Becoming Beyoncé

The first authoritative biography of the most famous woman in the world today.

J. Randy Taraborrelli is a highly-acclaimed biographer of over twenty books, whose bestselling titles include Madonna: An Intimate Biography, Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, Elizabeth, Once Upon a Time: The Story of Princess Grace, Prince Rainier and their Family, Call Her Miss Ross and Sinatra: The Man and the Myth. He is also a CBS-TV news analyst and lives in California.

Section - i: Author's Note Section - ii: Prologue: A New Dawning Unit - Part One: Tina & Mathew Chapter - 1: Tina Chapter - 2: Mathew Chapter - 3: Engaged Chapter - 4: Trapped Chapter - 5: Headliners Chapter - 6: Childhood Days Chapter - 7: "People Don't Need to Know" Chapter - 8: A Real Find Chapter - 9: Family First Chapter - 10: Andretta Chapter - 11: Ninth Birthday Chapter - 12: Crossroads Chapter - 13: Fine-Tuning Chapter - 14: "A Family We Get to Choose" Chapter - 15: Buckin' and Poppin' Chapter - 16: First Recording Session Chapter - 17: California Bound Chapter - 18: A Star Is Born Chapter - 19: Parents' Reaction Chapter - 20: Mathew Makes His Move Chapter - 21: A Fateful Meeting Chapter - 22: Beyoncé's Hurt Feelings Chapter - 23: Mathew Taking Over? Chapter - 24: What to Do About Kelly? Chapter - 25: Star Search Chapter - 26: The Blame Game Chapter - 27: Life-Changing Decision Chapter - 27: Tina Smooths Things with Andretta Unit - Part Two: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Chapter - 28: Ashley Leaves Girls Tyme Chapter - 29: An Important Lesson Chapter - 30: Desperate Times Chapter - 31: Dissension in the Ranks Chapter - 32: Lyndall Chapter - 33: In Atlanta: The Dolls Chapter - 34: Rejections-and Then a Deal! Chapter - 35: "Show Business Is a Lot of Things . . ." Chapter - 36: First Date Chapter - 37: Disappointment Chapter - 38: Financial and Marital Woes Chapter - 39: Big Changes Chapter - 40: Destiny Chapter - 41: Columbia/Sony Unit - Part Three: Destiny's Child Chapter - 42: Signing with Columbia/Sony Chapter - 43: Ice Cream Summit Chapter - 44: Tina's Request Chapter - 45: Recording the First Hit Chapter - 46: Recording the First Album Chapter - 47: "No Woman Deserves This" Chapter - 48: 5-16-97 Chapter - 49: Vigil Chapter - 50: Their Time Has Come Chapter - 51: Success Chapter - 52: Lyndall-No Direction? Chapter - 53: First Impressions Chapter - 54: Tina, Stylist Chapter - 55: Prepping for the Second Album Chapter - 56: The Writing's on the Wall Chapter - 57: Lyndall's Nineteenth Chapter - 58: Living the Dream Chapter - 59: Vocal Lessons Chapter - 60: Group Turmoil Chapter - 61: Sour Energy Chapter - 62: Disaffirmation Chapter - 63: Depression Chapter - 64: Beyoncé's Missive Chapter - 65: Quitting Destiny's Child? Chapter - 66: "Tomorrow, We Fight Back" Chapter - 67: Moving Forward with New Girls Chapter - 68: Lyndall Lacks Purpose Chapter - 69: Beyoncé Makes a Decision about Farrah Unit - Part Four: Independent Women Chapter - 70: Destiny's Three Chapter - 71: Why Ruin the Moment? Chapter - 72: A Man in Her Life. Not a Boy. Chapter - 73: She of Little Experience Chapter - 74: First Screen Kiss Chapter - 75: Carmen: A Hip Hopera Chapter - 76: Enter Jay Z Chapter - 77: "Bootylicious" Chapter - 78: Survivor Chapter - 79: Lyndall Worries About Jay Z Chapter - 80: Andretta's Estate Sues Chapter - 81: Beyoncé's Deposition Chapter - 82: Mathew's Deposition Chapter - 83: Tina's Deposition Chapter - 84: Austin Powers in Goldmember Chapter - 85: Panic Chapter - 86: Solo Careers Chapter - 87: Beyoncé Doesn't Forget Chapter - 88: World Tour 2002 Chapter - 89: Settlements Unit - Part Five: Jay Z Chapter - 90: Jay Chapter - 91: "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" Chapter - 92: Dangerously in Love Chapter - 93: "Crazy in Love" Chapter - 94: The Birth of Sasha Fierce Chapter - 95: Father Issues Chapter - 96: Brand Beyoncé Chapter - 97: Destiny Fulfilled Chapter - 98: Schooling Each Other Chapter - 99: Choosing: Lyndall or Jay? Unit - Part Six: Dreamgirl Chapter - 100: The Problem with Dreamgirls Chapter - 101: Beauty Is Pain Chapter - 102: Jay Z's "Affair" with Rihanna Chapter - 103: B'Day Chapter - 104: Alex Chapter - 105: About to Blow? Chapter - 106: The Beyoncé Experience Chapter - 107: I Am . . . Sasha Fierce Chapter - 108: Cadillac Records and Obsessed Chapter - 109: Beyoncé Marries Jay Chapter - 110: Obama Chapter - 111: Trouble Brewing Chapter - 112: Alex and Mathew Expecting Chapter - 113: Beyoncé's Audit of Mathew Chapter - 114: Powder Keg Chapter - 115: Fractured Souls Chapter - 116: Tina Files for Divorce Chapter - 117: Nixon Chapter - 118: The Death of Sasha Fierce Chapter - 119: Mystery at Parkwood Chapter - 120: The Hard Choice Chapter - 121: Mathew Fights Back Chapter - 122: 4 Chapter - 123: Full Circle Chapter - 124: Life Is But a Dream Unit - Part Seven: Run The World Chapter - 125: Blue Ivy Chapter - 126: Going Forward Chapter - 127: Mathew Today Chapter - 128: A New Life for Tina Chapter - 129: Beyoncé: The Secret Album Chapter - 130: Prologue to a Scandal Chapter - 131: The Elevator Chapter - 132: Matriarch in Charge Chapter - 133: "Alone Together in a Crowd" Acknowledgements - iii: Acknowledgements Section - iv: Source Notes Acknowledgements - v: Personal Acknowledgments Index - vi: Index