Matriarch: Oprah's Book Club
A Memoir
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4.8 • 28 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A revealing personal life story like no other—enlightening, entertaining, surprising, empowering—and a testament to the world-making power of Black motherhood
“A fascinating memoir of Tina Knowles’s journey to become the global figure she is today.”—Oprah Winfrey
“You are Celestine,” she said. She squatted to push the hair off my face and pull leaves off my pajama legs. “Like my sister and my grandmother.” And there, under the pecan tree, as she did countless times, that day my mother told me stories of the mothers and daughters that went before me.
Tina Knowles, the mother of iconic singer-songwriters Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles, and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, is known the world over as a Matriarch with a capital M: a determined, self-possessed, self-aware, and wise woman who raised and inspired some of the great artists of our time. But this story is about so much more than that.
Matriarch begins with a precocious, if unruly, little girl growing up in 1950s Galveston, the youngest of seven. She is in love with her world, with extended family on every other porch and the sounds of Motown and the lapping beach always within earshot. But as the realities of race and the limitations of girlhood set in, she begins to dream of a more grandiose world. Her instincts and impulsive nature drive her far beyond the shores of Texas to discover the life awaiting her on the other side of childhood.
That life’s journey—through grief and tragedy, creative and romantic risks and turmoil, the nurturing of superstar offspring and of her own special gifts—is the remarkable story she shares with readers here. This is a page-turning chronicle of family love and heartbreak, of loss and perseverance, and of the kind of creativity, audacity, and will it takes for a girl from Galveston to change the world. It’s one brilliant woman’s intimate and revealing story, and a multigenerational family saga that carries within it the story of America—and the wisdom that women pass on to one another, mothers to daughters, across generations.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
If you’ve ever wondered where Beyoncé and Solange Knowles get their strength, the answer can be found in this memoir by their mother. Through lush language and evocative detail, Tina Knowles invites us into the memories that forged her identity as a Black woman. Her childhood in Galveston, Texas, includes everything from the innocent joy of playing with her beloved cousin Johnny to her parents losing everything after being targeted by union busters to trying to wrap her five-year-old mind around what segregation was and why it was hurting her family. And as the years go on, the dots in Tina’s stories connect. After tragically losing his life partner, Johnny moves in with the Knowles to help run their household when they need it most. As Tina raises her daughters with middle-class privileges she never had, she recalls the empathetic lessons she learned through those Galveston days of hardship. And most impressively, she finds a way to teach them. Matriarch is a testament to the enduring power of resilience, love, and the hard-won wisdom passed down through generations.
Customer Reviews
Vulnerable. Healing. Endlessly loving.
I truly loved what Ms. Tina poured into this memoir. Originally planned to be a thousand pages, I would have eagerly read every word. Ms. Tina shares her journey openly and vulnerably, honoring the privacy of those she loves—her daughters Beyoncé and Solange, her “bonus daughters” Kelly Rowland and Angie Beyincé, her grandchildren, and her extended family—by only sharing what they consented to reveal. This approach stands out because many memoirs often lean into sensationalism or invasive exposés for attention. Instead, Ms. Tina leads with humility, respect for boundaries, and an inspiring dignity.
Ms. Tina’s reflections on her personal life—from her upbringing and complex family relationships to navigating breast cancer—deeply resonated with me. Her discussion of the origins and misspellings of the Beyincé family name (Buyincé, Beyoncé, Beyincé, Boyancé) was particularly powerful, highlighting the systemic racism and institutionalized medical discrimination that Black people have historically endured. Beyoncé’s uniquely spelled name itself becomes a symbol of resistance, reclaiming identity in the face of structural oppression.
I was especially moved by the way Ms. Tina honored her nephew Johnny—affectionately known as Uncle Johnny. Though technically her cousin, their relationship felt much more like siblings given their closeness in age, emotional connection, and creative bond. He was an integral part of her household and of Beyoncé and Solange’s upbringing. His influence spanned everything from sewing and fashion design to shaping their early music tastes through house music icons like Shalamar, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Teena Marie, and Crystal Waters. Ms. Tina’s tribute to Uncle Johnny doesn’t just memorialize him—it celebrates his brilliance and the richness of queer Black identity.
Her reflections on Johnny’s life, including the challenges of being openly gay in the ‘70s and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, were so tender and necessary. She shares that truth with compassion and care, helping to deconstruct the stigma that still surrounds HIV and queer identity. That kind of love, nuance, and intersectional pro-Blackness is so imperative, especially from someone of her generation—and it meant everything to read. It’s clear that Johnny’s influence was foundational to the creative spark and emotional depth of Beyoncé and Solange, just as much as their parents’.
The book beautifully underscores how anti-Blackness is a global issue, yet simultaneously emphasizes Black innovation, resilience, and creativity. I admired how Ms. Tina’s profound influence shaped Beyoncé’s, Solange’s, and Kelly’s unapologetic pro-Blackness, evident in their artistry and public lives. Her memoir encourages readers, myself included, to persist, advocate fiercely for ourselves, and remain unapologetic in every choice—from love and relationships to career and personal style.
Ms. Tina’s openness about difficult experiences, such as her marriage and elongated divorce from Mathew Knowles, invites powerful reflection on personal boundaries, self-worth, and the complexities of love. Her vulnerability in addressing painful rumors and conspiracies, particularly surrounding Beyoncé’s pregnancy with Blue Ivy, further humanizes their family beyond celebrity glamor, reminding us of their real emotional struggles and strengths.
Ultimately, Ms. Tina’s story deeply inspires personal growth, continuous learning, and self-exploration at any age. She beautifully captures the essence of what it means to be human—loving deeply, enduring pain, seeking joy, and constantly evolving. Matriarch is not just a memoir; it’s a testament to the enduring strength and beauty of Black womanhood and a compelling call to embrace life courageously, compassionately, and unapologetically.
I couldn’t have written a better memoir.
Stage Mother
I kept reading hoping it would get better…it did not. You will travel the road with Tina as she manages Bey’s career.
Amazing writing
I am so happy I got the experience of reading this memoir. The lessons she shares are some that I will carry with me for a long time!