Making Beyonce Logo Wide

Beyoncé: Preview of Making Beyoncé

Making Beyonce Logo Wide

Beyoncé: Preview of Making Beyoncé

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Before she put a ring on it and before she was Queen Bey, there was Beyoncé Knowles. 

Starting Friday, Nov. 15, WBEZ will explore the early years of a global music icon in the new podcast Making Beyoncé. This three-part series takes an inside, detailed look at Beyoncé’s emergent career to tell the story of how a little girl from Houston, Texas, became the biggest name in modern music.

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For Making Beyoncé, WBEZ was granted access to family home videos that document Beyoncé’s formative years. The podcast includes interviews with Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé’s father and the manager of Destiny’s Child. The podcast also explores the conflicts and disappointments Beyoncé encountered on her journey to stardom.

Making Beyoncé is hosted by Jill Hopkins, a singer, storyteller and self-proclaimed Beyoncé super fan. She’s also the host of The Morning AMp on Chicago’s urban music alternative station, Vocalo.

“We get to know her journey, and see that it wasn’t all pre-determined,” Hopkins said. “Beyoncé has been about talent, hard work, and dedication since most of us were just into Legos.”

Making Beyoncé is the next documentary-style bio podcast from WBEZ Chicago’s acclaimed Making series. Previous series included Making Obama and Making Oprah.

“Season one of Making told the story of how Oprah built a media empire,” said Kevin Dawson, managing director of content development for WBEZ Chicago and executive producer of the podcast. “Our last season looked at President Obama’s path to becoming the first African American president. Making Beyoncé explores Beyoncé’s first years on stage and how she emerged as one of the world’s most significant entertainers.”

New episodes of Making Beyoncé will be released starting Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. 

Press the play button above to hear the trailer. And make sure you’re subscribed — via Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts — so you don’t miss an episode.