Tina Knowles reveals how a delayed mammogram led to her Stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis—and how Beyoncé, Solange, and music helped her heal.
HOUSTON — Tina Knowles, the mother of Houston natives Beyoncé and Solange, is sharing her personal breast cancer journey in a new interview with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King.
Knowles, 71, told King she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in her left breast after doctors discovered two tumors during a mammogram she had delayed. She said she missed a routine screening during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t reschedule until last year.
“I’ve always tried to take care of myself. I just … was in disbelief,” she said during the interview.
According to CBS Mornings, doctors told Knowles that earlier detection could have caught the cancer at Stage 0, when it’s typically confined to the breast ducts.
Despite the delay, the cancer had not spread and was considered slow-growing. Knowles underwent a lumpectomy in August and is now cancer-free.
The interview also highlighted the support Knowles received from her daughters ahead of surgery. Beyoncé, Solange and close family members gathered at the hospital, helping her stay calm with laughter and music. Solange and niece Angie Beyincé even sang to her before she was taken into surgery.
Months later, Knowles said she almost missed Glamour’s 2024 Women of the Year event due to a post-surgical infection. Her family encouraged her to rest, but she ultimately chose to attend, calling the recognition a powerful moment in her recovery.
In addition to her health journey, Knowles is also making headlines for her latest accomplishment: becoming the newest author selected for Oprah Winfrey’s book club. As reported by the Associated Press, Winfrey announced Tuesday that she had chosen Knowles’ newly published memoir, “Matriarch,” as her latest pick.
“Some of you might know Tina Knowles as the mother of a superstar — as in Beyoncé — but she is also a highly successful entrepreneur, fashion designer, philanthropist, and now author of this fascinating memoir of her journey to become the global figure she is today,” Winfrey said in a statement.
Knowles said the moment she found out about the book club honor caught her off guard — she had been told she was receiving a call from a printing company, only to hear Winfrey’s voice instead.
“When I heard her voice, I cried!” Knowles said in a statement to the AP. “I have such a rich history with Oprah. Writing a book about your life is a scary thing. It’s almost like having a baby. It’s so personal and sacred to you that you want people to love it and not ever say anything bad about it. Getting the seal of approval from Oprah, and knowing that she read it and loved it, made it all OK. I mean, it’s Oprah!!”
More of Knowles’ conversation with Gayle King is expected to air on Wednesday, April 23.
You can watch the CBS Mornings report and read more here.