Beyonce has become a musical phenomenon. When she decided to take her career solo, it was clear she didn’t need the backing of her female comrades. Since leaving Destiny’s Child, Beyonce has sold over 120 million worldwide and has become one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. In January 2010 she made history as the first female artist to win six Grammys in one evening and is currently the most nominated woman in Grammy Award history. She’s earned 20 Grammy Awards, a number that will only continue to grow, especially with the recent success of her album Lemonade. What is most intriguing about her is the level of mystery she maintains as a celebrity. She’s adamant about letting her work speak for itself so she fiercely protects her privacy and meticulously manages her image. In honor of her upcoming birthday we managed to dig up a few things from the beyhive — here’s a look at 11 things you probably didn’t know about Queen B!
11. Childhood
Born in Houston, Texas, in 1981, Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter was named after her mother’s maiden name, Beyince. Her mother, Celestine “Tina” Beyince, was a hairstylist and salon owner while her father, Matthew Knowles, was a Xerox sales manager. She grew up with her younger sister Solange who is also a singer. Beyonce hit the stage at a very young age when she enrolled in dance classes while in elementary school. Her singing ability was discovered during a dance class when her instructor began singing a song and Beyonce finished it for her by hitting all the high-pitched notes. She then entered a singing competition at school when she was only 7-years-old and got her first taste of success when she performed John Lennon’s “Imagine” and beat out all her competitors, even some 15 and 16-year-old kids! She received a standing ovation for her performance.
