Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4, 1981), often referred to mononymously as Beyoncé (pronounced /biˈjɒn.seɪ/), is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. Born and raised in Houston, Texas. On December 11, 2009, Billboard listed Knowles as the top female artist of the 2000s decade. In February 2010, the RIAA listed her as the top certified and best-selling overall artist of the decade. NRJ Music Awards also awarded her with an Artist of the Decade award. She is one of the most influential artists of the century with record sales surpassing 100 million when combined with Destiny’s Child.
