34 things you probably didn't know about Beyoncé

Savanna Swain-WilsonOct 9, 2020, 20:39 IST

Beyoncé is a record-breaking superstar.Barbara Davidson/Getty Images

Despite her fame and massive social media following, Beyoncé is known for staying pretty private.
After losing on "Star Search" as a child, she has gone on to break records across award shows, Billboard's Top 100, and social media.
She adopted an alter ego, Sasha Fierce, to overcome stage fright.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is one of the most celebrated stars in the world.

As Beyoncé's career evolved over the course of three decades, the Texas-born artist has topped the charts with countless hits, such as "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Crazy in Love," and "Formation."

She's won 24 Grammys, dabbled in acting, producing, and directing, and launched an activewear collection. Yet, despite her A-list status, the singer maintains a famously low profile.

Although the Beyhive — her most fervent fans — can likely tell you everything there is to know about the superstar, there are still some facts that aren't quite common knowledge.

Here are 34 things you might not know about Beyoncé:

As of 2020, she is the only solo artist besides Mariah Carey to have hit No. 1 in four different decades.

Beyoncé is no stranger to the Billboard Hot 100. Disney Plus

She competed on the competition series "Star Search" in 1993.

Beyoncé used the clip of her Girls Tyme performance in her "Flawless" music video. Beyonce/YouTube

She's named after her mother.

Beyoncé and her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Four is her favorite number.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's birthdays both fall on the fourth day of their respective months. Mason Poole/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP

At 7 years old, she won a talent show against competitors over twice her age.

Even as a kid, Beyoncé wowed audiences. Ezra Shaw/Getty

As she got older, she started performing in front of customers at her mother's salon.

Beyoncé performed for the customers with her friends. AP

A major part of her vocal training included running a mile while singing.

Bey's father thought it would make her a stronger performer. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

She adopted an alter ego, Sasha Fierce, to overcome stage fright.

Beyoncé named her 2008 album "I am...Sasha Fierce." Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

She used to have a pet snake.

The snake was named Fendi. Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

Her go-to karaoke song is "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

Beyoncé's a fan of the song's guitar solo. Scott Gries/Getty

She was the first solo-artist to have six consecutive albums hit and debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Beyoncé's "Lemonade" soared to the top of the Billboard 200. HBO

She is passionate about art.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z in the "Apes**t" music video. Beyonce/YouTube

She is a thrill-seeker.

Beyoncé bungee jumped in New Zealand. Associated Press/Andrew Harnik

In 2018, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to headline Coachella.

Beyoncé at Coachella. Getty Images

Beyoncé signed R&B duo Chloe x Halle to her record label in 2013.

Beyoncé discovered the duo from their "Pretty Hurts" cover. BET Awards 2020/Getty Images via Getty Images

She auditioned for a role in "Josie and the Pussycats" (2001).

Even though she didn't get that part, she went on to play others. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Shawn Carter Foundation

Speaking of movies, she was asked to play the lead in "A Star Is Born" (2018).

Lady Gaga played the leading role in the 2018 remake. Warner Bros.

She donated her salary from the film "Cadillac Records" to a Phoenix House, a US drug treatment center.

Beyoncé in "Cadillac Records." Sony Pictures

She performed at both of former President Barack Obama's inauguration events.

Beyoncé and former President Barack Obama. Rob Carr/Getty Images

She has a lifetime-supply card to Popeyes.

Sometimes Beyoncé's fans would buy her Popeyes. Associated Press

She won an award from the New York Association of Black Journalists for her 2011 essay in Essence magazine.

She titled the essay "Eat, Play, Love." HBO

Her 2017 pregnancy announcement broke an Instagram record.

Beyoncé's post surpassed Selena Gomez's record. @Beyonce/Instagram

And this wasn't the first time Bey broke a social media record. Her surprise pregnancy announcement at the 2011 VMA ceremony caused a Twitter frenzy.

Beyoncé publicly announced her pregnancy at the 2011 VMAs. Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

She is extremely involved in editing and producing her projects.

Beyoncé in the "Formation" music video. YouTube

And whenever she's on tour, she watches videos of all her performances and critiques them.

Beyoncé critiques her own performances. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images For Parkwood Entertainment

In 2018, Beyoncé helped make Vogue history.

Beyoncé made history with her Vogue shoot. Buda Mendes/Getty Images

She has been credited with revolutionizing the music industry after she released her self-titled studio album, "Beyoncé," on digital platforms without any prior warning.

Since then, several artists have "pulled a Beyoncé." Christopher Polk/Getty Images

She has been credited with revolutionizing the music industry after she released her self-titled studio album, "Beyoncé," on digital platforms without any prior warning.

That same album broke the record for fastest-selling album on iTunes.

"Beyoncé" features the songs "Drunk in Love," "Partition," and "XO." Neilson Barnhard/Getty Images Entertainment

Bey has influenced science — in 2012, researchers discovered a new fly species and named it after her.

Scientists named a fly after the superstar. Charles Sykes/AP Photos

Bey feels peaceful at sea.

She loves being on boats. Disney Plus

She once hired a full-time videographer to film her life.

Her videographer filmed both performances and personal moments. Disney Plus

She made music history (again) when her visual album, "Lemonade," charted 12 songs at once on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beyoncé broke the record previously held by Taylor Swift. HBO

She is the most-nominated woman in the history of the Grammys.

Beyoncé at the 2017 Grammys. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS

Tanks to her 2016 album "Lemonade," she became the first artist to be nominated across four different genre categories at the Grammys in the same year.

Her 2016 nominations broke a Grammy record. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

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34 things you probably didn't know about Beyoncé

As of 2020, she is the only solo artist besides Mariah Carey to have hit No. 1 in four different decades.

She competed on the competition series "Star Search" in 1993.

She's named after her mother.

Four is her favorite number.

At 7 years old, she won a talent show against competitors over twice her age.

As she got older, she started performing in front of customers at her mother's salon.

A major part of her vocal training included running a mile while singing.

She adopted an alter ego, Sasha Fierce, to overcome stage fright.

She used to have a pet snake.

Her go-to karaoke song is "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

She was the first solo-artist to have six consecutive albums hit and debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

She is passionate about art.

She is a thrill-seeker.

In 2018, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to headline Coachella.

Beyoncé signed R&B duo Chloe x Halle to her record label in 2013.

She auditioned for a role in "Josie and the Pussycats" (2001).

Speaking of movies, she was asked to play the lead in "A Star Is Born" (2018).

She donated her salary from the film "Cadillac Records" to a Phoenix House, a US drug treatment center.

She performed at both of former President Barack Obama's inauguration events.

She has a lifetime-supply card to Popeyes.

She won an award from the New York Association of Black Journalists for her 2011 essay in Essence magazine.

Her 2017 pregnancy announcement broke an Instagram record.

And this wasn't the first time Bey broke a social media record. Her surprise pregnancy announcement at the 2011 VMA ceremony caused a Twitter frenzy.

She is extremely involved in editing and producing her projects.

And whenever she's on tour, she watches videos of all her performances and critiques them.

In 2018, Beyoncé helped make Vogue history.

She has been credited with revolutionizing the music industry after she released her self-titled studio album, "Beyoncé," on digital platforms without any prior warning.

That same album broke the record for fastest-selling album on iTunes.

Bey has influenced science — in 2012, researchers discovered a new fly species and named it after her.

Bey feels peaceful at sea.

She once hired a full-time videographer to film her life.

She made music history (again) when her visual album, "Lemonade," charted 12 songs at once on the Billboard Hot 100.

She is the most-nominated woman in the history of the Grammys.

Tanks to her 2016 album "Lemonade," she became the first artist to be nominated across four different genre categories at the Grammys in the same year.