For other uses, see Beyoncé (disambiguation).

Beyoncé

Beyoncé in 2023

Born Beyonce Giselle Knowles[a]

September 4, 1981 (age 42)

Houston, Texas, U.S.

 Harmonies by The Hive[1]

Other names
 Queen B[2]

 Third Ward Trill[3]

Occupations  Singer

 songwriter

 businesswoman

 dancer

 actress

 director

Years active 1997–present

Works  Albums[b]

 singles

 songs

 videos

 performances

Title  Founder, chairwoman, and CEO

of Parkwood Entertainment
 Co-founder, CEO, and owner of Ivy
Park
Jay-Z
Spouse

(m. 2008)

Children 3, including Blue Ivy

Parents  Mathew Knowles

 Tina Lawson

Relatives  Solange Knowles (sister)

 Angela Beyincé (cousin)

Awards Full list

Musical career

Genres  R&B

 pop

 hip hop

Instrument(s)  Vocals

Labels  Parkwood

 Columbia

 Music World

Member of The Carters

Formerly of Destiny's Child

Website beyonce.com

Signature
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (/biˈɒnseɪ/ ⓘ bee-ON-say;[4] born September 4, 1981)[5] is an
American singer, songwriter and businesswoman. Dubbed as "Queen Bey" and a prominent cultural
figure of the 21st century, she has been recognized for her artistry and performances, with Rolling
Stone naming her one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
Beyoncé started performing in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to
fame in the late 1990s as a member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl
groups of all time. Their hiatus saw the release of Beyoncé's debut album, Dangerously in
Love (2003). She then followed with the US number-one solo albums B'Day (2006), I Am... Sasha
Fierce (2008), and 4 (2011). After creating her own management company Parkwood Entertainment,
Beyoncé achieved critical acclaim for the experimental visual albums Beyoncé (2013)
and Lemonade (2016), which explored themes such as feminism and womanism. With her queer-
inspired dance album Renaissance (2022), she became the first solo artist to have their first seven
studio albums debut at number one in the US.[6]

Beyoncé's most successful songs on the Billboard Hot 100 include "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy",
"Check On It", "Irreplaceable", "If I Were a Boy", "Halo", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Break My
Soul" and "Cuff It". Her collaborative music ventures include Everything Is Love (2018), an album
with her husband and rapper Jay-Z, released as the Carters, and the musical film Black Is
King (2020), inspired by the music of the film soundtrack The Lion King: The
Gift (2019). Homecoming: The Live Album (2019), which documents her 2018 Coachella
performance, has been heralded as a historic live album for its tribute to multiple generations of
Black music. Outside of music, she has starred as an actress in films such as Austin Powers in
Goldmember (2002), The Pink Panther (2006), Dreamgirls (2006), Cadillac
Records (2008), Obsessed (2009), and The Lion King (2019).

Having sold 200 million records worldwide,[7] Beyoncé is one of the best-selling music artists of all
time. Her accolades include a record 32 Grammy Awards, as well as 26 MTV Video Music
Awards (including the 2014 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), 24 NAACP Image Awards,
35 BET Awards, and 17 Soul Train Music Awards – all of which are more than any other artist in the
music industry. Her success during the 2000s earned her recognition as the Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA)'s Top Certified Artist of the Decade and Billboard's Top Female Artist
of the Decade.[8] She is the most successful black touring act in history and received
the Pollstar Touring Artist of the Decade award in 2021.[9][10] Time included her as one of the 100
women who defined the 21st century.[11]

Life and career

1981–1996: Early life and career beginnings
Beyonce Giselle Knowles[a] was born on September 4, 1981, in Houston, Texas, to Celestine "Tina"
Knowles (née Beyonce), a hairdresser and salon owner, and Mathew Knowles, a Xerox sales
manager.[12] Tina is Louisiana Creole, and Mathew is African American.[13][14][15][16] Beyoncé's younger
sister, Solange Knowles, is also a singer and a former backup dancer for Destiny's Child. Solange
and Beyoncé are the first sisters to have both had number one solo albums. [17]

Beyoncé's maternal grandparents, Lumas Beyince, and Agnez Dereon (daughter of Odilia Broussard
and Eugene DeRouen),[18] were French-speaking Louisiana Creoles, with roots in New Iberia.
 Beyoncé is considered a Creole, passed on to her by her grandparents.[18][20] She is a descendant
[19]

of Acadian militia officer Joseph Broussard, who was exiled to French Louisiana after the expulsion
of the Acadians.[14]

Her fourth great-grandmother, Marie-Françoise Trahan, was born in 1774 in Bangor, located
on Belle Île, France. Trahan was a daughter of Acadians who had taken refuge on Belle Île after the
Acadian expulsion. The Estates of Brittany had divided the lands of Belle Île to distribute them
among 78 other Acadian families and the already settled inhabitants. The Trahan family lived on
Belle Île for over ten years before immigrating to Louisiana, where she married a Broussard
descendant.[21] Beyoncé researched her ancestry and discovered that she is descended from a
slave owner who married his slave.[22] Her mother is also of distant Irish, Jewish, Spanish, Chinese
and Indonesian ancestry.[23][24][25][19]

Beyoncé was raised Methodist and attended St. John's United Methodist Church.[26][27] She went to St.
Mary's Montessori School in Houston, and enrolled in dance classes there.[28] Her singing was
discovered when dance instructor Darlette Johnson began humming a song and she finished it, able
to hit the high-pitched notes.[29] Beyoncé's interest in music and performing continued after winning a
school talent show at age seven, singing John Lennon's "Imagine" to beat 15/16-year-olds.[30][31] In the
fall of 1990, Beyoncé enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston,
where she would perform with the school's choir.[32] She also attended the High School for the
Performing and Visual Arts[33] and later Alief Elsik High School.[13][34] Beyoncé was also a member of
the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church where she sang her first solo and was a soloist for
two years.[26][35]

When Beyoncé was eight, she met LaTavia Roberson at an audition for an all-girl entertainment
group.[36] They were placed into a group called Girl's Tyme with three other girls, and rapped and
danced on the talent show circuit in Houston.[37] After seeing the group, R&B producer Arne Frager
brought them to his Northern California studio and placed them in Star Search, the largest talent
show on national TV at the time. Girl's Tyme failed to win, and Beyoncé later said the song they
performed was not good.[38][39] In 1995, Beyoncé's father resigned from his job to manage the group.
[40]
The move reduced the family's income by half, and Beyoncé's parents were forced to sell their
house and cars and move into separated apartments.[13][41]

Mathew cut the original line-up to four and the group continued performing as an opening act for
other established R&B girl groups.[36] The girls auditioned before record labels and were finally signed
to Elektra Records, moving to Atlanta Records briefly to work on their first recording, only to be cut
by the company.[13] This put further strain on the family, and Beyoncé's parents separated. On
October 5, 1995, Dwayne Wiggins's Grass Roots Entertainment signed the group. In 1996, the girls
began recording their debut album under an agreement with Sony Music, the Knowles family
reunited, and shortly after, the group got a contract with Columbia Records with the assistance of
Columbia talent scout Teresa LaBarbera Whites.[30]

1997–2002: Destiny's Child

Main article: Destiny's Child
 Beyoncé (center) at the final line-up of Destiny's Child,
performing during their 2005 Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It concert tour
The group changed their name to Destiny's Child in 1996, based upon a passage in the Book of
Isaiah.[42] In 1997, Destiny's Child released their major label debut song "Killing Time" on the
soundtrack to the 1997 film Men in Black.[39] In November, the group released their debut single and
first major hit, "No, No, No". They released their self-titled debut album in February 1998, which
established the group as a viable act in the music industry, with moderate sales and winning the
group three Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year, Best R&B/Soul or
Rap New Artist, and Best R&B/Soul Single for "No, No, No".[36]

The group released their Multi-Platinum second album The Writing's on the Wall in 1999. The record
features some of the group's most widely known songs such as "Bills, Bills, Bills", the group's first
number-one single, "Jumpin' Jumpin'" and "Say My Name", which became their most successful
song at the time, and would remain one of their signature songs. "Say My Name" won the Best R&B
Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and the Best R&B Song at the 43rd Annual Grammy
Awards.[36] The Writing's on the Wall sold more than eight million copies worldwide.[38] During this
time, Beyoncé recorded a duet with Marc Nelson, an original member of Boyz II Men, on the song
"After All Is Said and Done" for the soundtrack to the 1999 film, The Best Man.[43]

LeToya Luckett and Roberson became unhappy with Mathew's managing of the band and eventually
were replaced by Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams.[36] Beyoncé experienced depression
following the split with Luckett and Roberson after being publicly blamed by the media, critics, and
blogs for its cause.[44] Her long-standing boyfriend left her at this time.[45] The depression was so
severe it lasted for a couple of years, during which she occasionally kept herself in her bedroom for
days and refused to eat anything.[46] Beyoncé stated that she struggled to speak about her
depression because Destiny's Child had just won their first Grammy Award, and she feared no one
would take her seriously.[47] Beyoncé would later speak of her mother as the person who helped her
fight it.[46] Franklin was then dismissed, leaving just Beyoncé, Rowland, and Williams.[48]

The remaining band members recorded "Independent Women Part I", which appeared on the
soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels. It became their best-charting single, topping the
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for eleven consecutive weeks.[36] In early 2001, while Destiny's Child
was completing their third album, Beyoncé landed a major role in the MTV made-for-television
film, Carmen: A Hip Hopera, starring alongside American actor Mekhi Phifer. Set in Philadelphia, the
film is a modern interpretation of the 19th-century opera Carmen by French composer Georges
Bizet.[49] When the third album Survivor was released in May 2001, Luckett and Roberson filed a
lawsuit claiming that the songs were aimed at them.[36] The album debuted at number one on the
U.S. Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 663,000 copies sold.[50] The album spawned other
number-one hits, "Bootylicious" and the title track, "Survivor", the latter of which earned the group a
Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. [51] After releasing their
holiday album 8 Days of Christmas in October 2001, the group announced a hiatus to further pursue
solo careers.[36]
In July 2002, Beyoncé made her theatrical film debut, playing Foxxy Cleopatra alongside Mike
Myers in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember,[52] which spent its first weekend atop the
U.S. box office and grossed $73 million.[53] Beyoncé released "Work It Out" as the lead single from its
soundtrack album which entered the top ten in the UK, Norway, and Belgium. [54] In 2003, Beyoncé
starred opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. in the musical comedy The Fighting Temptations as Lilly, a single
mother with whom Gooding's character falls in love.[55] The film received mixed reviews from critics
but grossed $30 million in the U.S.[56][57] Beyoncé released "Fighting Temptation" as the lead single
from the film's soundtrack album, with Missy Elliott, MC Lyte, and Free which was also used to
promote the film.[58] Another of Beyoncé's contributions to the soundtrack, "Summertime", fared better
on the U.S. charts.[59]

2003–2007: Dangerously in Love, B'Day, and Dreamgirls

Beyoncé performing "Baby Boy", which spent nine

consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart [60]

Beyoncé's first solo recording was a feature on Jay-Z's song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" that was released
in October 2002, peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[61] On June 14, 2003,
Beyoncé premiered songs from her first solo album Dangerously in Love during her first solo concert
and the pay-per-view television special, "Ford Presents Beyoncé Knowles, Friends & Family, Live
From Ford's 100th Anniversary Celebration in Dearborn, Michigan".[62] The album was released on
June 24, 2003, after Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland had released their solo efforts. [63] The
album sold 317,000 copies in its first week, debuted atop the Billboard 200,[64] and has since sold
11 million copies worldwide.[65]

The album's lead single, "Crazy in Love", featuring Jay-Z, became Beyoncé's first number-one single
as a solo artist in the US.[66] The single "Baby Boy" also reached number one,[60] and singles, "Me,
Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl", both reached the top-five.[67] The album earned Beyoncé a then
record-tying five awards at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards; Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best
Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Dangerously in Love 2", Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration for "Crazy in Love", and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for
"The Closer I Get to You" with Luther Vandross. During the ceremony, she performed with Prince.[68]

In November 2003, she embarked on the Dangerously in Love Tour in Europe and later toured
alongside Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys for the Verizon Ladies First Tour in North America.[69] On
February 1, 2004, Beyoncé performed the American national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII, at
the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.[70] After the release of Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé had
planned to produce a follow-up album using several of the left-over tracks. However, this was put on
hold so she could concentrate on recording Destiny Fulfilled, the final studio album by Destiny's
Child.[71] Released on November 15, 2004, in the US[72] and peaking at number two on
the Billboard 200,[73][74] Destiny Fulfilled included the singles "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier", which
reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[75]

Destiny's Child embarked on a worldwide concert tour, Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It sponsored
by McDonald's Corporation,[76] and performed songs such as "No, No, No", "Survivor", "Say My
Name", "Independent Women" and "Lose My Breath". In addition to renditions of the group's
recorded material, they also performed songs from each singer's solo careers, including numbers
from Dangerously in Love. and during the last stop of their European tour, in Barcelona on June 11,
2005, Rowland announced that Destiny's Child would disband following the North American leg of
the tour.[77] The group released their first compilation album Number 1's on October 25, 2005, in the
US[78] and accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2006.[79] The group has sold
60 million records worldwide.[80][81]

Beyoncé's second solo album B'Day was released on September 4, 2006, in the US, to coincide with
her twenty-fifth birthday.[82] It sold 541,000 copies in its first week and debuted atop the Billboard 200,
becoming Beyoncé's second consecutive number-one album in the United States.[83] The album's
lead single "Déjà Vu", featuring Jay-Z, reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[67] The
second international single "Irreplaceable" was a commercial success worldwide, reaching number
one in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. [67][84] B'Day also produced
three other singles; "Ring the Alarm",[85] "Get Me Bodied",[86] and "Green Light" (released in the United
Kingdom only).[87]

Beyoncé performing during The Beyoncé Experience tour in 2007

At the 49th Annual Grammy Awards (2007), B'Day was nominated for five Grammy Awards,
including Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Ring the
Alarm" and Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration"for "Déjà Vu"; the Freemasons club
mix of "Déjà Vu" without the rap was put forward in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-
Classical category. B'Day won the award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.[88] The following
year, B'Day received two nominations – for Record of the Year for "Irreplaceable" and Best Pop
Collaboration with Vocals for "Beautiful Liar" (with Shakira), also receiving a nomination for Best
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Pictures, Television or Other Visual Media for her
appearance on Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture (2006).[89]

Her first acting role of 2006 was in the comedy film The Pink Panther starring opposite Steve Martin,
[90]
grossing $158.8 million at the box office worldwide.[91] Her second film Dreamgirls, the film version
of the 1981 Broadway musical[92] loosely based on The Supremes, received acclaim from critics and
grossed $154 million internationally.[93][94][95] In it, she starred opposite Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx,
and Eddie Murphy playing a pop singer based on Diana Ross.[96] To promote the film, Beyoncé
released "Listen" as the lead single from the soundtrack album.[97] In April 2007, Beyoncé embarked
on The Beyoncé Experience, her first worldwide concert tour, visiting 97 venues[98] and grossed over
$24 million.[note 1] Beyoncé conducted pre-concert food donation drives during six major stops in
conjunction with her pastor at St. John's and America's Second Harvest. At the same
time, B'Day was re-released with five additional songs, including her duet with Shakira "Beautiful
Liar".[100]
2008–2012: I Am... Sasha Fierce and 4

Beyoncé performing during the I Am... Tour.

I Am... Sasha Fierce was released in November 2008 and formally introduced Beyoncé's alter
ego Sasha Fierce.[101] It was met with mixed reviews from critics,[102] but sold 482,000 copies in its first
week, debuting atop the Billboard 200, and giving Beyoncé her third consecutive number-one album
in the US.[103] The album featured her fourth UK number-one single "If I Were a Boy" and her fifth U.S.
number-one song "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".[104] "Halo" achieved the accomplishment of
becoming her longest-running Hot 100 single in her career,[105] "Halo"'s success in the U.S. helped
Beyoncé attain more top-ten singles on the list than any other woman during the 2000s. [106]

The music video for "Single Ladies" has been parodied and imitated around the world, spawning the
"first major dance craze" of the Internet age according to the Toronto Star.[107] At the 2009 MTV Video
Music Awards, the video won three categories, including Video of the Year.[108] Its failure to win the
Best Female Video category, which went to American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's "You Belong
with Me", led to Kanye West interrupting the ceremony and Beyoncé improvising a re-presentation of
Swift's award during her own acceptance speech.[108] In March 2009, Beyoncé embarked on the I
Am... Tour, her second headlining worldwide concert tour, consisting of 108 shows, grossing
$119.5 million.[109]

Beyoncé further expanded her acting career, starring as blues singer Etta James in the 2008
musical biopic Cadillac Records. Her performance in the film received praise from critics,[110] and she
garnered several nominations for her portrayal of James, including a Satellite Award nomination
for Best Supporting Actress, and a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting
Actress.[111][112] Beyoncé donated her entire salary from the film to Phoenix House, an organization of
rehabilitation centers for heroin addicts around the country.[113] Beyoncé starred opposite Ali
Larter and Idris Elba in the thriller, Obsessed. She played Sharon Charles, a mother and wife whose
family is threatened by her husband's stalker. The film received negative reviews from critics,[114] and
did well at the U.S. box office, grossing $68 million – $60 million more than Cadillac Records[115] – on
a budget of $20 million.[116]

At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, Beyoncé received ten nominations, tying with Lauryn Hill for
most Grammy nominations in a single year by a female artist.[117] Beyoncé went on to win six of those
nominations, breaking a record she previously tied in 2004 for the most Grammy awards won in a
single night by a female artist with six. In 2010, Beyoncé provide guest vocals on Lady Gaga's single
"Telephone".[118][119] The song topped the U.S. Pop Songs chart, becoming the sixth number-one for
both Beyoncé and Gaga, tying them with Mariah Carey for most number-ones since the Nielsen Top
40 airplay chart launched in 1992.[120]

Beyoncé announced a hiatus from her music career in January 2010, heeding her mother's advice,
"to live life, to be inspired by things again".[121][122] During the break she and her father parted ways as
business partners.[123][124] Beyoncé's musical break lasted nine months and saw her visit multiple
European cities, the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, Australia, English music
festivals and various museums and ballet performances.[121][125] "Eat, Play, Love", a cover story written
by Beyoncé for Essence that detailed her 2010 career break, won her a writing award from the New
York Association of Black Journalists.[126]

Beyoncé's performing during her 4 Intimate Nights with

Beyoncé concert residency in August 2011
On June 26, 2011, she became the first solo female artist to headline the main Pyramid stage at
the 2011 Glastonbury Festival in over twenty years.[127][128] The performance was lauded, with several
publications noting an ascension in Knowles' capabilities as a live performer. Other publications
discussed the polarized attitude of the UK music establishment in response to a Black woman
performing on the same stages and to the same crowd sizes that were past reserved for legacy rock
acts.[129][130] Her fourth studio album 4 was released two days prior in the US.[131] 4 sold 310,000 copies
in its first week and debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, giving Beyoncé her fourth consecutive
number-one album in the US. The album was preceded by two of its singles "Run the World (Girls)"
and "Best Thing I Never Had".[67][118][132] The fourth single "Love on Top" spent seven consecutive
weeks at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while peaking at number 20 on
the Billboard Hot 100, the highest peak from the album.[133]

In late 2011, she took the stage at New York's Roseland Ballroom for four nights of special
performances:[134] the 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé concerts saw the performance of her 4 album to
a standing room only.[134] On August 1, 2011, the album was certified platinum by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA), having shipped 1 million copies to retail stores.[135] By
December 2015, it reached sales of 1.5 million copies in the US.[136] The album reached one
billion Spotify streams on February 5, 2018, making Beyoncé the first female artist to have three of
their albums surpass one billion streams on the platform.[137] In June 2012, she performed for four
nights at Revel Atlantic City's Ovation Hall to celebrate the resort's opening, her first performances
since giving birth to her daughter.[138][139]

2013–2017: Super Bowl XLVII, Beyoncé, and Lemonade

 Beyoncé performing at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on
February 3, 2013.
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.[140][141] The following
month, Beyoncé performed at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, held at the Mercedes-Benz
Superdome in New Orleans.[142] The performance stands as the second most tweeted about moment
in history at 268,000 tweets per minute.[143] Her feature-length documentary film, Life Is But a Dream,
first aired on HBO on February 16, 2013.[144] The film was co-directed by Beyoncé herself.[145]

Beyoncé embarked on The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour on April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia; the tour
included 132 dates that ran through to March 2014. It became the most successful tour of her career
and one of the most successful tours of all time.[146] In May, Beyoncé's cover of Amy Winehouse's
"Back to Black" with André 3000 on The Great Gatsby soundtrack was released.[147] Beyoncé voiced
Queen Tara in the 3D CGI animated film, Epic, released by 20th Century Fox on May 24,[148] and
recorded an original song for the film, "Rise Up", co-written with Sia.[149]

On December 13, 2013, Beyoncé unexpectedly released her eponymous fifth studio album on
the iTunes Store without any prior announcement or promotion. The album debuted atop
the Billboard 200 chart, giving Beyoncé her fifth consecutive number-one album in the US. [150] This
made her the first woman in the chart's history to have her first five studio albums debut at number
one.[151] Beyoncé received critical acclaim[152] and commercial success, selling one million digital
copies worldwide in six days;[153] Musically an electro-R&B album, it concerns darker themes
previously unexplored in her work, such as "bulimia, postnatal depression [and] the fears and
insecurities of marriage and motherhood".[154] The single "Drunk in Love", featuring Jay-Z, peaked at
number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[155]

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Beyoncé sold
2.3 million units worldwide, becoming the tenth best-selling album of 2013.[156] The album also went
on to become the twentieth best-selling album of 2014.[157] As of November 2014, Beyoncé has sold
over 5 million copies worldwide and has generated over 1 billion streams, as of March 2015.[158] At
the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2015, Beyoncé was nominated for six awards,
ultimately winning three: Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for "Drunk in Love", and Best
Surround Sound Album for Beyoncé.[159][160]

In April 2014, Beyoncé and Jay-Z officially announced their On the Run Tour. It served as the
couple's first co-headlining stadium tour together.[161] On August 24, 2014, she received the Michael
Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Beyoncé also won home
three competitive awards: Best Video with a Social Message and Best Cinematography for "Pretty
Hurts", as well as best collaboration for "Drunk in Love".[162] In November, Forbes reported that
Beyoncé was the top-earning woman in music for the second year in a row – earning $115 million in
the year, more than double her earnings in 2013.[163]

Beyoncé released "Formation" in on February 6, 2016, and performed it live for the first time during
the NFL Super Bowl 50 halftime show. The appearance was considered controversial as it appeared
to reference the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party and the NFL forbids political statements
in its performances.[164][165][166] Immediately following the performance, Beyoncé announced The
Formation World Tour, which highlighted stops in both North America and Europe.[167][168] It ended on
October 7, with Beyoncé bringing out her husband Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Serena Williams for
the last show.[169] The tour went on to win Tour of the Year at the 44th American Music Awards.[170]

Beyoncé performing during The Formation World Tour in 2016.

The tour grossed $256 million from 49 sold-out shows.
In April 2016, Beyoncé released a teaser clip for a project called Lemonade. A one-hour film which
aired on HBO on April 23, a corresponding album with the same title was released on the same day
exclusively on Tidal.[171] Lemonade debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making
Beyoncé the first act in Billboard history to have their first six studio albums debut atop the chart; she
broke a record previously tied with DMX in 2013.[172] With all 12 tracks of Lemonade debuting on
the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Beyoncé also became the first female act to chart 12 or more songs at
the same time.[173] Lemonade was streamed 115 million times through Tidal, setting a record for the
most-streamed album in a single week by a female artist in history.[174] It was 2016's third highest-
selling album in the U.S. with 1.554 million copies sold in that time period within the country[175] as
well as the best-selling album worldwide with global sales of 2.5 million throughout the year.[176]

Lemonade became the most critically acclaimed work of her career.[177] Several music publications
included the album among the best of 2016, including Rolling Stone, which listed Lemonade at
number one.[178] The album's visuals were nominated in 11 categories at the 2016 MTV Video Music
Awards, the most ever received by Beyoncé in a single year, and went on to win 8 awards, including
Video of the Year for "Formation".[179][180] The eight wins made Beyoncé the most-awarded artist in the
history of the VMAs (24), surpassing Madonna (20).[181] Beyoncé occupied the sixth place
for Time magazine's 2016 Person of the Year.[182]

In January 2017, it was announced that Beyoncé would headline the Coachella Music and Arts
Festival. This would make Beyoncé only the second female headliner of the festival since it was
founded in 1999.[183] It was later announced on February 23, 2017, that Beyoncé would no longer be
able to perform at the festival due to doctor's concerns regarding her pregnancy. The festival owners
announced that she will instead headline the 2018 festival.[184] Upon the announcement of Beyoncé's
departure from the festival lineup, ticket prices dropped by 12%.[185] At the 59th Grammy Awards in
February 2017, Lemonade led the nominations with nine, including Album, Record, and Song of the
Year for Lemonade and "Formation" respectively.[186] and ultimately won two, Best Urban
Contemporary Album for Lemonade and Best Music Video for "Formation".[187]

In September 2017, Beyoncé collaborated with J Balvin and Willy William, to release a remix of the
song "Mi Gente". Beyoncé donated all proceeds from the song to hurricane charities for those
affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in Texas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other
Caribbean Islands.[188] On November 10, Eminem released "Walk on Water" featuring Beyoncé as the
lead single from his album Revival. On November 30, Ed Sheeran announced that Beyoncé would
feature on the remix to his song "Perfect".[189] "Perfect Duet" was released on December 1, 2017. The
song reached number-one in the United States, becoming Beyoncé's sixth song of her solo career to
do so.[190]

2018–2021: Everything Is Love and The Lion King

On January 4, 2018, the music video of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 4:44 collaboration, "Family Feud" was
released.[191] It was directed by Ava DuVernay. On March 1, 2018, DJ Khaled released "Top Off" as
the first single from his forthcoming album Father of Asahd featuring Beyoncé, husband Jay-Z,
and Future.[192] On March 5, 2018, a joint tour with Knowles's husband Jay-Z, was leaked on
Facebook.[193] Information about the tour was later taken down. The couple announced the joint tour
officially as On the Run II Tour on March 12[194] and simultaneously released a trailer for the tour on
YouTube.[195]

On April 14, 2018, Beyoncé played the first of two weekends as the headlining act of the Coachella
Music Festival. Her performance of April 14, attended by 125,000 festival-goers, was immediately
praised, with multiple media outlets describing it as historic. The performance became the most-
tweeted-about performance of weekend one, as well as the most-watched live Coachella
performance and the most-watched live performance on YouTube of all time. The show paid tribute
to black culture, specifically historically black colleges and universities and featured a live band with
over 100 dancers. Destiny's Child also reunited during the show.[196][197]

On June 6, 2018, Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z kicked-off the On the Run II Tour in Cardiff, United
Kingdom. Ten days later, at their final London performance, the pair unveiled Everything Is Love,
their joint studio album, credited under the name The Carters, and initially available exclusively on
Tidal. The pair also released the video for the album's lead single, "Apeshit", on Beyoncé's official
YouTube channel.[198][199] Everything Is Love received generally positive reviews,[200] and debuted at
number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, with 123,000 album-equivalent units, of which 70,000 were
pure album sales.[201] On December 2, 2018, Beyoncé alongside Jay-Z headlined the Global Citizen
Festival: Mandela 100 which was held at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.[202] Their 2-
hour performance had concepts similar to the On the Run II Tour and Beyoncé was praised for her
outfits, which paid tribute to Africa's diversity.[203]
 Beyoncé at The Lion King European premiere in 2019.
Homecoming, a documentary and concert film focusing on Beyoncé's historic
2018 Coachella performances, was released by Netflix on April 17, 2019.[204][205] The film was
accompanied by the surprise live album Homecoming: The Live Album.[206] It was later reported that
Beyoncé and Netflix had signed a $60 million deal to produce three different projects, one of which
is Homecoming.[207] Homecoming received six nominations at the 71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy
Awards.[208]

Beyoncé starred as the voice of Nala in the remake The Lion King, which was released in July 2019.
[209]
Beyoncé is featured on the film's soundtrack, released on July 11, 2019, with a remake of the
song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" alongside Donald Glover, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen,
which was originally composed by Elton John.[210] An original song from the film by Beyoncé, "Spirit",
was released as the lead single from both the soundtrack and The Lion King: The Gift – a
companion album released alongside the film, produced and curated by Beyoncé.[211][212]

Beyoncé called The Lion King: The Gift a "sonic cinema". She stated that the album is influenced by
everything from R&B, pop, hip hop and Afro Beat.[211] The songs were produced by African producers,
which Beyoncé said was because "authenticity and heart were important to [her]", since the film is
set in Africa.[211] In September of the same year, a documentary chronicling the development,
production and early music video filming of The Lion King: The Gift entitled "Beyoncé Presents:
Making The Gift" was aired on ABC.[citation needed]

In March 2020, a photograph Beyoncé captured of her swimming pool was used as the album cover
for rapper Jay Electronica's highly anticipated debut album A Written Testimony.[213] In April of the
same year, Beyoncé was featured on the remix of Megan Thee Stallion's song "Savage", marking
her first music release for the year.[214] The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100,
marking Beyoncé's eleventh song to do so across all acts.[215] On June 19, 2020, Beyoncé released
the nonprofit charity single "Black Parade".[216] On June 23, she followed up the release of its studio
version with an a cappella version exclusively on Tidal.[217] Black Is King, a visual album based on the
music of The Lion King: The Gift, premiered globally on Disney+ on July 31, 2020. Produced by
Disney and Parkwood Entertainment, the film was written, directed and executively produced by
Beyoncé. The film was described by Disney as "a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black
experience".[218] Beyoncé received the most nominations (9) at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards and
the most awards (4), which made her the most-awarded singer, most-awarded female artist, and
second-most-awarded artist in Grammy history.[219]
In 2021, Beyoncé wrote and recorded a song titled "Be Alive" for the biographical drama film King
Richard.[220] She received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 94th
Academy Awards for the song, alongside co-writer DIXSON.[221]

2022–present: Renaissance

Beyoncé performing at the Renaissance World Tour.

In March 27, 2022, Beyoncé performed "Be Alive" at the 94th Academy Awards. Choreographed by
friend and past collaborator Fatima Robinson, Beyoncé was applauded for choosing to perform on
the Compton tennis courts Venus and Serena Williams practiced on in their childhood instead of at
the venue.[222][223]

On June 9, 2022, Beyoncé removed her profile pictures across various social media platforms
causing speculation that she would be releasing new music.[224] Days later, Beyoncé caused further
speculation via her nonprofit BeyGood's Twitter account hinting at her upcoming seventh studio
album.[225] On June 15, 2022, Beyoncé officially announced her seventh studio album,
titled Renaissance. The album was released on July 29, 2022.[226][227] The first single
from Renaissance, "Break My Soul", was released on June 20, 2022.[228] The song became
Beyoncé's 20th top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, and in doing so, Beyoncé joined Paul
McCartney and Michael Jackson as the only artists in Hot 100 history to achieve at least twenty top
tens as a solo artist and ten as a member of a group.[229]

Upon release, Renaissance received universal acclaim from critics.[230] Renaissance debuted at
number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and in doing so, Beyoncé became the first female artist to
have her first seven studio albums debut at number one in the United States. [231] "Break My Soul"
concurrently rose to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the twelfth song to do so across
her career discography.[232]

The song "Heated," which was co-written with Canadian rapper Drake, originally included the lyrics
"Spazzin' on that ass / spazz on that ass". Critics, including a number of disability charities and
activists, argued that the word "spaz" represented a derogatory term for spastic diplegia, a form
of cerebral palsy. In response, in August 2022, a representative for Beyoncé issued a statement and
explained that "The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced". [233][234]

On January 21, 2023, Beyoncé performed in Dubai at a private show.[235] The performance, which
was her first full concert in more than four years, was delivered to an audience of influencers and
journalists.[236] Beyoncé was reportedly paid $24 million to perform.[237] Beyoncé faced criticism for her
decision to perform in the United Arab Emirates where homosexuality is illegal.[237][236][238] On February
1, Beyoncé announced the Renaissance World Tour with dates in North America and Europe,
[239]
becoming for a short-span the highest-grossing tour by a female artist.[240] On July 28, Beyoncé
appeared on "Delresto (Echoes)", the second single from rapper Travis Scott's album Utopia,
eventually becoming her 100th career appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (encompassing
Destiny's Child, her solo career, and musical duo The Carters).[241] On November 30th, 2023,
Beyoncé released documentary concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé written, directed, and
produced by her in collaboration with film distributor AMC Theatres. The film chronicles the
development and execution of Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour, and contained new song "My
House" in the end credits.

Artistry
Voice and musical style
With "Single Ladies", clearly I'd just gotten married, and people want to get married every day – then there was the
whole Justin Timberlake thing [recreating the video] on Saturday Night Live, and it was also the year YouTube blew up.
With "Irreplaceable", the aggressive lyrics, the acoustic guitar, and the 808 drum machine – those things don't typically go
together, and it sounded fresh. "Crazy in Love" was another one of those classic moments in pop culture that none of us
expected. I asked Jay to get on the song the night before I had to turn my album in – thank God he did. It still never gets
old, no matter how many times I sing it.
—Beyoncé[242]

Critics have described Beyoncé's voice as being mezzo-soprano.[243][244] Jody Rosen highlights
her tone and timbre as particularly distinctive, describing her voice as "one of the most compelling
instruments in popular music".[245] Her vocal abilities mean she is identified as the centerpiece of
Destiny's Child.[246] Jon Pareles of The New York Times commented that her voice is "velvety yet tart,
with an insistent flutter and reserves of soul belting".[247] Rosen notes that the hip hop era highly
influenced Beyoncé's unique rhythmic vocal style, but also finds her quite traditionalist in her use of
balladry, gospel and falsetto.[245]

Other critics praise her range and power, with Chris Richards of The Washington Post saying she
was "capable of punctuating any beat with goose-bump-inducing whispers or full-bore diva-
roars."[248] On the 2023 Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Singers of all time, Beyoncé ranked at
number 8, with the publication noting that "in [her] voice lies the entire history of Black music". [249]

Beyoncé's music is generally R&B,[250][251] pop[250][252] and hip hop[253] but she also
incorporates soul and funk into her songs. 4 demonstrated Beyoncé's exploration of 1990s-style
R&B, as well as further use of soul and hip hop than compared to previous releases. [242] While she
almost exclusively releases English songs, Beyoncé recorded several Spanish songs
for Irreemplazable (re-recordings of songs from B'Day for a Spanish-language audience), and the re-
release of B'Day. To record these, Beyoncé was coached phonetically by American record producer
Rudy Perez.[254]

Songwriting
Beyoncé has received co-writing credits for most of her songs.[255] In regards to the way she
approaches collaborative songwriting, Beyoncé explained: "I love being around great writers
because I'm finding that a lot of the things I want to say, I don't articulate as good as maybe Amanda
Ghost, so I want to keep collaborating with writers, and I love classics and I want to make sure years
from now the song is still something that's relevant."[256] Her early songs with Destiny's Child were
personally driven and female-empowerment themed compositions like "Independent Women" and
"Survivor", but after the start of her relationship with Jay-Z, she transitioned to more man-tending
anthems such as "Cater 2 U".[257]

Beyoncé's songwriting process is also known for combining parts of different tracks, resulting in
alteration of song structures. Sia, who co-wrote "Pretty Hurts", called Beyoncé
"very Frankenstein when she comes to songs";[258] Diana Gordon, who co-wrote "Don't Hurt Yourself"
called her a "scientist of songs";[259] Caroline Polachek who co-wrote "No Angel", called her a "genius
writer and producer for this reason. She's so good at seeing connections." [260]

In 2001, she became the first Black woman and second female lyricist to win the Pop Songwriter of
the Year award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards.[13][261] Beyoncé was the third woman to have writing
credits on three number-one songs ("Irreplaceable", "Grillz" and "Check on It") in the same year,
after Carole King in 1971 and Mariah Carey in 1991. She is tied with American lyricist Diane
Warren at third with nine songwriting credits on number-one singles.[262] The latter wrote her song "I
Was Here" for 4, which was motivated by the September 11 attacks.[263] In May
2011, Billboard magazine listed Beyoncé at number 17 on their list of the Top 20 Hot 100
Songwriters for having co-written eight singles that hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
She was one of only three women on that list, along with Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift.[264]

Beyoncé has received criticism, including from journalists and musicians, for the extensive writing
credits on her songs.[255] The controversy surrounding her songwriting credits began with interviews in
which she attributed herself as the songwriter for songs in which she was a co-writer [265] or for which
her contributions were marginal.[255] In a cover story for Vanity Fair in 2005, she claimed to have
"written" several number-one songs for Destiny's Child, contrary to the credits, which list her as a co-
writer among others.[265] During a 2007 interview with Barbara Walters, she claimed to have
conceived the musical idea for the Destiny's Child song "Bootylicious",[266] which provoked the song's
producer Rob Fusari to call her father and then-manager Mathew Knowles in protest over the claim.
In 2010, Fusari told Billboard: "[Knowles] explained to me, in a nice way, he said, 'People don't want
to hear about Rob Fusari, producer from Livingston, N.J. No offense, but that's not what sells
records. What sells records is people believing that the artist is everything.'" [267] However, in an
interview for Entertainment Weekly in 2016, Fusari said Beyoncé "had the 'Bootylicious' concept in
her head. That was totally her. She knew what she wanted to say. It was very urban pop angle that
they were taking on the record."[268]

Influences
Beyoncé's major influences include Michael Jackson (left) and Tina Turner (right).

Beyoncé names Michael Jackson as her major musical influence.[269][270] Aged five, Beyoncé attended
her first ever concert where Jackson performed and she claims to have realized her purpose.
[271]
When she presented him with a tribute award at the World Music Awards in 2006, Beyoncé said,
"if it wasn't for Michael Jackson, I would never ever have performed." [272] Beyoncé was heavily
influenced by Tina Turner, and once said "Tina Turner is someone that I admire, because she made
her strength feminine and sexy".[273][274]

She admires Diana Ross as an "all-around entertainer",[275] and Whitney Houston, who she said
"inspired me to get up there and do what she did."[276][277] Beyoncé cited Madonna as an influence "not
only for her musical style, but also for her business sense",[278] saying that she wanted to "follow in
the footsteps of Madonna and be a powerhouse and have my own empire."[279] She also
credits Mariah Carey's singing and her song "Vision of Love" as influencing her to begin practicing
vocal runs as a child.[280][281] Her other musical influences include Rachelle Ferrell,[282] Aaliyah,[283]
[284]
Janet Jackson,[285][286] Prince,[287] Shakira,[288] Lauryn Hill,[275] Sade Adu,[289] Donna Summer,[290] Mary J.
Blige,[291] Selena,[292] Anita Baker, and Toni Braxton.[275]

The feminism and female empowerment themes on Beyoncé's second solo album B'Day were
inspired by her role in Dreamgirls[293] and by singer Josephine Baker.[294] Beyoncé paid homage to
Baker by performing "Déjà Vu" at the 2006 Fashion Rocks concert wearing Baker's trademark mini-
hula skirt embellished with fake bananas.[295] Beyoncé's third solo album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, was
inspired by Jay-Z and especially by Etta James, whose "boldness" inspired Beyoncé to explore other
musical genres and styles.[296] Her fourth solo album, 4, was inspired by Fela Kuti, 1990s R&B, Earth,
Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teena Marie, The Jackson 5, New Edition, Adele, Florence
and the Machine, and Prince.[242]

Beyoncé has stated that she is personally inspired by Michelle Obama (the 44th First Lady of the
United States), saying "she proves you can do it all",[297] and has described Oprah Winfrey as "the
definition of inspiration and a strong woman."[275] She has also discussed how Jay-Z is a continuing
inspiration to her, both with what she describes as his lyrical genius and in the obstacles he has
overcome in his life.[298] Beyoncé has expressed admiration for the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat,
posting in a letter "what I find in the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, I search for in every day in
music ... he is lyrical and raw".[299][300] Beyoncé also cited Cher as a fashion inspiration.[301]

Music videos and stage

 Beyoncé performing during the 2009 MTV Europe
Music Awards
In 2006, Beyoncé introduced her all-female tour band Suga Mama (also the name of a song
on B'Day) which includes bassists, drummers, guitarists, horn players, keyboardists and
percussionists.[302] Her background singers, The Mamas, consist of Montina Cooper-Donnell, Crystal
Collins and Tiffany Moniqué Riddick. They made their debut appearance at the 2006 BET Awards
and re-appeared in the music videos for "Irreplaceable" and "Green Light". [254] The band have
supported Beyoncé in most subsequent live performances, including her 2007 concert tour The
Beyoncé Experience, I Am... Tour (2009–2010), The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013–2014) and
The Formation World Tour (2016).

Beyoncé has received praise for her stage presence and voice during live performances. According
to Barbara Ellen of The Guardian, Beyoncé is the most in-charge female artist she's seen onstage.
[303]
Similarly, Alice Jones of The Independent wrote she "takes her role as entertainer so seriously
she's almost too good."[304] The ex-President of Def Jam L.A. Reid has described Beyoncé as the
greatest entertainer alive.[305] Jim Farber of the Daily News and Stephanie Classen of The
StarPhoenix both praised her strong voice and her stage presence.[306][307] Beyoncé's stage outfits
have been met with criticism from many countries, such as Malaysia, where she has postponed or
cancelled performances due to the country's strict laws banning revealing costumes. [308]

Beyoncé has worked with numerous directors for her music videos throughout her career,
including Melina Matsoukas, Jonas Åkerlund, and Jake Nava. Bill Condon, director of Beauty and
the Beast, stated that the Lemonade visuals in particular served as inspiration for his film,
commenting, "You look at Beyoncé's brilliant movie Lemonade, this genre is taking on so many
different forms ... I do think that this very old-school break-out-into-song traditional musical is
something that people understand again and really want."[309]

Alter ego
Described as being "sexy, seductive and provocative" when performing on stage, Beyoncé has said
that she originally created the alter ego "Sasha Fierce" to keep that stage persona separate from
who she really is. She described Sasha as being "too aggressive, too strong, too sassy [and] too
sexy", stating, "I'm not like her in real life at all."[46] Sasha was conceived during the making of "Crazy
in Love", and Beyoncé introduced her with the release of her 2008 album, I Am... Sasha Fierce. In
February 2010, she announced in an interview with Allure magazine that she was comfortable
enough with herself to no longer need Sasha Fierce.[310] However, Beyoncé announced in May 2012
that she would bring her back for her Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live shows later that month.[311]

Public image
 Beyoncé at the premiere of her 2006 film Dreamgirls
Beyoncé has been described as having a wide-ranging sex appeal, with music
journalist Touré writing that since the release of Dangerously in Love, she has "become a
crossover sex symbol".[312] When off stage, Beyoncé says that while she likes to dress sexily, her
onstage dress "is absolutely for the stage".[313] Due to her curves and the term's catchiness, in the
2000s, the media often used the term "bootylicious" (a portmanteau of the words "booty" and
"delicious") to describe Beyoncé,[314][315] the term popularized by Destiny's Child's single of the same
name. In 2006, it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.[316]

In September 2010, Beyoncé made her runway modelling debut at Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 2011
fashion show.[317] She was named the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" by People[318] and the "Hottest
Female Singer of All Time" by Complex in 2012.[319] In January 2013, GQ placed her on its cover,
featuring her atop its "100 Sexiest Women of the 21st Century" list. [320][321] VH1 listed her at number 1
on its 100 Sexiest Artists list.[322] Several wax figures of Beyoncé are found at Madame Tussauds
Wax Museums in major cities around the world, including New York City,[323] Washington, D.C.,
[324]
Amsterdam,[325] Bangkok,[326] Hollywood[327] and Sydney.[328]

According to Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, Beyoncé uses different fashion styles to work
with her music while performing.[329] Her mother co-wrote a book, published in 2002, titled Destiny's
Style,[330] an account of how fashion affected the trio's success.[331] The B'Day Anthology Video
Album showed many instances of fashion-oriented footage, depicting classic to contemporary
wardrobe styles.[332] In 2007, Beyoncé was featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
Issue, becoming the second African American woman after Tyra Banks,[333] and People magazine
recognized Beyoncé as the best-dressed celebrity.[334]

Beyoncé has been named "Queen Bey" from publications over the years. The term is a reference to
the common phrase "queen bee", a term used for the leader of a group of females. The nickname
also refers to the Queen bee of a beehive, with her fan base being named "The BeyHive". The
BeyHive was previously titled "The Beyontourage", (a portmanteau of Beyoncé and entourage), but
was changed after online petitions on Twitter and online news reports during competitions.[335]

In 2006, the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), criticized
Beyoncé for wearing and using fur in her clothing line House of Deréon.[336] Emmett Price, a professor
of music at Northeastern University, wrote in 2007 that he thinks race plays a role in many criticisms
of Beyoncé's image, saying white celebrities who dress similarly do not attract as many comments.
[337]
In 2008, L'Oréal was accused of whitening her skin in their Feria hair color advertisements,
responding that "it is categorically untrue",[338][339] and in 2013, Beyoncé herself criticized H&M for their
proposed "retouching" of promotional images of her, and according to Vogue requested that only
"natural pictures be used".[340]

Beyoncé has been a vocal advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. The release of
"Formation" on February 6, 2016, saw her celebrate her heritage, with the song's music video
featuring pro-black imagery and a shot of wall graffiti that says "Stop shooting us". The day after the
song's release she performed it at the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show with back up dancers dressed
to represent the Black Panther Party. This incited criticism from politicians and police officers, with
some police boycotting Beyoncé's then upcoming Formation World Tour.[341] Beyoncé responded to
the backlash by releasing tour merchandise that said "Boycott Beyoncé",[342][343][344] and later clarified
her sentiment, saying: "Anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken. I
have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice
themselves to keep us safe," Beyoncé said. "But let's be clear: I am against police brutality and
injustice. Those are two separate things."[345]