Today is a joyous occasion for Beyoncé fans as it marks the 43rd birthday of the iconic musical superstar and cultural figure, Queen Bey.

As the first person to cover Beyoncé in this special capacity, my role has been to emphasize the profound influence that this Grammy-winning artist has had across music, fashion, culture, and even the economy.

In recent months, I’ve examined Beyoncé’s groundbreaking album “Cowboy Carter,” noting its influence on the country music scene, particularly concerning race and the visibility of Black artists, alongside her impact on fashion and businesses.

My coverage has also included her various brand launches, such as SirDavis and her hair care line, Cécred, which advocates for the acknowledgment of diverse hair textures. Additionally, I’ve explored her economic impact from Houston spreading to a global scale.

However, this merely highlights a fraction of Beyoncé’s extensive influence over the years.

In honor of her birthday, let’s revisit 43 remarkable moments from Beyoncé’s year so far.

1. 1. At the 66th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, and his heartfelt speech about Beyoncé resonated loudly on social media.
   2. Beyoncé maintained her status as the most honored Grammy artist, even without a new album at the 2024 ceremony.
   3. She made a surprise announcement about her eighth studio album during a Super Bowl ad.
   4. Her first two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” created a massive buzz online, breaking records immediately after their release.
   5. Beyoncé earned accolades from country music icons such as Dolly Parton for her new tracks.
   6. Her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” appeared on Billboard’s country airplay chart, a feat achieved by only seven Black women historically.
   7. Beyoncé set a record as the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country songs chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
   8. Following the release of her songs, the interest in country music fashion (known as cowboy core) surged, as confirmed by fashion experts.
   9. She launched her awaited Cécred hair care line on February 20.
   10. Beyoncé opened up about her challenges in the country music industry, igniting discussions on diversity and inclusion within the genre.
   11. A decade after her first cover, she featured in CR Fashion Book again.
   12. She also graced the cover of Essence magazine’s March/April edition, sharing personal experiences related to hair care.
   13. The album “Cowboy Carter” was released on March 29, and it shattered records and set new milestones.
   14. Her album highlighted the achievements of upcoming Black country artists.
   15. As Tiera Kennedy, a singer from “Blackbiird,” noted, “She has elevated us all to heights we’ve only dreamed of.”
   16. At its launch, “Cowboy Carter” became the most-streamed album on Spotify within a single day of 2024.
   17. Beyoncé became the first Black woman to debut at No.1 on Billboard’s top country albums chart.
   18. She also made history as the first Black artist to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country charts with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
   19. Her actions sparked renewed discussions surrounding the influence of Black artists in country music, both historically and presently.
   20. The track “II Hands II Heaven” emerged as a fan favorite, debuting successfully on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart.
   21. The song went viral as fans engaged in dance challenges to the choreography by Drea Kelly.
   22. Beyoncé caused a sensation with a revealing video showcasing her wash day hair routine, garnering widespread acclaim for the Cécred brand.
   23. Rumi Carter, Beyoncé’s 6-year-old daughter, recorded history as the youngest female artist to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100, surpassing her sister Blue Ivy’s previous record.
   24. Chloe Bailey, an artist signed under Bey’s label Parkwood, had her solo performance debut at Coachella, with Beyoncé in attendance.
   25. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” collaborator Shaboozey became the first Black male artist to achieve simultaneous No.1 slots on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Hot Country charts with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” He became the second Black artist to achieve this, following Beyoncé.
   26. Shaboozey and Tanner Adell, a singer from “Blackbiird,” made history by performing at the BET Awards, shining a spotlight on country music.
   27. Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy received the YoungStars Award at the BET Awards.
   28. Reyna Roberts, a collaborator on “Tyrant” and “Blackbiird,” made her appearance as a contestant on “America’s Got Talent.”
   29. Research showed that Beyoncé is inspiring a new wave of country music fans.
   30. Another study uncovered that she is recognized as one of the most gracious artists.
   31. A documentary entitled “Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance,” was produced, analyzing her contributions to country music and its effects on the industry.
   32. Beyoncé graced W magazine’s inaugural digital cover, showcasing a stylish cowboy core ensemble.
   33. At the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, she was honored with the Innovator Award.
   34. Beyoncé is the only female artist to have two albums featured on Apple Music’s 100 best albums list.
   35. It was revealed that her name will be included in the Petit Larousse Illustré, a French encyclopedic dictionary.
   36. The announcement was made that Blue Ivy and Beyoncé would collaborate on Disney’s “Lion King” sequel, “Mufasa.”
   37. July marked the 25th anniversary of Destiny’s Child’s groundbreaking album “The Writing’s on The Wall.”
   38. Beyoncé introduced American athletes gearing up for the Summer Olympics during NBC’s prime-time broadcast of the opening ceremony.
   39. She cleared her hit song “Freedom” from 2016 for Vice President Kamala Harris, who adopted it as her campaign’s theme song.
   40. Beyoncé led with the highest number of nominations at the People’s Choice Country Music Awards, receiving 12 nods.
   41. The BeyGood Foundation awarded the first round of scholarships and salon business grants through the Cécred X BeyGood initiative, continuing throughout the year.
   42. Her BeyGood charity pledged $500,000 to support Black cowboys at the Bill Picket Rodeo through its Black equestrian program, which promotes initiatives for Black cowboys, cowgirls, and ranchers.
   43. Beyoncé introduced her award-winning whiskey, SirDavis, named after her great-grandfather, a successful moonshiner during Prohibition, with shipping for preorders commencing today, allowing fans nationwide to celebrate.

These past eight months have been quite remarkable for the superstar, and her history suggests she won’t be taking a break anytime soon.

Happy birthday, Beyoncé! There’s plenty to rejoice about.

Stay updated by following Caché McClay, our reporter for Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.