Beyonce Knowles Biography

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Giselle Knowles, Singer, Songwriter, Actress

Birthdate: September 4, 1981

Birthplace: Houston, TX

Sign: Virgo

Beyonce Knowles, usually referred to as Beyonce, was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is internationally known as an R&B singer and songwriter, record producer and actress. She stepped into the spotlight in the late 90s as the lead singer for R&B girl group, Destiny's Child. Destiny's Child was shaped by her father and manager, Matthew and mother Tina who worked as the group's stylist.

As a young child, Beyonce began studying ballet and jazz. By the age of 7, she entered her first talent show and sang John Lennon's "Imagine" only to win the contest and receive a standing ovation.

At the age of 8, she met LaTavia Roberson while auditioning for a girl group. The two of them, along with Beyonce's cousin Kelly Rowland, were put into the group Girls Tyme. The group was later cut to four girls, with LeToya Luckett joining the group in 1993 and then changing their name to Destiny's Child. The group was signed to Columbia records in 1997.

In 2002, Knowles co-starred in the Austin Powers comedy "Goldfinger." The following year she took another role in a comedy, starring with Cuba Gooding Jr. in "The Fighting Temptations" and recorded the song "Fighting Temptation" for the soundtrack alongside female rappers Missy Elliot, MC Lyte and Free. She was featured on boyfriend Jay-Z's hit single "03 Bonnie & Clyde" later that year.

She recorded a version of 50 cent's "In Da Club" and released it in March 2003. She also remade the duet "The Closer I Get To You" with Luther Vandross. The song won a Grammy for best R & B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The following year she was featured on Vandross' "Dance with My Father" which won a Grammy for Best Male R & B Performance.

In June of 2003, she separated from Destiny's Child temporarily to release her debut album "Dangerously In Love." The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and went on to win Knowles five Grammy Awards in one night in 2004, spawning several number one hits such as "Crazy In Love" and "Baby Boy." When Destiny's Child officially split in 2005, it propelled her career as a solo artist even further.

In 2006, Beyonce released her second album "B'Day" which created hits "Déjŕ Vu," "Beautiful Liar" and "Irreplaceable." She later released the album in Spanish and collaborated with Latin pop star Shakira.

In 2004, she launched her family's fashion line, House of Dereon. Beyonce then decided to step back into the acting arena and signed on to do several movies in 2006. She starred in the comedy "The Pink Panther" alongside Steve Martin and Kevin Kline. She was also selected to star in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

Beyonce dated longtime boyfriend and now husband, rapper Jay-Z since 2002. They married in a somewhat secretive ceremony on April 4, 2008 in New York City.

Beyonce has several commercial deals with Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger and L'Oreal. She is currently working on a thriller film called "Obssessed" starring opposite Ali Larter and Idris Elba. She is also in talks to possibly join the cast of "Desperate Housewives."