2016 marked the biggest turning point of Beyoncé's career, and you can't convince me otherwise. Starting with the surprise release of her politically charged video for "Formation," Bey transformed the social justice landscape. She didn't even give us time to catch our breaths before she performed the influential tune alongside Bruno Mars and Coldplay during the Super Bowl halftime show.
Three months later, she released the breathtaking visuals for her full Lemonade album — which The Associated Press named the album of the decade — and revealed an extremely vulnerable side of herself as she crooned about infidelity, social issues, and the Black experience. The LP was so impactful that when it was completely snubbed for album of the year at the 2017 Grammys, singer Adele — who won for 25 — honoured Beyoncé during her acceptance speech. "I can't possibly accept this award. . . . My artist of my life is Beyoncé," she said. "And this album, to me, the Lemonade album, was just so monumental, Beyoncé, so monumental and so well thought out and so beautiful and soul-bearing." (Preach!)
And somehow, amid all the Lemonade mania, Bey also had time to launch her activewear line, Ivy Park (which is, thankfully, making a comeback in 2020).