Beyonce Knowles Biography:

One of the most sexy celebrities in modern day rhythm and blues, Beyonce rose to stardom as the beautifully voiced front women of "Destiny's Child" before setting out on a multi-platinum solo career in 2001. Booming record sales, Grammy awards, movie roles, and a romance with rapper Jay-Z combined to boost her profile in the 2000's, making her a staple in the entertainment world. 

Born in Houston in September 1981, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles started performing at age eight, winning local competitions for her dancing and vocal talents. She also joined her cousin Kelly Rowland and classmates LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett in forming a young vocal group and dance band. Mathew, her father and Rowland's legal guardian, was hired as the girls' manager, quitting his job to focus on their careers. This collaboration would lead to the formation of one of the most admired female R&B groups of all time "Destiny's Child".

Destiny's Child gained attention throughout the 1990s, appearing on "Star Search" in 1992 and suffering through several band member changes before signing to Columbia Records in 1997. Four studio albums later, the group has officially become the best selling female group of all time, with hits like "Jumpin' Jumpin'," "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Say My Name," and "Survivor" adding to the bands success regardless of a string of lawsuits from former members Roberson and Luckett who contested the groups management, claiming he withheld earnings and favored his daughter and niece in publicity mateerial. 

In 2001, the group slowed down to pursue individual solo careers. Before being hired and cast in several movie roles, Beyoncé became the first African-American female artist and second woman ever to win the annual ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award. An appearance in the MTV drama "Carmen : A Hip Hopera" quickly followed, but it was her role as Foxxy Cleopatra in 2002's "Austin Powers in Goldmember" that established her as a true Hollywood star. Austin Powers gave her the chance to work first hand with power celebrities like Mike Myers, Seth Green, Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Travolta, and Rob Lowe.

While her addition to movie's soundtrack failed to hit the charts nationally, her full length solo debut, 2003's "Dangerously in Love", reached multi-platinum status. Songs with Sean Paul, Missy Elliott, OutKast's Big Boi, and her real life love interest Jay-Z, the album generated four Top Ten singles and gained the singer five Grammy awards. 

Destiny's Child re-grouped the following year to release "Destiny Fulfilled", after finishing the nationwide tour, the group released one final album, a greatest hits compilation entitled "1's", and then broke up forever. The singer turned her attention to her blossoming solo music career, releasing her second recording "B'day" in September 2006 and giving an award winning performance for the movie musical "Dreamgirls" starring Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover, a flick based on the Broadway musical, where three black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's.

The singer then embarked on the "Beyonce Experience" concert tour, releasing a live DVD in November 2007 and discussing a project to work with producer Timbaland on an approaching third studio project slated for release in 2008. 

Update: 4/5/08: After months of speculation and false rumors of a secret wedding in Europe, it reportedly has now happened. The singer and Jay-Z reportedly got married earlier Friday evening in a super private affair for close friends and family.