It’s officially Bey Day! Today, Beyoncé Knowles Carter turns 39 years young. Not only is she a living icon, the musical genius has orchestrated some of the most important business moves for the culture. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter was born September 4th, 1981.
In 39 years, she’s risen as on of the best living entertainer of our generation. Beyoncé is a powerful vocalist and dancer, often doing both at the same time for hours on her sold out world tours. In addition to being a savage on the stage, she is also a philanthropist, mother of three, and style icon.
5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Beyoncé
1. She’s a huge Beatles fan.
When she was seven years old, Beyoncé won a school singing competition by performing John Lennon's 'Imagine'. She received a standing ovation.
2. She met her “Destiny” when she was just a kid.
The next year, Beyoncé met Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Robertson at an audition. She and her future Destiny’s Child bandmates were matched with three other girls as part of the all-girl group “Girl’s Tyme.”
Check out "Girl's Tyme" on stage below.
3. She’s part Irish and French.
Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, is of African-American heritage and was born in Houston, Texas. Her mother, Tina Knowles, was born in Galveston, Texas, and boasts a creole heritage, including African, Native American, Irish, and French ancestry in her family.
She is the 21st-century descendant of Joseph Broussard, a leader of the Acadian people in the mid-1700s who is considered a hero of the British resistance and French and Indian War.
3. She's broken Grammy records
At this point, it seems like a travesty that Beyoncé hasn’t won the coveted Best Album Grammy. But she can take at least a little bit of comfort in the fact that she has many other accolades from The Recording Academy.
To date, Beyoncé has won 22 Grammy Awards, both for her work in Destiny’s Child and her solo projects. Only one other female artist, Alison Krauss, has won more gramophone statues. Beyoncé has also pulled in a staggering 63 nominations, making her the most nominated female recording artist in history.
She still should have won more for Lemonade, though.
4. Her daughter is the youngest person to be on a Billboard track
It goes without saying that music is pretty much in Beyoncé’s DNA and apparently, she’s already laying the groundwork for her children to follow in her successful footsteps. In fact, Blue Ivy has already broken at least one Billboard record — and she did it when she was still an infant.
Just days after she was born, Jay Z commemorated the momentous occasion by releasing a new track, “Glory,” into the world. The song featured Blue Ivy Carter’s adorable newborn coos and cries, and she was officially credited on the song thanks to the addendum, “Featuring B.I.C.”
“Glory” first charted on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at No. 74. And that officially made her the youngest recording artist in history.
5. She can see music
We all know Beyoncé has a legendary singing voice. But her connection to music goes way deeper than just her vocal chords. The pop star reportedly has synesthesia, a condition in which senses merge and you can taste, smell, or even see sounds.
Beyoncé isn’t the only recording artist out there that professes to be able to see music — Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Mary J. Blige have also claimed the rare gift.
Bey reflected on her synesthesia when working to promote her first visual album. “I see music. It’s more than just what I hear,” she said. Since that talent has allowed for some of the most exciting music projects of the last few years, let’s hope it never fades.
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