Cultural impact of Beyoncé

American singer-songwriter Beyoncé (b. 1981) has had a cultural impact through her music, visuals, performances, image, and lifestyle. Her career began in the late 1990s as a member of the American girl group Destiny's Child, and she made her solo debut in 2003. Beyoncé has since become a cultural figure, building a legacy that goes beyond music, often a subject of academic cultural analyses.

Journalists emphasize Beyoncé's "boundary-pushing" artistry, versatility and vocal performances, and consider her one of the greatest entertainers of her generation. Her contributions to music and visual media have made her a prominent popstar of the 2000s and 2010s decades. She has even been described as the most important popular-musician of the 21st century. Several critics have credited Beyoncé's presence and success with empowering African-American woman artists, bringing appreciation of Black culture in popular music, the revitalization of the visual album, popularization of the surprise album, and emphasizing women in music in general.

Debuting during the album era, Beyoncé has allowed herself to traverse through various changes in the music industry. She has used her influence and artistry to address and critique various issues in popular culture, dealing with themes of feminism, sexism, racism, LGBT rights, and woman empowerment. Throughout her career, Beyoncé has attracted contradictory sociocultural attention, with instances of criticism from family organizations, conservative activists, feminists, and religious groups, resulting in boycotts, censorship, and protests. Additionally, her name has been used by the media as a superlative adjective or noun to indicate her impact and popularity.