Her incredible career spans across more than five decades and she’s widely regarded as one of the most influential female vocalists.
And Dionne Warwick was quick to admit that fellow artist Beyonce is an incredible talent during an interview with Essence released on Wednesday.
The 78-year-old singing sensation revealed that she’s ‘proud of building a musical career’ through 50+ years in the industry, but Beyonce has ‘a long road ahead’ before being able to claim icon status.
Singing loud: Dionne Warwick was quick to admit that fellow artist Beyonce is an incredible talent during an interview with Essence released on Wednesday; seen in February
The Do You Know The Way to San Jose crooner was hesitant to believe today’s music had any longevity.
And when asked about Beyonce’s supreme star status, Dionne doubted that she had reached a major level of notoriety.
‘I love her to death and can appreciate her talent,’ she said. ‘But that iconic status? It’s a long road [ahead].’
Honest: The 78-year-old singing sensation revealed that she’s ‘proud of building a musical career’ through 50+ years in the industry, but Beyonce has ‘a long road ahead’ before being able to claim icon status; seen in 2017
She went on to reveal some of the classic singers before her who received such acclaim, noting that icons include ‘Gladys Knight, or Patti LaBelle, or Johnny Mathis, or Frank Sinatra, or Sammy Davis Jr.’ to name a few.
“Watching her grow has been quite refreshing,’ she said. ‘It’s wonderful to see how she’s been able to create what and who she wanted to be and who she is … very proud of that, I really am. Now, sustaining and becoming a big icon?’
Dionne’s first single Don’t Make Me Over was released in 1962 by Scepter Records and was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
Her impressive catalog includes the songs Wishin’ and Hopin’, Walk on By and I Say A Little Prayer among her 80 singles which reached Billboard charts.
Star power: Beyonce jumped onto the scene at a young age performing in competitions as a child in her hometown of Houston, Texas; seen in October
Wow! She took her star status solo in 2006 and has since amassed monumental accolades including 23 Grammy awards, eight world tours and six studio albums, with her most recent work Lemonade lauded for its impeccable artistry as Time reported: ‘Beyoncé publicly embraced explicitly feminist blackness at a politically risky moment’; seen in 2018
She’s accrued five Grammy Awards and was nominated for Record of the Year in 1987 for the hit That’s What Friends Are For with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.
Beyonce jumped onto the scene at a young age performing in competitions as a child in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
Her girl group Destiny’s Child is one of the best-selling girl groups in history with more than 60 million records sold.
She took her star status solo after the group’s break-up in 2006 and has since amassed monumental accolades including 23 Grammy awards, eight world tours and six studio albums, with her most recent work Lemonade lauded for its impeccable artistry as Time reported: ‘Beyoncé publicly embraced explicitly feminist blackness at a politically risky moment.’
Beyonce has been married to Jay-Z since 2008 and the power couple have three children: Blue Ivy, seven, and twins Rumi and Sir will turn two in June.