Beyoncé Is Born

Setting the scene

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981, in Houston, Texas, to Mathew Knowles, a sales manager who became her manager, and Tina Knowles, a costume designer. She sang in church and talent shows as a child.

What happened

She rose with Destiny's Child in the late 1990s, then launched a solo career with Dangerously in Love (2003), earning Grammys and hits like 'Crazy in Love.' Albums from B'Day to Lemonade blended R&B, pop, and visual storytelling.

Why it still matters

Beyoncé headlined Coachella in 2018 as the first Black woman to top the festival, and her Renaissance World Tour broke revenue records. Memorable detail: she recorded much of Lemonade in secret, releasing a surprise visual album on HBO in 2016 that addressed marriage, race, and Hurricane Katrina's legacy.

Background

Destiny's Child and solo superstardom followed.