Blog Flash - Beyonce and Jay-Z Married In New York - 4/5/08 

Beyonce Knowles Biography:

One of the most identifiable sexy celebrities in modern day R&B, Beyoncé initially rose to fame as the beautifully voiced centerpiece of "Destiny's Child" before setting out on a multi-platinum solo career in 2001. Flourishing record sales, Grammy awards, movie roles, and a romance with rapper and CEO Jay-Z combined to amplify her profile in the 2000's, making the soloist an essential stronghold in the entertainment world. While some media and tabloid outlets sarcastically rooted for Paris Hilton as "the next Marilyn Monroe." Beyoncé was a much better challenger for the role, her sparkling pop culture personality only matched by her success onscreen and on record.

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 an young vocal group. Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé's father and Rowland's legal guardian, signed on to be the girls' manager, eventually quitting his full time job to focus on their careers. This situation would eventually lead to the formation of one of the most admired female R&B groups of all time "Destiny's Child".

Destiny's Child gained energy throughout the 1990s, appearing on "Star Search" in 1992 (under the name Girl's Tyme) and suffering through several lineup 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 such smash hits as "Jumpin' Jumpin'," "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Say My Name," and "Survivor" adding to the girls' thrust despite a continued string of lawsuits from former members Roberson and Luckett (who contested Mathew Knowles' management, claiming he withheld earnings and unreasonably favored his daughter and niece). 

In 2001, Beyoncé, Rowland, and replacement member Michelle Williams permitted themselves a break from the group 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 Beyoncé as a true Hollywood star. Austin Powers gave Beyonce 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, Beyonce's full length solo debut, 2003's "Dangerously in Love", reached multi-platinum status. Featuring collaborations with Sean Paul, Missy Elliott, OutKast's Big Boi, and romantic 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 resulting tour, the group released one final album, a greatest hits compilation entitled "1's", and then disbanded forever. Beyonce turned her full concentration to her mushrooming solo career, releasing her second recording effort "B'day" in September 2006 and, three months later, 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, a trio of 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. Beyonce and Jay-Z reportedly got married earlier Friday evening in a super private affair for close friends and family. See the StarLink Blog

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