Beyoncé was born in Houston, Texas, on September 4, 1981.
Her parents, Mathew Knowles and Tina Knowles, raised her in Houston, where she began performing in school and church settings. The city was an important early part of her musical education before her career became international.
Beyoncé later attended Houston’s Parker Elementary School, which had a music magnet program, and studied at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She also performed with the school choir and entered local talent competitions. These experiences preceded her work with Girl’s Tyme, the group that eventually evolved into Destiny’s Child.
Houston is sometimes confused with Beyoncé’s later professional base in New York or Los Angeles, but neither city is her birthplace. Her connection to Houston has remained visible through charitable work, public appearances, and references to the city in her music and performances.