Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé began performing in local competitions at age 7, eventually forming the group Girl's Tyme in 1990 with help from her parents. Girl's Tyme became Destiny's Child in 1997.
During the hiatus of Destiny's Child in 2003, Beyoncé released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, which became one of the most successful albums of that year, and signaled her viability as a solo artist. The disbanding of Destiny's Child in 2005 facilitated her continued success: her sophomore solo album B'Day, released in 2006, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Her third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, was released in November 2008, and in 2009 she received 10 Grammy Awards nominations. On January 31, 2010, she won 6 Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy awards won by a female artist in one night; she previously held the record of five awards with 5 other artists. Following a career hiatus, Beyoncé released her fourth studio album entitled "4" on June 24, 2011, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
2013 - 5th Album - "Beyoncé"
On December 12, 2013, Beyoncé unexpectedly released her fifth and self-titled album in the iTunes Store. Beyoncé called it a "visual album" as it includes 14 songs and 18 videos - with each track having a music video together with additional bonus videos. The album has a list of collaborators including Drake, Frank Ocean and her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy.
2015
In February 2015 at the 57th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won 3 Grammys (and was nominated for 6 Grammy awards) - Best R&B Song for "Drunk in Love", Best R&B Performance and Best Surround Sound Album for Beyoncé.
On April 4th, 2015, Beyoncé surprised her fans with the release of a new single and accompanying video, released exclusively on the streaming service "Tidal" which she co-owns with a number of other big name starts including Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Jack White, Kanye West, Madonna, Rihanna and Usher. The track, "Die With You" is a stripped down ballad, with Beyoncé sitting at a piano with pigtail braids: the song celebrates the seventh anniversary of her marriage to Jay-Z.
Super Bowl - February 2016
Beyoncé appeared on stage to perform her latest single "Formation", supporting the headline act Coldplay at the much coverted Super Bowl 50 half-time show on February 7, 2016. Also appearing on stage was Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson who performed their hit "Uptown Funk".
2016 - 6th Album - "Lemonade"
"Lemonade" is Beyoncé's a sixth solo album and was released on April 23, 2016 as an exclusive on the music streaming service, Tidal after it premiered on the TV Network, HBO, as a conceptual short film. It was subsequently made available for purchase on Apple's iTunes Store on April 24, 2016. The album has 12 tracks, with contributions from artists such as James Blake and Kendrick Lamar. According to a press release from Tidal which accompanied the release, "Lemonade" is “based on every woman’s journey of self-knowledge and healing”.
2017 - Grammy Awards
At the 59th Grammy Awards on Sun, February 12, 2017, Beyoncé took awards for "Best Urban Contemporary Album" for "Lemonade" and "Best Music Video" for "Formation"
2022 - 7th Album - "RENAISSANCE" (ACT i)
After a 6 year hiatus from music, Beyoncé announced the lead single "BREAK MY SOUL" on June 20, 2022, for her seventh studio album “RENAISSANCE" which is the first installment of a three-part project. "RENAISSANCE" was released on July 29, 2022, and was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to inspire joy in listeners. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the best-rated album of 2022, named the best album of the year by publications such as the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone, which would later place the record at number 71 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. It then was nominated for Album of The Year at the 65 Annual Grammy Award Show and won Best Dance/Electronic Album.
2024 - 8th Album - "COWBOY CARTER" (ACT ii)
2 years after her seventh studio album, "RENAISSANCE", Beyoncé announced her eighth studio album "COWBOY CARTER" also known as “ACT ii” released on March 29, 2024. This serves as the second installment of the three-part project, and as long rumoured, its genre is country. The album was teased through a Verizon ad aired during the Super Bowl LVIII and was preceded with two surprise singles both released on February 10, 2024, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "16 CARRIAGES".
Miscellaneous
Beyoncé began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations.
On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were married in a small, private ceremony in New York. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Beyoncé is sometimes referred to as Jay-Z's wifey and/or, Jay-Z's boo thang.
Beyoncé launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004, and has endorsed such brands as Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani and L'Oréal.
In 2009, Forbes listed Beyoncé fourth on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world, third on its list of the top-grossing musicians, and number one on the list of top Best-Paid Celebs Under 30 with over $87 million dollars in earnings between 2008 and 2009.
Beyoncé has attained five Hot 100 number one singles, becoming one of the two female artists—joint with Rihanna—with the most number ones attained within the 2000s, excluding her three Hot 100 number one singles with Destiny's Child.
Proud to Be an American
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Id worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my family by my side
Id thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today
Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
And they can't take that away
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston, to New York to L.A
Well there's pride in every American heart
And it's time to make a change
That I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
And who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA
And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
And who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA
The lyrics of Beyoncé's "Proud to Be an American" revolve around the concepts of patriotism and love for one's country. The song emphasizes the value of freedom and the courage of those who defended it, all the way from the men who fought for America's independence, to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the various wars the country has been involved in. The song suggests that America is a land of possibilities, where anyone can start their lives over with determination and hard work. The imagery of the flag standing for freedom is particularly poignant, suggesting that this is a symbol of American patriotism.
Line by Line Meaning
If tomorrow all the things were gone
If I were to lose everything I worked for in my life
Id worked for all my life
Everything that I have accomplished and achieved
And I had to start again
In the event of losing everything, I would have to start from the beginning
With just my family by my side
My family would be my source of support and strength
Id thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today
I am grateful and lucky to be living in this country today
Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
The American flag represents freedom and independence
And they can't take that away
No one can take away the freedom that we have
And I'm proud to be an American
I take pride in being a citizen of America
Where at least I know I'm free
I appreciate the freedom and liberty that we have in this country
And I won't forget the men who died
I honor and remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom
Who gave that right to me
Their sacrifice gave me the right to enjoy the freedom and liberty of this country
And I gladly stand up
I am ready to defend and support my country
Next to you and defend her still today
I stand with my fellow Americans to protect the values and principles of our country
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
I have no doubt in my love and loyalty towards this country
God bless the USA
I pray for the blessings and wellbeing of the United States of America
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee
From the North to the South, there is pride and patriotism in every part of America
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea
From the East coast to the West coast, America stretches across the country
From Detroit down to Houston, to New York to L.A
From the big cities to the small towns, there is a sense of pride and love for America
Well there's pride in every American heart
Every American feels immense pride and love for their country
And it's time to make a change
It's time for us to work towards a better future for America
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@xqza
Ong
Say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched,
Were so gallantly, yeah, streaming?
And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave
@TheQuickSlash
@Hadley Babb 1) I'm not complaining, I'm critiquing. I'm happy I live in the US. But I won't blindly support it and not critique it.
2) The troops who died in combat shouldn't have died, because we shouldn't be in active conflict with Afghanistan for 20 years
3) the BLM movement, if you look on the official website for it, has literally nothing to do with leftist beliefs or making "black>white", it's about racial equality for all and human rights
4) 1,000,000 have died to covid, actually. And we could've prevented most of those covid deaths if our government gave two shits
5) police corruption isn't a new thing, it's been around for years, and it's a problem worldwide in countries like the US, Japan, and the UK. As for those attacked by the police force who were innocent? Rodney King, Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor, Aura Rosser, I can go on
@TheQuickSlash
@Hadley Babb 1) Judging the BLM movement by it's most violent participants but not judging the police force by it's most violent cops is the language of the oppressor, plus I've actually been to BLM protests myself (as a white guy, mind you), and they did not care one bit. It seems you looked at some twitter users bios, and automatically assumed the extremists make up the entire movement
2) We shouldn't have faced as many deaths as we should've, I don't care that a vaccine is coming as much as I care about how COVID patients were treated. Most hospitals aren't as heavily funded as they should be. (Fun fact: My city actually had areas in their hospitals where COVID patients would go to die, due to lack of funding and support) Instead the funding is redirected to our military and defense for a conflict that should've ended a long time ago
3) Even with your biased information, my point still stands. Cops shouldn't be murdering innocents. They should be defending the public from threats.
I'm kinda done at this point with going back and forth about this subject with some guy who I'll probably never meet. This original comment started off as a shitpost I made, poking fun at the flaws of America, yet you were passionate enough to write an entire essay to a 15 year old on the internet. But all I can say is research. Research and learn valuable information from both sides. Don't use CNN, Fox News, social media as your info source dude. Use AP or any other similar publications.
Anyways, BLM, Trans Rights are Human Rights, cya
@nathanl2982
America has the best anthems I swear, actually catchy and melodic.
@truedivinedemon
I love this song, it always gives me chills whenever I hear it and it doesn't matter who sings it. But Beyonce brought it to a whole nother level.
@seventyseven1977
I, to, am proud to be an american
GOD BLESS AMERICA! Yee Haw!!!
(this song makes me wet)
@julie1277
Every man and women in the military and more are the heros. Thank you
@zayidaa7011
I am from South Africa and am a naturalized American Citizen and proud of it!
@henryrubio6142
Born in El Salvador raised a beach boy and an American!!
@jeffreyturner8974
Welcome. We honored to have you.
@TheramoreIsTheBomb-neverforget
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY QUEEN BEY!!!! AN AMERICAN BORNE TREASURE WE SHARED WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!
@terrischappell4002
That was an amazing song !! God bless America. That song made me cry!!😭😭
@pjris6315
Wonderful wonderful job... Yes love love love ......