Beyoncé has had quite a 2026. She marked her 45th birthday on 4 September by releasing a 27-track 20th anniversary edition of B'Day, packed with B-sides, rarities and Spanish-language recordings, after surprising fans in July with the new single "Morning Dew (Donk)". In May she returned to the Met Gala as a co-chair for the first time in around a decade.
It caps a remarkable run: an Album of the Year Grammy for Cowboy Carter, the highest-grossing country tour in history and a place on the Forbes billionaires list. Here is the story of how a girl from Houston became the most awarded artist in Grammy history. Browse our R&B music collection for more tribute designs.
Beyoncé Fact File
| Full name | Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter |
| Born | 4 September 1981 (age 45) |
| Place of birth | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress, director, businesswoman |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1990-present |
| Genres | R&B, pop, hip-hop, soul, dance, country |
| Labels | Columbia, Parkwood Entertainment, Music World |
| Nickname | Queen Bey |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key albums |
|---|---|---|
| 1998-2005 | Columbia (Destiny's Child) | The Writing's on the Wall, Survivor, Destiny Fulfilled |
| 2003-2008 | Columbia, Music World | Dangerously in Love, B'Day, I Am... Sasha Fierce |
| 2011-2016 | Parkwood, Columbia | 4, Beyoncé, Lemonade |
| 2022-2026 | Parkwood, Columbia | Renaissance, Cowboy Carter, B'Day 20th anniversary edition |
Eight solo studio albums in just over two decades, every one a statement, plus a string of Destiny's Child classics before that.
Early Years in Houston
Beyoncé grew up in Houston and was performing in talent shows as a child. Her girl group went through several line-ups and names before becoming Destiny's Child, who signed with Columbia Records and released their self-titled debut in 1998. The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and Survivor (2001) turned them into one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, and Beyoncé emerged as the group's lead voice and a key writer.
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The Solo Breakthrough
Her debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003), led by "Crazy in Love", won five Grammys at the 2004 ceremony. B'Day (2006) and I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008) followed, while on screen she starred in Dreamgirls (2006) and played Etta James in Cadillac Records (2008). In 2013 she headlined the Super Bowl half-time show, then rewrote the rules of release by dropping her self-titled visual album without warning.
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Defining Moments
Lemonade (2016) was hailed as one of the most ambitious albums of its era, and her 2018 Coachella headline set became an instant landmark. Renaissance (2022) brought a joyful dance era, and its world tour grossed nearly $600 million in 2023. She also voiced Nala in The Lion King (2019) and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024).
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The Cowboy Carter Era and Legacy
Cowboy Carter (2024) took her into country music and won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys. The Cowboy Carter Tour then played 32 stadium shows across the US and Europe in 2025, including six nights at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, grossing around $407 million. Few artists have shaped pop, R&B and live performance so completely.
Honours
Grammy Awards
- 35 wins, the most of any artist in Grammy history
- Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter (2025)
- Five wins at the 2004 ceremony for her debut solo era
Other Honours
- Primetime Emmy Award and Peabody Award
- MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (2014)
- Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, "Be Alive"
- Most awarded artist in BET Awards and MTV VMAs history
Away From the Spotlight
Beyoncé runs her own company, Parkwood Entertainment, and has launched ventures including the hair care brand Cécred and the whiskey SirDavis. Her BeyGOOD foundation supports education and community causes. She is married to Jay-Z, and Forbes declared her a billionaire in December 2025.
FAQs
How old is Beyoncé?
Beyoncé is 45 years old, born on 4 September 1981 in Houston, Texas.
What is Beyoncé's real name?
Her full name is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter.
How many albums has Beyoncé released?
She has released eight solo studio albums, from Dangerously in Love (2003) to Cowboy Carter (2024), plus several albums with Destiny's Child.
How many Grammys has Beyoncé won?
Beyoncé has won 35 Grammy Awards, more than any other artist.
Did Beyoncé release new music in 2026?
Yes. She released the single "Morning Dew (Donk)" in July and the 20th anniversary edition of B'Day on 4 September 2026.
What was Beyoncé's last tour?
The Cowboy Carter Tour ran from April to July 2025 and became the highest-grossing country tour of all time.
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Explore more in our Music, Pop Music, R&B Music and Female Singers collections, or design your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Whitney Houston Career Story and Madonna Career Story.
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