Real recognize real.
Beyoncé took a break from her country vibes this week to honor a true music legend—Prince. The pop queen, 42, paid tribute to the rock, pop, and funk icon with a stylish nod on what would have been his 66th birthday. Prince, who sadly passed away in 2016 due to an accidental fentanyl overdose, was celebrated in true Beyoncé fashion.
On Friday, June 7, Beyoncé shared two Instagram posts showcasing her outfit dedicated to Prince. Rocking black boots, light-wash boyfriend jeans, and a black T-shirt featuring Prince and the Revolution, she looked effortlessly cool. The shirt displayed Prince’s iconic symbol, the one he famously changed his name to.
But it wasn’t just the shirt that made a statement. Beyoncé paired her look with black sunglasses, a brown fur coat, and chunky silver jewelry. She even added a patchwork denim Balenciaga handbag adorned with pride flags, a subtle nod to Pride Month.
Beyoncé let the ensemble do all the talking, captioning her posts with a simple purple heart emoji. This was likely a tribute to Prince’s famous song, album, and film, “Purple Rain,” which she once performed with him.
The two musical powerhouses shared a memorable moment at the 2004 Grammy Awards, performing a medley of their hits including “Purple Rain,” “Baby I’m a Star,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love.” It was an iconic performance that fans still rave about.
Before his death, Prince spoke highly of Beyoncé. He didn’t give her advice, but he was impressed by her musical knowledge. “I was really curious as to how much she knew musically,” Prince said, “and I was really pleased to find out that she knew a lot about scales—mixolydian scales and Egyptian styles—and different things like that.”
He added, “I was just trying to show her some chords on the piano and help her to respect the fact that if she learns piano—à la Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles—the sky’s the limit as to what she could do, because she’s so very talented.”
With her tribute, Beyoncé reminds us all of the timeless influence Prince had on music and culture. And in doing so, she continues to solidify her place as a legend in her own right.