Who runs the pop world? Beyoncé!

She is just 43 years old but has been going full throttle for almost 35 years: her own band at age nine, her first record deal at 14, her first world tour at 21, and every single solo album debuting at number one on the US album charts. Beyoncé Knowles is considered one of the most successful artists of all time. Yet – hard to believe – even an icon like »Queen Bey« started small.

 Four Power Women

At just nine years old, she formed the band »Girls Tyme« with her friends LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, and LeToya Luckett. Managed by Beyoncé’s father, the girl group was later renamed, and the girls secured their first record deal with Elektra Records – thus, »Destiny’s Child« was born. However, their big breakthrough came only after switching to Columbia Records in 1997, with number-one hits like »No No No«, »Say My Name« and »Bills Bills Bills«.

But it wasn’t always easy. Beyoncé later recalled: »We had already had several hit singles, but we were still sleeping in shared bedrooms […]. It was humbling.« Sixteen-hour days and bloody feet from training were also said to be the norm. The hard work paid off: the group sold around 40 million records worldwide.

Just the Beginning

In late 1999, Luckett and Roberson left the band and were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin – the latter departed after just six months. The remaining trio continued to achieve great success, including with the Grammy-winning song »Survivor«, but Beyoncé increasingly became the face of the group. In 2001, the trio decided to go their separate ways and pursue solo careers.

Thus, the then 20-year-old found solace in her solo career: first, her own single »Work It Out« in 2002, then the major breakthrough with her debut album Dangerously in Love, which immediately reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and won five Grammys. The album sold 317,000 copies in its first week alone and has sold around 11 million copies to date.

However, she never forgot her roots. Fans were thrilled when it was unexpectedly announced that Destiny’s Child would reunite – at least for a short time. In 2001, Beyoncé, Rowland, and Williams bid farewell with the words »We’ll be back« and three years later, the trio indeed came together one last time to release the album Destiny Fulfilled and embark on a final tour.

Women in Power!

»Queen Bey« captivates not only with her voice but especially with her female empowerment. Hits like »Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)« and »Run the World (Girls)« are still considered anthems of female strength and independence today.

The former won three Grammy Awards, and the iconic dance moves from its music video were nominated for nine MTV Video Music Awards – she took home the Video of the Year award in 2009, among others.

In April 2016, she surprised fans with her sixth album, Lemonade – including an hour-long short film. Rolling Stone magazine named it the best album of the 21st century, calling it a music film that honors »generational heartache« and the legacy of Black women. The numbers speak for themselves: it became the best-selling album of 2016, with around 2.5 million copies sold. With eight MTV Video Music Awards won, she even dethroned Madonna: a total of 24 awards made her the biggest winner in VMA history.

Yee-Haw!

At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé surpassed her male colleagues: with a total of 32 awards, she broke the previous record held by conductor Sir Georg Solti. And her Grammy collection continues to grow: her eighth album, Cowboy Carter, earned her the long-awaited Album of the Year trophy and – as the first Black artist – Best Country Album. The Texan dedicated the latter to singer Linda Martell, who shaped African American country music in the 1960s and 1970s.

Legacy Over Number-One Hits

In late 2024, the musical knighthood followed: Billboard named her the greatest pop star of the 21st century. While fans of second-place Taylor Swift protested, the magazine justified its decision by stating that the former Destiny’s Child singer is »an artist whose commitment to innovation, evolution, and overall excellence has made her the benchmark against which all other pop stars of this century have long been measured.«

 LT