Growing Up:
Beyonce's parents are Matthew and Tina Knowles. With encouragement from her parents, Beyonce began performing by the age of seven and was soon winning local dancing and singing competitions. She formed an act called GirlTyme with Latavia Roberson in 1990. Matthew Knowles elected to manage the duo. Kelly Rowland joined the act and they landed an appearance on the Star Search talent competition. LeToya Luckett joined in 1993 and the group became Destiny's Child.
Destiny's Child:
Destiny's Child were successful performing in clubs in the Houston area. In 1997 Columbia Records offered the group a contract. By the end of 1998 the group had reached the top of the r&b chart and #3 on the pop chart with the single "No, No, No, Pt. 2." Destiny's Child became one of the top selling recording acts of the late 1990's and early 2000's with over 10 top 10 pop hit singles. The group officially announced their breakup in 2005.
Top Beyonce Singles:
- 2003 - "Crazy In Love" (featuring Jay-Z) - #1
- 2003 - "Baby Boy" (featuring Sean Paul) - #1
- 2003 - "Me, Myself and I" - #4
- 2004 - "Naughty Girl" - #3
- 2006 - "Deja Vu" (featuring Jay-Z) - #4
- 2006 - "Irreplaceable" - #1
- 2006 - "Beautiful Liar" (featuring Shakira) - #3
Beyonce Solo:
In 2002 Beyonce was the featured vocalist on the single "'03 Bonnie and Clyde" by Jay-Z. Then, with Destiny's Child officially on hiatus, she released a solo album Dangerously in Love. Propelled by its first single, the #1 smash "Crazy in Love," the album hit #1 in the U.S. and U.K. eventually selling over 4 million copies in the U.S. and 8 million worldwide. 3 more top 10 pop singles from the album followed in quick succession.
Awards and Achievements:
- First African-American woman to win ASCAP's (songwriting industry association) Songwriter of the Year award
- 5 Grammy Awards for the album Dangerously in Love
- First female artist to have a #1 single and album simultaneously in both the U.S. and U.K.
- 2004 NAACP Image Awards Entertainer of the Year
Trivia Fact About Beyonce:
Beyonce attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.
Actress:
Beyonce's first major acting appearance was in a starring role in the 2001 TV movie Carmen: A Hip Hopera, an update of the opera Carmen. In 2002 she appeared with Mike Myers as Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember. A third film appearance was released in 2003. Beyonce appeared opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. in The Fighting Temptations.
The Future for Beyonce:
Beyonce recorded the solo track "Check On It" <Listen> for Destiny's Child's greatest hits collection #1's. It was forced out as a single after radio programmers lost interest in the official single "Stand Up for Love" and played Beyonce's track instead. It has become her 5th top 10 solo hit single.
2 films starring Beyonce were released in 2006. The first, The Pink Panther, starring Steve Martin, was released in February. The second, a version of the classic Broadway musicalDreamgirls, was released in December 2006. Beyonce was nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe Award for her part in Dreamgirls.
Beyonce's second solo album B'Day was released in September 2006 and was inspired by her part in Dreamgirls. The album debuted at #1 and was a massive worldwide hit. It included the #1 hit single "Irreplaceable". After a highly successful 2007 concert tour, Beyonce extended her acting resume further by performing as Etta James in the movie Cadillac Records. Her third solo album was due in November 2008 and would included the single "If I Were a Boy."