Queen Bey’s musical genius emerged early—so early, in fact, that she wrote a sultry R&B hit for Linda Hopkins while still a teenager.

In this episode, we explore Queen’s formative years as a songwriter and performer, shaped by the legendary club scene of Kansas City’s 18th and Vine. From jazz ballads to blues shouts, Queen Bey absorbed the styles of the greats and made them her own.

Through interviews with fans like musician Kelley Hunt and KCUR’s Chuck Haddix, we learn how Queen’s hardscrabble upbringing and fierce determination forged her into a consummate entertainer.