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20 Amazing Facts About Beyoncé

Originally Published by Stacey M on November 2022 and Updated by Purity M in January 2024

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, born September 4th, 1981 is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé’s ancestry is part Irish and French. Her father, Mathew Knowles, who is African-American was born in Houston, Texas, while her mother, Tina Knowles, who was born in Galveston, Texas, boasts a creole descent, with African, Native American, Irish, and French roots.

Despite the fact that the female star has been in the limelight for decades as evidenced by her phenomenal musical journey, sold-out arena tours, surprise album drops, Hollywood features, and documentaries, much of her personal life may have slipped under your radar.

Here are 20 amazing Beyoncé facts that you probably didn’t know. 

1.Beyoncé Won Her First Talent Show at Age 7

Beyoncé was a star even from a young age. At the age of seven, she won a local talent show in Houston, Texas, beating kids twice her age. She received a standing ovation for her rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine, in which she displayed her powerful vocals. According to Rolling Stone, the win inspired her father, Mathew Knowles, to enter her in more local talent shows, where she won 35 consecutive competitions.

2.Beyoncé’s Singing Career Started Off As Part Of Destiny Child’s Band On the Star Search Talent Show

Previous members of Destiny Child by JonathanLGardner –Wikimedia Commons

Beyoncé first appeared on the TV singing and dancing show as a member of the band ‘Girls Tyme’ in 1993, when she was 12 years old. The group finished second, an experience Beyoncé describes as a defining moment in her childhood. A soundbite from their performance was featured in her Flawless video. Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and LaTavia Roberson would later go on to form Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, selling over 60 million music records.

3.Beyoncé Suffered From Depression Following the Hiatus of Destiny’s Child

It was on June 11th 2005, that Kelly Rowland announced Destiny’s Child’s disbandment during the final stop of their European tour in Barcelona. Beyoncé was publicly blamed for the group’s disintegration after members sued her father for stealing from them.

She was also in the midst of a breakup with her longtime boyfriend. Queen Bey hit an all-time low and would isolate herself in her room for days without eating or leaving. Later, Beyoncé decided to go solo, parting ways with her father as well.

4.Beyoncé Can Run and Sing At The Same Time

Beyoncé performing on 4 intimate nights by Claudio Mauriotto –

While most of us would be exhausted after running for 30 seconds, Beyoncé can do it while effortlessly hitting high notes. During Destiny Child’s era, Beyoncé’s dad who was their manager at the time, made them run a mile while singing as part of their vocal training. Her father insisted that this training would help her develop the ability to sing and dance at the same time without getting exhausted.

5.Beyoncé Has Received 28 Grammy Awards

Beyonc̩ at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by Philip Nelson РWikimedia Commons

Beyoncé is the most-nominated female artist in the history of the Grammys, with 79 nominations and a whooping 28 awards. In 2010, she became the first artist to win six awards in a single night. Some of Queen Bey’s notable Grammy wins include Song Of The Year for her chart-topping hit “Single Ladies,” Best Music Video for “Formation,” best R&B Song for “Drunk in Love,” and several more. In 2021, Beyoncé won four of her nine nominations, breaking Alison Krauss’ record of 27 wins, thus becoming the most-awarded female artist in the Grammys history.

6.Beyoncé Has Broken Many Records as a Female Solo Artist

Beyoncé Knowles by Asterio Tecson –

For years, Beyoncé has had back-to-back hit singles, dominating the charts from the 1990s to the 2020s. In 2020, her feature on Megan Thee Stallion’s Savage remix propelled her to No. 1 on the Billboard 100, making her the only female solo artist other than Mariah Carey to have done so in four different decades.

In addition, following the birth of her twins in 2018, Beyoncé became the first black woman to headline Coachella. The unforgettable performance, which is now available on Netflix, involved eight months of a strict carb diet, intense training, and choreography practices. 

Like Coachella, Beyoncé made history when she headlined Glastonbury in 2011, breaking a 20-year cycle of men dominating the music industry and festival lineups. Her most recent release, “Renaissance,” became Spotify’s most-streamed album by a female artist in a single day in 2022. Furthermore, every song on the album debuted on Spotify’s Top 25 chart in the US.

7.Beyoncé’s Surprise Pregnancy Announcement at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Sparked a Twitter Frenzy

During her performance of ‘Love on Top’ at the 2011 MTV Awards, Beyoncé opened her suit jacket to reveal her pregnant belly. This announcement sent Twitter into overdrive, receiving 8868 tweets per second, which was listed as the most tweets per second ever recorded for a single event.

That’s not all. In 2017, Beyoncé revealed her second pregnancy on Instagram and within eight hours of being published, the iconic photo racked up 6.3 million likes, breaking Selena Gomez’s Guinness World Record for the ‘Most liked image on Instagram.’

8.Beyoncé Is Also A Hollywood Star With Several Acting Credits To Her Name

Besides music, Queen Bey has starred in several movies, appearing alongside legends like Mike Myers in Austin Powers, Steve Martin in Pink Panther, and Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx in Dreamgirls. She’s also been the star of Obsessed and the voice over for Queen Tara in the Disney movie Epic and Nala in the 2019 Lion King live-action remake. The star was also approached to play the lead role in A Star is Born, but she was unable to accept due to scheduling conflicts.

9.Beyoncé’s Favourite Number is Four

The number four represents many important dates in her life;  her birthday is on September 4th, her mother’s birthday is January 4th, her husband’s is December 4th, and her wedding anniversary is April 4th. She also named her fourth studio album 4, and incorporated the number into the name of her daughter Blue Ivy, Ivy, which is pronounced the same way as the roman numeral for four, IV. Beyoncé and Jay-Z both have the numeral tattooed on their wedding rings finger.

10.Beyoncé is Passionate About Charity Work

The star, who has several foundations in her name, enjoys helping those in need. She supports a number of non-profit organizations, including Chime for Change, Girl Up, Elevate Network, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Girls Inc. of Greater Houston, and I Was Here. She has been recognized for donating over $7 million to Houston’s homeless and establishing the #BEYGOOD initiative to combat hunger. Beyoncé also donated her entire salary from the film ‘Cadillac Records’ to Phoenix House, a nationwide network of heroin rehabilitation centers.

11.  She performed at both of Obama’s Inauguration events

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Bey graced the steps of history not once, but twice, when she lent her powerhouse vocals to both of President Barack Obama’s historic inaugurations. In 2009, her rendition of  Etta James’ “At Last” during the inaugural ball became a symbol of hope and change, her voice weaving through the celebratory air as the First Couple danced their first steps into a new era.

Four years later, she commanded the stage with the national anthem, “Star-Spangled Banner,” her soaring notes echoing across the National Mall, a triumphant declaration of unity and resilience as Obama secured his second term.

12. Beyonce was set to play the female lead in ‘A Star is Born’ 

The universe had other plans for Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, “A Star is Born” (2018). While Lady Gaga eventually captured hearts with her raw portrayal of Ally, the spotlight was originally set to shine on Beyoncé.

Back in 2011, Queen Bey was tapped to play the lead alongside Clint Eastwood, who was slated to direct. But the cosmos intervened, as Beyoncé’s pregnancy and Eastwood’s other ventures reshuffled the cast. Though this alternate “A Star is Born” never came to be, one can’t help but wonder what magic Beyoncé would have woven into the story.

13. She donated her Cadillac Records (2008) salary to an addiction center

In 2008, Beyoncé graced the silver screen with her portrayal of blues legend, Etta James, in the biographical film “Cadillac Records.” This movie chronicled the rise and fall of iconic musicians within the Chess Records label during the golden age of Chicago blues. While Beyoncé delivered a mesmerizing performance, capturing the emotional depths of James’ turbulent life, her act of generosity behind the scenes resonated even louder.

Instead of pocketing her well-deserved salary, Beyoncé made the remarkable decision to donate the entire sum to Phoenix House, a renowned addiction treatment center. This selfless act was deeply personal. Throughout her career, Beyoncé has been touched by the devastating effects of addiction, both personally and within her community. Having witnessed its destructive force firsthand, she felt compelled to channel her professional success into a real-world solution.

14. She has made Vogue history

Beyoncé’s 2018 Vogue cover (September issue)  wasn’t just a stunning image; it was a revolution in the making. Not only did she claim ultimate creative control – a rarity in the magazine’s history – but she made an even bolder statement by choosing Tyler Mitchell, a 23-year-old Black photographer, to capture her essence. For the first time ever, Vogue entrusted a Black woman with its coveted September issue cover shoot, shattering established norms and setting a landmark precedent. 

15. Sasha Fierce, her alter ego is no longer in use

, , via Wikimedia Commons

In 2008, Queen Bey birthed a legend, Sasha Fierce: a bold, diamond-dripped alter ego who roared from “Crazy in Love ” (2003) to “Single Ladies” (2008). This wasn’t just a costume change; it was an artistic baptism by fire. Sasha Fierce took the stage with a fearless swagger, letting Beyoncé conquer insecurities and unleash her full sonic firepower. But in 2010, a twist: Sasha Fierce was “done,” as Beyoncé declared in an interview with Allure magazine. 

She intimated, ‘At first I didn’t realize that my strength was coming from my vulnerability. I was so afraid of being vulnerable. Sasha Fierce was born because I didn’t feel like I could be vulnerable on stage. But then I started to feel like I was holding myself back. I would go into the studio and a song would come on and I wouldn’t sing the high notes because I didn’t feel like I was Beyoncé. I was like, ‘No, this is for Sasha.’ I had to break free.”

16. Her daughter, Blue Ivy is already following in her footsteps

, , via Wikimedia Commons

While still young, Blue Ivy Carter reveals flashes of talent that echo those of her legendary mother. During the Renaissance World Tour, Blue  surprised audiences by joining her mother on stage for a mesmerizing dance performance during “My Power” (2023). Her confident moves and natural stage presence stole the spotlight, showcasing her own artistic instincts.

She has already made history as the youngest person credited on a Billboard chart for her feature on her father’s song “Glory” (2012).  Additionally, Blue Ivy has been involved in philanthropy and has won a BET Award for her participation in the song “Brown Skin Girl (2019) alongside her mother.

While it’s too early to predict Blue Ivy’s future career path, it’s hard to deny that she’s already a stunner.

17. Queen Bey actually owns beehives

In a delightful twist that’s just as random, Queen Bey isn’t just her nickname for nothing, she’s does own beehives. As revealed in a December 2019 interview with British Vogue, Beyoncé boasts two thriving beehives at her home, buzzing with an estimated 80,000 pollinators. But this isn’t just a whimsical hobby; it’s a story rooted in family, health, and environmental awareness.

18. Her most recent Renaissance World Tour is the highest grossing tour for a black female artist

The Renaissance World Tour, a dazzling showcase of Beyoncé’s artistry and unparalleled stage presence, commenced its triumphant run on May 10, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden. Over the course of several electrifying months, it swept through Europe and North America, culminating in a resounding finale on October 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.

, , via Wikimedia Commons

This tour wasn’t merely a series of concerts; it was a cultural phenomenon that redefined the boundaries of music and shattered records with a staggering $579 million in gross earnings, claiming the title of the highest-grossing tour ever recorded by a Black female artist.

19. Renaissance garnered a record for most single-day streams on Spotify by a female artist

Beyoncé’s Renaissance wasn’t just an album, it was a sonic earthquake. While later dethroned by Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” it initially ruled Spotify’s single-day crown for female artists, its 43.25 million streams on July 29, 2022, reverberating through the charts. But Renaissance’s impact reached far beyond mere numbers. It shattered Beyoncé’s personal records, becoming her most streamed solo album on release week and week one, a testament to its infectious melodies. 

20. The same album featured all 16 tracks on Billboard Hot 100

 In a dazzling feat, all 16 tracks landed on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. This wasn’t just a commercial win; it cemented the album’s critical acclaim and diverse appeal, proving every track resonated with listeners. While “Break My Soul” soared to #1, becoming her eighth solo chart-topper, and “Crazy in Love (Act II),” “Cuff It,” and “Green Light” climbed the higher ranks, the true magic lay in the collective chart presence.