for 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and headlined in a concert for Clinton the weekend before the election. She endorsed the bid of Beto O'Rourke during the 2018 United States Senate election in Texas. Beyoncé endorsed Joe Biden for president during the 2020 election. In July 2024, she gave Vice President Kamala Harris permission to use "Freedom" as the official song for her 2024 presidential campaign, and Harris launched a digital advertisement in support of her candidacy featuring the song. In October 2024, Beyoncé endorsed Harris for president at a campaign rally in Houston.

Activism

Beyoncé has conducted several fundraising and donation campaigns during her tours.

In a 2013 interview with Vogue, Beyoncé stated that she considered herself "a modern-day feminist". 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". Beyoncé publicly aligned with feminism by sampling Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 TEDx speech "We should all be feminists" in "Flawless", released later that year. She performed at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards before a giant "Feminist" backdrop.

In December 2012, Beyoncé joined a coalition of celebrities in the "Demand a Plan" campaign—an initiative led by U.S. mayors to urge federal action on gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In 2013 she endorsed same-sex marriage via Instagram and voiced opposition to North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, a law criticized for discriminating against the LGBT community. In February 2017, she supported transgender youth following Donald Trump's federal rollback of protections for transgender students in public schools.

Beyoncé has spoken against police brutality toward Black Americans. She attended a 2013 rally after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin, and featured the mothers of Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner holding photos of their deceased sons in the music video for "Freedom". Her 2016 single "Formation" was interpreted as a critique of law enforcement, though she clarified it was a celebration of her heritage. Performing the song during the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, with dancers dressed in outfits referencing the Black Panther Party, sparked backlash from conservative figures and law enforcement groups. Beyoncé responded to the criticism by selling "Boycott Beyoncé" merchandise on her tour.

Philanthropy

In 1999, Beyoncé, former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, and her mother Tina Knowles established the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Beyoncé, her sister Solange, Tina, and Rowland co-founded the Survivor Foundation to offer transitional housing for displaced families and support the construction of new homes. They later provided aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Beyoncé contributed $100,000 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund. In 2007, she launched the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments, a housing development that accommodates 43 displaced individuals.

Beyoncé at the opening of the Cosmetology Center in 2010

After starring in Cadillac Records in 2008 and learning about Phoenix House, a nonprofit organization focused on drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Beyoncé donated her entire $4 million salary from the film to the organization. She later founded the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center, a program at Phoenix House that provides a cosmetology training course. In April 2011, Beyoncé participated in the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation's campaign against child obesity by reworking her single "Get Me Bodied". She was an ambassador for the 2012 World Humanitarian Day campaign, and in 2013, she took part in Gucci's "Chime for Change" initiative to promote global female empowerment.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z donated tens of thousands of dollars to post bail for Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Baltimore and Ferguson, and contributed to building the infrastructure needed to establish BLM chapters across the United States. In 2016 she pledged to fund ten college scholarships for students in financial need. In June 2016, she donated over $82,000 to the United Way of Genesee County to assist victims of the Flint water crisis and provided financial support for fourteen Michigan students pursuing higher education. That August, Beyoncé and Jay-Z donated $1.5 million to civil rights organizations including BLM, Hands Up United, and Trayvon Martin Foundation.

In August 2017, during Hurricane Harvey, Beyoncé launched BeyGood Houston to support those affected and donated $75,000 worth of new mattresses to survivors. Later that month, she released a remix of J Balvin and Willy William's "Mi Gente", pledging all proceeds to disaster relief efforts across Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.S., and the Caribbean in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the Chiapas and Puebla earthquakes. 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. She featured on the remix of Megan Thee Stallion's "Savage" (2020), with proceeds supporting Bread of Life Houston's COVID-19 relief efforts.

Beyoncé worked with the Feminist Coalition in the End SARS movement in Nigeria to cover medical costs for injured protestors, legal fees for arrested protestors, and resources to those in need. Beyoncé also supported the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon, ShutItAllDown in Namibia, Zimbabwean Lives Matter in Zimbabwe and the Rape National Emergency in Liberia. In December 2020, Beyoncé donated $500,000 to alleviate the housing crisis in the U.S. caused by the cessation of the eviction moratorium. In January 2025, she donated $2.5 million to Los Angeles fire relief funds amidst the wildfires that month in Southern California.

Business endeavors

In 2008, Beyoncé founded what is now known as Parkwood Entertainment, an entertainment company established as an imprint of Columbia Records. Parkwood has since grown to include a music division, signing artists such as Chloe x Halle. In February 2024, Beyoncé launched Cécred, a hair care line designed to serve a wide range of hair textures. In partnership with BeyGood, in 2024, she introduced an annual grant program to support cosmetology students and professional hair stylists with financial assistance.

Endorsements and partnerships

Beyoncé began her partnership with Pepsi in 2002. In 2004, she starred in a gladiator-themed commercial alongside Britney Spears, Pink, and Enrique Iglesias. In 2012, she signed a $50 million endorsement deal with the brand. Beyoncé has also collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger for the fragrances True Star—for which she recorded a cover of "Wishing on a Star"—and True Star Gold. In 2007, she promoted Emporio Armani’s Diamonds fragrance. Beyoncé launched her own fragrance line with Heat in 2010, followed by Heat Rush in 2011 and Pulse later in the same year. Beyoncé also has had deals with American Express, Nintendo DS, and a long-standing endorsement deal with L'Oréal since she was 18.

In March 2015, Beyoncé became a co-owner of the music streaming platform Tidal, alongside several other artists. In November 2020, she entered a multi-year partnership with fitness and media company Peloton. In 2021, Beyoncé and Jay-Z partnered with Tiffany & Co. for the company's "About Love" campaign. Beyoncé became the fourth woman, and first Black woman, to wear the 128.54-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond. The campaign drew criticism, as the diamond is considered a blood diamond and a symbol of British colonial exploitation in Africa. On August 20, 2024, Beyoncé announced SirDavis, a whiskey in collaboration with Moët Hennessy developed for years prior and co-founded with master distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden. In October 2024, Levi's launched a four-part global campaign titled "Reiimagine" with Beyoncé, spotlighting women's history with the company and featuring her Cowboy Carter track "Levii's Jeans".

Fashion lines

In 2005, Beyoncé and Tina launched House of Deréon, a women's fashion line inspired by three generations of women in their family. The brand's name honors Beyoncé's grandmother, seamstress Agnèz Deréon. The two also established Beyond Productions to handle licensing and brand management for House of Deréon and its junior line, Deréon. The collection features sportswear, denim offerings with fur, outerwear and accessories like handbags and footwear. In 2005, Beyoncé parterned with House of Brands, a footwear company, to produce a range of shoes for House of Deréon. In January 2008, Starwave Mobile launched Beyoncé Fashion Diva, a mobile game with a social networking component, featuring the House of Deréon collection. In July 2009, Beyoncé and her mother launched a junior apparel label, Sasha Fierce for Deréon, for back-to-school selling. The collection included sportswear, outerwear, handbags, footwear, eyewear, lingerie and jewelry.

In April 2016, Beyoncé launched Ivy Park, a 50–50 joint venture with fashion retailer Topshop. 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. Following allegations that Topshop owner Philip Green had sexually harassed, bullied, and racially abused employees, Beyoncé bought out his stake in the company. In April 2019, she partnered with Adidas as a creative collaborator to relaunch Ivy Park and develop new apparel and footwear, with the first collection debuting in January 2020. The brand struggled financially and by March 2023 Beyoncé and Adidas mutually ended their partnership. That same month, Beyoncé collaborated with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing on a couture collection inspired by her Renaissance album. Featuring sixteen looks—one for each track—it was the first time a Black woman led the design of a Parisian couture house collection.

Discography

Main articles: Beyoncé albums discography, Beyoncé singles discography, and List of songs recorded by Beyoncé

Solo studio albums

• Dangerously in Love (2003)
• B'Day (2006)
• I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008)
• 4 (2011)
• Beyoncé (2013)
• Lemonade (2016)
• Renaissance (2022)
• Cowboy Carter (2024)

with Destiny's Child

Main articles: Destiny's Child discography and List of Destiny's Child songs

• Destiny's Child (1998)
• The Writing's on the Wall (1999)
• Survivor (2001)
• 8 Days of Christmas (2001)
• Destiny Fulfilled (2004)

with The Carters

Main article: The Carters discography

• Everything Is Love (2018)

Soundtrack albums

• The Lion King: The Gift (2019)

Filmography

Main article: Beyoncé videography § Film

This section lists select works only. Refer to the main article for further information.

Films starred

• Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)
• Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
• The Fighting Temptations (2003)
• Fade to Black (2004)
• The Pink Panther (2006)
• Dreamgirls (2006)
• Cadillac Records (2008)
• Obsessed (2009)
• Epic (2013)
• Lemonade (also director) (2016)
• The Lion King (2019)
• Black Is King (also director) (2020)
• Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

Documentaries

• Live at Wembley (2004)
• The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007)
• I Am... Yours (2009)
• I Am... World Tour (also director) (2010)
• Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 (also director) (2011)
• Life Is But a Dream (also director) (2013)
• Live in Atlantic City (also director) (2013)
• On the Run Tour (2014)
• Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (also director) (2019)
• Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (also director) (2023)

Tours and residencies

Main article: List of Beyoncé live performances

Headlining tours

• Dangerously in Love Tour (2003)
• The Beyoncé Experience (2007)
• I Am... Tour (2009–2010)
• The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013–2014)
• The Formation World Tour (2016)
• Renaissance World Tour (2023)
• Cowboy Carter Tour (2025)

Co-headlining tours

• Verizon Ladies First Tour (with Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott) (2004)
• On the Run Tour (with Jay-Z) (2014)
• On the Run II Tour (with Jay-Z) (2018)

Residencies

• I Am... Yours (2009)
• 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé (2011)
• Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live (2012)

See also

• Forbes list of highest-earning musicians
• List of artists with the most number-one European singles
• List of Billboard Social 50 number-one artists
• List of black Golden Globe Award winners and nominees
• List of highest-grossing live music artists
• List of most-followed Instagram accounts

Cited literature

• Abbey, Cherie D. (2010). Biography Today. Omnigraphics. ISBN 978-0-7808-1058-7.
• Arenofsky, Janice (2009). Beyoncé Knowles. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 979-8-216-05273-9.
• Avery, Allison F. (2017). "African Americans and Jungian Psychology: Leaving the Shadows". Journal of Analytical Psychology. 62 (5). John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1111/1468-5922.12364. ISSN 0021-8774.
• Brooks, Daphne (2008). "'All That You Can't Leave Behind': Black Female Soul Singing and the Politics of Surrogation in the Age of Catastrophe". Meridians. 8 (1). Duke University Press: 196. doi:10.2979/MER.2008.8.1.180. JSTOR 40338916.
• Brooks, Kinitra D.; Martin, Kameelah L. (2019). The Lemonade Reader. Routledge Publishing. ISBN 978-0-429-94597-7.
• Colbert, Soyica Diggs (2017). Black Movements. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-8854-4.
• Elliott, Alan (2022). Dreams That Built America. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-0-7852-9699-7.
• Farley, Christopher John (2002). Aaliyah. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-5566-4.
• Harper, Paula (2019). "Beyoncé: Viral Techniques and the Visual Album". Popular Music & Society. 42 (1). Taylor & Francis. doi:10.1080/03007766.2019.1555895.
• Iddon, Martin; Marshall, Melanie L. (2020). Beyoncé. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-05283-4.
• Lester, Neal (2024). "Beyoncé's 'Break My Soul': An Anthem of Courage, Resistance, Peace, and Community". Journal of Popular Culture. 57 (5/6). John Wiley & Sons: 320–335.
• Măda, Stanca (2015). "Building Identity in Humorous Media Interactions". Language & Dialogue. 5 (1): 115. doi:10.1075/ld.5.1.06mad. ISSN 2210-4119.
• Peñate, Patricia (June 2022). "From Lemonade to Homecoming: Beyoncé's Visual Spaces". Atlantis. 44 (1). JSTOR 27226255.
• Perricone, Kathleen (2024). Beyoncé Is Life. Quarto Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7603-9314-7.
• Pointer, Anna (2014). Beyoncé: Running the World. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-1-4736-0732-3. OCLC 893327856. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
• Rodrigues, Sara; Przybylo, Ela (2018). On the Politics of Ugliness. Springer Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-76783-3.
• Sudhinaraset, Pacharee (2018). "'We Are Not an Organically City People': Black Modernity and the Afterimages of Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust". The Black Scholar. 48 (3). JSTOR 48538202.
• Taraborrelli, J. Randy (October 27, 2015). Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4555-9034-6.
• Trier-Bieniek, Adrienne (2016). The Beyonce Effect. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-4766-2558-4.
• Tunca, Daria (2016). "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as Chinua Achebe's (Unruly) Literary Daughter: The Past, Present, and Future of 'Adichebean' Criticism". Research in African Literatures. 49 (4). Indiana University Press. JSTOR 10.2979/reseafrilite.49.4.08.
• Watson, Tom (2016). North American Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations. Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1057/978-1-349-95044-7_7. ISBN 978-1-349-95043-0.
• Weidhase, Nathalie (2015). "'Beyoncé Feminism' and the Contestation of the Black Feminist Body" (PDF). Celebrity Studies. 6 (1). doi:10.1080/19392397.2015.1005389. ISSN 1939-2397. S2CID 144898561.
• Welang, Nahum N. (2022). The Affirmative Discomforts of Black Female Authorship. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6669-0715-5.

External links

• Official website
• Beyoncé at AllMusic
• Beyoncé at Amazon Music

• Beyoncé discography at Discogs
• Beyoncé at IMDb