Beyoncé's 25 career-defining moments

In 1997, Destiny’s Child came onto the scene with their breakout hit “No, No, No.” There were two versions of the song. "No, No, No Part 1" was a sensual ballad, while "No, No, No Part 2" was the uptempo remix. With production from Wyclef Jean, the platinum-selling hit peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the world was introduced to Beyoncé and her fellow group members. 

In 2002, Beyoncé starred alongside Mike Myers in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember. While Myers revised his role as playing Austin Powers, Beyoncé played his sidekick as Foxxy Cleopatra. The singer also contributed to the film's soundtrack with her debut solo single, "Work It Out."

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have always been quite the dynamic duo, and it started early in the singer's career. In 2002, the rapper teamed up with Bey for the first time on his hit single "'03 Bonnie & Clyde," a rap love song that highlighted how people want a relationship with a ride-or-die partner by their side. 

After three studio albums, each member of Destiny’s Child decided to embark on a solo career. In 2003, Beyoncé released her solo debut album, Dangerously in Love. The album garnered five singles, including “Crazy in Love," “Baby Boy,” “Me, Myself and I,” and “Naughty Girl.” The album earned Beyoncé a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Not only is Beyoncé an inspiration to artists coming up after her but she’s always been held in high regard by legends who came before her. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, Beyoncé joined Prince on stage to perform a medley of their hit songs, including “Purple Rain,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “Crazy In Love.” 

In 2006, the Broadway musical Dreamgirls was brought to the silver screen filled with a star-studded cast. Beyoncé played the role of Deena Jones, and she was joined by fellow co-stars Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Loretta Devine, and Anika Noni Rose. 

In 2006, Beyoncé and her mother, Tina Knowles, launched their clothing line House of Deréon. It was a pivotal moment for both of them since Tina was the lead fashion designer and stylist for Destiny's Child. The brand was named after Bey's grandmother Agnez Deréon, and it bred the tagline, "Couture. Kick. Soul." 

Beyoncé has often mentioned how much she admired Tina Turner as one of her biggest inspirations. In 2008, she got the chance to join her idol at the Grammy Awards. As the two dressed in coordinating silver outfits, they performed Turner's hit track "Proud Mary."

In 2008, Beyoncé released her third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. The minimalist video for the album’s second single, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," sparked a viral dance craze across the world. The video’s dance sequence has often been recreated at parties and weddings.

In 2010, Beyoncé founded Parkwood Entertainment, a company focused on management and production and serves as a record label. The company produced the film Cadillac Records and is the label home to sister duo Chloe x Halle. 

BeyHive fans knew that Beyoncé was slated to perform at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but fans at home didn’t get to see her red-carpet look. Everyone was in for a surprise when she sang her hit song “Love On Top.” Before the song started, she wore a buttoned-up blazer and told the audience, “Tonight, I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me.” At the end of the performance, she hit a microphone drop, unbuttoned her blazer, and cradled her baby bump.

Beyoncé will always represent women, and she did just that in 2013 as the halftime performer at Super Bowl XLVII. Not only did she perform her solo hits, but she also brought Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to the stage for a long-awaited Destiny’s Child reunion.

In 2013, Beyoncé and her team woke everyone up when she released her self-titled album in the early morning without any prior announcement or promotion. Conceptualized as a visual album, every song had a short video that went along with it. Not only did Queen Bey help popularize how artists could try the surprise album release strategy, but she also influenced music release days to change from Tuesday to Friday. 

The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is the MTV VMAs' most prestigious honor, celebrating an artist who has elevated music and its culture. It was only fitting that, in 2014, Beyoncé was the honoree of the night. Queen Bey went through a medley of songs from her self-titled album, while her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy, presented her with the award. 

In 2016, Beyoncé released her sixth album, Lemonade. It was a concept album that focused on her family upbringing and the ups and downs in her marriage. Beyoncé truly elevated her sound with her album by incorporating elements of blues, country, rock, gospel, and soul. This style was evident in songs like "Formation," "Freedom," and "Hold Up."

In 2016, Coldplay was slated as the Super Bowl halftime performer, with Beyoncé and Bruno Mars as their special guests. But ask any fan who watched the performance, and they’ll most likely say Beyoncé and Bruno seemed like more of the headliners. Beyoncé and her dancers stole the show as they performed her hit song “Formation.” 

“Daddy Lessons” has a lot of country and blues elements in it. It was only fitting that Beyoncé performed it at the 2016 Country Music Awards, and The Chicks joined her to do it. Not too long after the performance, Beyoncé released the official remix, including The Chicks.

In 2016, Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment teamed up with Topshop to launch the athleisure apparel line Ivy Park. Since the brand's inception, Ivy Park has also teamed up with Adidas on several collections.

Just a week before the 2017 Grammys, Beyoncé broke the internet when she announced her second pregnancy — this time, with twins. Then, fans were even more surprised to learn that the singer was slated to perform on the Grammy stage. Not to worry, Bey looked like a golden goddess and gave an enchanting performance of "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles."  

It took Coachella nearly 20 years to finally have a Black woman as its headliner, and Beyoncé was the perfect act for it. Not only did she make history in the Coachella universe, but she also brought Black history and HBCU culture to the forefront of her entire performance. 

In 2018, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, released their collaborative album, Everything Is Love. They took over the Louvre Museum in Paris to film the video to their hit song “Apes--t.” While the video showcases the museum's collection of some of the world's finest artwork, it also displays how Black artists deserve a rightful place in the art world. 

In 2021, Beyoncé worked with singer-songwriter DIXSON on the track “Be Alive," which was the lead single from the biographical film King Richard. The following year, “Be Alive” was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, and Beyoncé opened the ceremony with a rousing performance. 

At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Beyoncé became the most-awarded artist ever. With her 32nd Grammy, she surpassed the record held by classical conductor Georg Solti. Although she’s won the most Grammys, it’s not lost on many fans how the voting academy continues to snub her in the major four categories. Throughout her 32 trophies, she’s only won Song of the Year once for “Single Ladies.” 

Beyoncé elevated her artistry even more when she took on the worlds of dance and house music on her seventh album, Renaissance. Some of the hit songs include “Break My Soul,” “Cuff It,” and “America Has a Problem."

Over the years, fans have seen instances of Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, having the performance bug. During the Renaissance World Tour, fans saw Blue get much more comfortable performing alongside her mom in front of thousands of fans. As a child whose parents are the biggest entertainers in the world, it’s only fitting that entertainment runs through her veins. Perhaps when it's all said and done, Queen Bey will pass her entertainment throne onto her children. Only time will tell.