Click above to hear an audio version of this biography, with musical selections. Audio hosted by Jill Riley and produced by Derrick Stevens.

A pop superstar and one of the most powerful artists alive, Beyoncé is a Musicheads Essential Artist. 

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé won her first talent show at seven years old. As a girl, she was the central member of Destiny’s Child, the multiplatinum-selling R&B group known both for their incredible harmonies and internal drama. 

In 2003, Beyoncé broke out as a solo artist with Dangerously in Love, a playful album that featured Missy Elliott, Sean Paul, and her then-boyfriend, rapper Jay-Z.

In her twenties, Beyoncé scored hit after hit, from “Irreplaceable” to “Halo” to “Love On Top.” She also hit the silver screen, starring in the musical Dreamgirls and portraying Etta James in Cadillac Records.  

As the years went on, Beyoncé matured as an artist, and her savvy business moves changed the music industry. In 2010, she founded Parkwood Entertainment, a production company she later described as her “own empire.” In 2014, Parkwood released her self-titled album online, with no advance marketing or press, revolutionizing music distribution in one day.  

The 2016 album Lemonade was an arrival for the fully in-control Beyoncé, who turned her experience of a broken marriage into a stunning visual album. Beyoncé has also partnered with entertainment giants such as Netflix and Disney to release film versions of her live album Homecoming and the Lion King soundtrack The Gift. 

When Beyoncé releases a project, it’s an event. She multiplies that clout in collaborations with fellow superstars Jay-Z, J Balvin, and her sister Solange, and she uses it to support younger Black artists such as Chloe x Halle, Chance the Rapper, and her fellow Houstonian Megan Thee Stallion. 

Today, Beyoncé holds tremendous control over her work and her image, maintaining a brand built on opulence, grace, and Black excellence. She is one of the most adored artists of our time.