- 1988
A Standing Ovation
Beyoncé enters her first talent show at age 7. Singing John Lennon's "Imagine," she doesn't just win, she beats 15- and 16-year-olds and receives a standing ovation.
- circa 1990
It's Gyrls Time
With hands-on help from her parents, Beyoncé performs with the girls group Gyrls Tyme, which included future Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. They practice on the deck outside the Knowles home before hitting the talent show circuit in Houston.
- 1996
A Father's Gamble for Destiny
Beyoncé's father, Mathew, leaves his six-figure sales job at Xerox to manage the girls full-time, and helps negotiates a deal for them with Columbia Records. They are eventually renamed Destiny's Child and release their self-titled debut in 1998. Their standout single from the album is a remix of "No, No, No," with Wyclef Jean.
- 1999
"Jumpin'" Off the Shelves
The group's second album, The Writing's on the Wall, quietly debuts at No. 6 on the Billboard charts. After the CD gains momentum thanks to singles "Say My Name" and "Jumpin', Jumpin'," it goes on to sell more than 8 million copies.
- 2000
The Lineup Shuffles
Beyoncé announces on TRL that original DC members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson have left the group, and the "Say My Name" video premieres with new members Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. Claiming to have discovered their dismissal only after seeing the video, Luckett and Roberson file a lawsuit, and eventually settle out of court. In July, Franklin leaves the group and Destiny's Child remains a trio.
Charlie's Angels Soundtrack
Destiny's Child contributes "Independent Women Part I" to the Charlie's Angels movie soundtrack (starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu). The song spends 11 weeks at No. 1, raising the group's profile to full-fledged pop phenomenon.
- 2001
A Grammy Says Her Name
After making her acting debut in MTV's "hip-hopera" Carmen, Beyoncé wins her first Grammy with Destiny's Child for "Say My Name," a song she cowrote. She goes on to write "Survivor," a song about success despite trying circumstances off the group's third album, which sells more than 4 million copies. In 2002, Beyoncé becomes the first black woman to win ASCAP's Pop Songwriter of the Year Award.
- 2002
Welcome to the Big Screen
In her big-screen debut, Beyoncé plays Foxxy Cleopatra in the Austin Power's movie Goldmember, which tops the box office and makes $73.1 million its first weekend. In 2006, she takes a leading-lady role in The Pink Panther opposite Steve Martin. The movie remake also hits No. 1 and earns $20.2 million opening weekend.
The Dating Dirt
Reports begin to circulate that Beyoncé is dating hip hop mogul Jay-Z after she appears on his song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." (They play a couple on the run in the video.) The duo will go on to collaborate on Beyoncé's solo hits, 2003's "Crazy in Love" and 2006's "Deja Vu" before going public as a couple.
Sipping Spears' Pepsi
Replacing Britney Spears, who famously starred in Pepsi commercials for two years, Beyoncé lands pop's most sought-after endorsement. Before taking over for Spears, Beyoncé stars with her and Pink as ancient Roman gladiators singing "We Will Rock You" at the Coliseum. The sonic vibrations of their voices cause Pepsi cans to fall out of the emperor's box to the feet of the three pop stars in the arena.
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Music World Music; WENN; Pam Francis/Time Life Pictures/Getty; DAVE ALLOCCA/DMI/REX USA; Melinda Sue Gordon/New Line/ZUMA; Frank Micelotta/Getty; Alpha/Globe
- Name
- Beyoncé Knowles
- Date of Birth
- September 04, 1981
- Birth Place
- Houston, Texas
- Relationships
-
Jay-Z, husband (2002 to present)
- Children
- Blue Ivy Carter, daughter (01/07/2012)
