Perform the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. Wow the crowd with a spectacular Super Bowl halftime show. Win a Grammy. When you are legendary singer and performer Beyonc Knowles, this is just a regular month's work. Beyonc went from a child singer in her hometown of Houston, Texas, to one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. She has sold millions of records, made hit movies, and runs a clothing line. This superstar does it all. Author Michael A. Schuman chronicles the life of the amazing Beyonc.

When Chris Rock steps on stage, he destroys the targets of his jokes. When he finishes his performance, the audience needs time to catch its breath. The laughter never stops! Chris Rock pulls no punches. He is brutally honest and no subject—politics, racism, pop culture—is safe from his humor. From humble beginnings in New York City to his superstar career as a stand-up comedian and actor, author Marty Gitlin unleashes the story of comic genius Chris Rock.

Halle Berry has worked hard for every achievement—springboarding from beauty queen to model to actress—and has never shied away from taking risks. Berry's career puttered along until her Oscar-winning performance in MONSTER'S BALL which launched her into superstardom.

One of the first singles from THE BLACK ALBUM, a famous Jay-Z record, rap “What More Can I Say”? But the real question is what more can this music legend do? From the platinum albums to the sold-out concerts to his Rocawear clothing brand, Jay-Z has done it all. He has sold some 50 million albums worldwide. He even has a sneaker named after him. From the Brooklyn projects to the corner office in Manhattan, Jay-Z made his own way, overcoming many obstacles. Author Jeff Burlingame explores the remarkably interesting life of this hip-hop icon.

From the child raised by her grandmother in a small village in Arkansas to the writer known as National Treasure, Angelou has lived a remarkable life. She rose from pain and poverty to achieve success as a dancer, an actress, a teacher and an award-winning author. Readers of Donna Brown Agins' compelling new profile will understand and appreciate why Angelou is one of the best-loved and most fascinating American writers.

His voice blaring in the recording, Sean “Diddy” Combs says, “We won’t stop!” He repeats the motto in many of his famous songs—three words that Diddy lives by. When it comes to his rise to superstardom in hip-hop and his pursuit of dominance in the entertainment industry, Sean Combs has never stopped. The Harlem-born music mogul has achieved success as a producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, including the massive success of his Sean John clothing line. Author Jen Jones explores the meteoric rise of this entertainment icon.

Tyler Perry's path to success was anything but easy. His childhood was marred by constant abuse—physical and emotional. To escape from the pain, Perry found an outlet in writing. But the first play he wrote did not draw huge audiences. Even after years of failure, Perry never quit. He forged ahead, committed to getting his message out. And he sure did! Perry, now with many hit movies and television shows to his credit, is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Author Marty Gitlin explores the amazing life of this entertainment icon.

Walter Dean Myers tells it like it is in his award-winning novels about urban teenagers with real problems. With humor and a keen ear for dialogue, Myers creates characters that speak directly to today's teens. As a young reader, Myers could not find books about African-American boys like himself. Drawing upon his own struggles and experiences, he has filled that literary gap with fascinating novels filled with realistic stories that appeal to readers of all backgrounds and cultures.

From silly kid to Grammy-winning rapper, Will Smith has taken the fast track to superstardom. His popular rap music opened doors for Smith, who became a TV star on THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR. After years of balancing rap and television, Smith emerged as a serious actor in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION and as a profitable, crowd drawing star in BAD BOYS. Readers get a rare peek behind the scenes of stardom at this tremendously popular actor, rapper and family man.