14 Years of Blue Ivy Carter: Celebrating Her Most Iconic Career Milestones
Happy 14th birthday to the industry’s most precocious talent, Blue Ivy Carter! As she celebrates another year on Wednesday (Jan. 8), we are reminded that it has been nearly 15 years since Beyoncé’s legendary pregnancy reveal during “Love on Top” at the MTV VMAs—a moment that essentially broke the internet before the term was even commonplace. Since that historic introduction, Blue Ivy has transitioned from a famous infant into a multifaceted force in music, cinema, and fashion.
Blue’s record-breaking streak began just days after her birth, when she became the youngest individual ever credited on a Billboard chart via her father Jay-Z’s track “Glory.” By 2013, her infectious laughter was immortalized on her mother’s self-titled visual album, and by 2015, she was contributing to Coldplay’s “Up&Up.” However, it was the 2019 anthem “Brown Skin Girl” that truly signaled her arrival as a vocalist, eventually earning her a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
As the 2020s arrived, Carter expanded her repertoire into the world of voice acting. She earned a Voice Arts Award for her narration of the Oscar-winning Hair Love audiobook. More recently, she stepped into the Disney legacy as Princess Kiara in Mufasa: The Lion King, a role that helped the film surpass $720 million globally and earned her an NAACP Image Award for her vocal performance.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Blue Ivy proved she was a born performer, serving as a professional dancer on the record-breaking Cowboy Carter Tour. Watching her evolve from a shy guest during the Renaissance World Tour to a confident, high-octane performer with her own “Ivy League” fanbase has been a highlight for fans worldwide. With her signature boho braids and effortless stage presence, Blue Ivy isn’t just following in her parents’ footsteps—she’s carving her own path.
In honor of her 14th birthday, here are seven definitive music moments that define Blue Ivy Carter’s career so far.
1. “Blue’s Freestyle/We Family” (2017)
It takes a special kind of confidence to outshine Jay-Z on his own track, but at just five years old, Blue Ivy did exactly that. Featured as a bonus track on the 4:44 album, Blue’s flow—specifically the line “never seen a ceiling in my whole life”—became an instant fan favorite. The track’s legacy continues today, with Beyoncé even sampling her daughter’s bars during live stadium performances.
2. “Brown Skin Girl” (2019)
A cultural touchstone for Black girlhood, “Brown Skin Girl” was more than just a hit; it was a movement. According to A&R executives, it was Blue herself who convinced Beyoncé to make the song a single after she was caught singing the hook in the studio. The collaboration resulted in a haul of prestigious awards from the Grammys, BET, and the Soul Train Awards, proving that Blue has a keen ear for hits.
3. “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” (2019)
In the Homecoming documentary, a quiet but powerful scene captures Blue Ivy practicing the Black National Anthem. Her sweet, sincere rendition of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” was included on the live album, offering a touching look at a mother passing down cultural heritage to the next generation. It remains one of the most intimate moments in the Carter-Knowles public discography.
4. The Renaissance World Tour Debut (2023)
The world stood still when Blue Ivy took the stage at the Stade de France in Paris. Performing the choreography for “My Power” and “Black Parade” alongside world-class dancers, she showed the world that she possessed the discipline and work ethic of her superstar mother. This tour marked her transition from a “special guest” to a legitimate member of the production.
5. Protecting the Setlist: The “Diva” Save (2023)
In the Renaissance concert film, fans got a glimpse of Blue Ivy’s burgeoning executive instincts. When Beyoncé’s team considered cutting the 2009 hit “Diva” from the show, Blue passionately advocated for the song’s inclusion. Her persistence paid off, keeping the fan-favorite track in the setlist and creating one of the film’s most relatable “stage mom” moments.
6. The Beyoncé Bowl / NFL Christmas (2024)
For Netflix’s inaugural NFL Christmas halftime show, Blue Ivy once again joined her mother for a high-energy performance. Hidden in plain sight among the dancers at first, she eventually stood out by executing complex hitch-kicks and choreography to “Texas Hold ‘Em.” It was a masterclass in growth, showing a sharp increase in technical skill since her previous tour run.
7. The ‘Déjà Blue’ Dance Solo (2025)
The Cowboy Carter Tour reached its peak during the “Déjà Blue” interlude. Strutting down the catwalk to a custom ballroom mix of “Déjà Vu,” Blue Ivy delivered a performance that went viral every single night. The tour concluded in Las Vegas with a symbolic “passing of the torch” moment featuring the members of Destiny’s Child, cementing her status as the heir to the music industry’s most prestigious throne.
