Early Life and Education of Beyoncé: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Beyoncé. A timeline of key moments.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is a highly influential American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Renowned for her powerful vocals, musical versatility, and captivating live performances, she has significantly impacted the music industry and popular culture. Her work often explores themes of feminism, black identity, and female empowerment, contributing to important cultural conversations. As a successful entrepreneur, she has also established herself as a force in business, further solidifying her position as a multifaceted icon.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

September 4, 1981: Beyoncé's Birth

On September 4, 1981, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter was born. She is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman.

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1990: Enrollment in Parker Elementary School

In the fall of 1990, Beyoncé enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she performed with the school's choir.

1995: Father Becomes Manager

In 1995, Beyoncé's father, Mathew, resigned from his job to manage the group Girl's Tyme, leading to financial strain on the family.

2002: Started painting portraits of women

In 2002, Beyoncé started painting portraits of women while filming Austin Powers. She created a special room with saris and pillows, lit candles, played Miles Davis and Björk, and painted all night.

2006: World Music Awards Tribute

In 2006, Beyoncé presented Michael Jackson with a tribute award at the World Music Awards, stating that she would have never performed if it wasn't for Michael Jackson.

2006: Bootylicious Definition

In 2006, the term "bootylicious," often used to describe Beyoncé due to her curves and the term's catchiness, was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. The term was popularized by the single of the same name by her group Destiny's Child.

April 4, 2008: Marriage to Jay-Z

On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z married without publicity.

2008: Introduction of Sasha Fierce

In 2008, Beyoncé introduced Sasha Fierce with the release of her album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, explaining it was an alter ego created to keep her stage persona separate from who she really is.

January 2010: Hiatus from music career

In January 2010, Beyoncé announced a hiatus from her music career, heeding her mother's advice to be inspired again. During the break, she and her father parted ways as business partners.

February 2010: Beyoncé retires Sasha Fierce

In February 2010, Beyoncé announced in an interview with Allure magazine that she was comfortable enough with herself to no longer need Sasha Fierce as an alter ego.

2010: Miscarriage

Around 2010, Beyoncé miscarried, which she described as "the saddest thing" she had ever endured. She returned to the studio and wrote music to cope with the loss.

April 2011: Pregnancy in Paris

In April 2011, Beyoncé and Jay-Z traveled to Paris to shoot the album cover for 4, where she unexpectedly became pregnant.

August 29, 2011: Pregnancy announcement at MTV Video Music Awards

On August 29, 2011, Beyoncé performed "Love On Top" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards and ended the performance by revealing she was pregnant. Her announcement helped that year's MTV Video Music Awards become the most-watched broadcast in MTV history, pulling in 12.4 million viewers.

January 7, 2012: Birth of Blue Ivy

On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

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May 2012: Sasha Fierce returns

In May 2012, Beyoncé announced that she would bring back Sasha Fierce for her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live shows later that month.

June 2012: Performances at Revel Atlantic City

In June 2012, Beyoncé performed for four nights at Revel Atlantic City's Ovation Hall to celebrate the resort's opening. These were her first performances since giving birth to her daughter.

December 2012: "Demand A Plan" video campaign

In December 2012, Beyoncé along with a variety of other celebrities teamed up and produced a video campaign for "Demand A Plan", a bipartisan effort by a group of 950 U.S. mayors and others designed to influence the federal government into rethinking its gun control laws, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

2012: Obama fundraiser and vote

In 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z held a fundraiser at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan for President Obama's 2012 presidential campaign which raised $4 million. Beyoncé also voted for Obama in the 2012 presidential election.

January 2013: Performance at President Obama's second inauguration

In January 2013, Beyoncé performed the American national anthem singing along with a pre-recorded track at President Obama's second inauguration in Washington, D.C.

March 26, 2013: Endorsement of same-sex marriage

On March 26, 2013, Beyoncé publicly endorsed same-sex marriage after the Supreme Court debate on California's Proposition 8.

2013: Attendance at Trayvon Martin rally

In 2013, Beyoncé and Jay-Z attended a rally in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin.

April 2014: Announcement of On the Run Tour

In April 2014, Beyoncé and Jay-Z officially announced their On the Run Tour, which served as the couple's first co-headlining stadium tour together.

May 2015: Clinton Fundraiser

In May 2015, The Washington Post reported that Beyoncé attended a major celebrity fundraiser for 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

2016: Protest against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act

In 2016, Beyoncé spoke against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, a bill that discriminated against the LGBT community in public places, in a statement during her concert in Raleigh as part of the Formation World Tour.

February 1, 2017: Pregnancy announcement

On February 1, 2017, Beyoncé revealed on her Instagram account that she was expecting twins. Her announcement gained over 6.3 million likes within eight hours, breaking the world record for the most liked image on the website at the time.

February 2017: Support for transgender students

In February 2017, Beyoncé spoke out against the withdrawal of protections for transgender students in public schools by Donald Trump's presidential administration. Posting a link to the 100 Days of Kindness campaign on her Facebook page, Beyoncé voiced her support for transgender youth.

February 23, 2017: Beyoncé withdraws from Coachella 2017

On February 23, 2017, it was announced that Beyoncé would no longer be able to perform at the 2017 Coachella festival due to doctor's concerns regarding her pregnancy. She was rescheduled to headline the 2018 festival instead.

June 13, 2017: Birth of twins

On June 13, 2017, Beyoncé gave birth to twins, a daughter named Rumi and a son named Sir, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California via caesarean section.

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July 13, 2017: First image of twins

On July 13, 2017, Beyoncé uploaded the first image of herself and the twins onto her Instagram account, confirming their birth date as June 13, 2017.

August 2017: Beyoncé Launches BeyGOOD Houston for Hurricane Harvey Relief

In August 2017, during Hurricane Harvey, Beyoncé launched BeyGOOD Houston to support those affected. The organization provided necessities and funded revitalization projects.

2018: Endorsement of Beto O'Rourke

In 2018, Beyoncé endorsed the bid of Beto O'Rourke during the 2018 United States Senate election in Texas.

April 2020: Beyoncé Donates to COVID-19 Relief Efforts

In April 2020, Beyoncé donated $6 million to mental health organizations and teamed up with local groups to provide resources to communities of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also released a remix of Megan Thee Stallion's "Savage", with proceeds benefiting Bread of Life Houston's COVID-19 relief efforts.

May 2020: Beyoncé Provides Free COVID-19 Tests in Houston

In May 2020, Beyoncé provided 1,000 free COVID-19 tests in Houston as part of her and her mother's #IDidMyPart initiative. She also provided gloves, masks, meals, vitamins, vouchers, and household items.

July 2020: Beyoncé Establishes Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund

In July 2020, Beyoncé established the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund in partnership with the NAACP, offering $10,000 grants. All proceeds from her single "Black Parade" were donated to the fund.

September 2020: Beyoncé Donates Additional $1 Million to Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund

In September 2020, Beyoncé donated an additional $1 million to the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund.

October 2020: Beyoncé Supports End SARS Movement in Nigeria

In October 2020, Beyoncé released a statement that she has been working with the Feminist Coalition to assist supporters of the End SARS movement in Nigeria. She also showed support for those fighting against other issues in Africa.

December 2020: Beyoncé Donates to Alleviate Housing Crisis in the U.S.

In December 2020, Beyoncé donated $500,000 to help alleviate the housing crisis in the U.S., giving 100 $5,000 grants to individuals and families facing foreclosures and evictions.

December 31, 2020: Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund Update

As of December 31, 2020, Beyoncé's Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund had given 715 grants to black-owned small businesses, amounting to $7.15 million donated.

2023: House Purchase in Malibu

In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought a house in Malibu, California, designed by the architect Tadao Ando, for $200 million, establishing a record for the most expensive residence sold in the state of California.

October 2024: Endorsement of Kamala Harris

In October 2024, Beyoncé, alongside her mother Tina and Kelly Rowland endorsed Kamala Harris for president at a campaign rally in her hometown of Houston.