BEYONCÉ
b. 1981
Houston, Texas
Singer, songwriter, producer, actress
As a member of Destiny's Child, we were introduced to Houston's finest with songs like "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills." Destiny's Child won us over in the late '90s/early 2000s by picking up where girl groups like TLC left off, but this time blending R&B and pop.
In 2004, Beyoncé released her first solo album, Dangerously in Love, beginning her *very* firm grip on pop culture with "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy." Four years later, she dropped "Single Ladies," which won three Grammys, and is officially certified quadruple-platinum.
Then, in 2010, she made the world stop.
With zero marketing efforts, Beyoncé released a surprise album to the internet. The eponymous album paired stunning visuals with each song, making it the year's most defining moment in music. Beyoncé became the first female artist to have five consecutive #1 albums on Billboard with this album.
Then the world stopped again in 2016 with "Formation" (Google's most searched song of the year) and Lemonade, another visual album.
...And then again in 2018 as she became the first Black woman to headline Coachella.
🐝 Key Bey Dates 🐝
May 18, 2003: "Crazy in Love" is released
October 13, 2008: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" is released, and an icon emerges
August 28, 2011: A mic-drop pregnancy reveal
December 13, 2013: Beyonce drops an unexpected album. The internet was never the same
February 6, 2016: "Formation" is released
April 23, 2016: Lemonade is released
February 1, 2017: Another pregnancy reveal. Most-liked Instagram post of 2017 (6.3 million)
April 17, 2019: Homecoming released on Netflix
A performer above the rest.
Work cited: "Beyoncé." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Feb. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9.
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Grammy, Best R&B Performance, “Black Parade” (2020)
Grammy, Best Rap Performance, “Savage” (2020, Megan Thee Stallion)
Grammy, Best Rap Song, “Savage” (2020, Megan Thee Stallion)
Grammy, Best Music Video, “Brown Skin Girl” (2020)
Grammy, Best Music Film, Homecoming (2019)
Grammy, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Everything is Love (2018)
Grammy, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Lemonade (2016)
Grammy, Best Music Video, “Formation” (2016)
Grammy, Best R&B Song, “Drunk in Love” (2014)
Grammy, Best R&B Performance, “Drunk in Love” (2014)
Grammy, Surround Sound Album, Beyoncé (2014)
Grammy, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, “Love on Top,” 2012
Grammy, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, “Halo” (2009)
Grammy, Song of the Year, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” (2009)
Grammy, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” (2009)
Grammy, Best R&B Song, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” (2009)
Grammy, Best Contemporary R&B album, I Am…Sasha Fierce (2009)
Grammy, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, “At Last” (2009)
Grammy, Best Contemporary R&B album, B’Day (2006)
Grammy, R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, “So Amazing” (2005, Destiny’s Child)
Grammy, Best Contemporary R&B album, Dangerously in Love (2003)
Grammy, Best Female Vocal Performance, “Dangerously in Love 2” (2003)
Grammy, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, “Crazy in Love”, 2003
Grammy, Best R&B song, “Crazy in Love” (2003)
Grammy, R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, “The Closer I Get to You” (2003)
Grammy, R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, “Survivor” (2001, Destiny’s Child)
Grammy, R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, “Say My Name” (2000, Destiny’s Child)
Grammy, Best R&B song, “Say My Name” (2000, Destiny’s Child)
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“Beyoncé is immensely talented and is consistently showing up for black people, women in particular. She always speaks out against injustices we as a people face daily and uses her huge platform to uplift our voices.”
-Vanessa R.
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