7 Artists That Were Supposed To Surpass Beyonce… But Didn’t

Though the blockbuster release of Beyonce's Lemonade album took place nearly two years ago, there's no question as to her standing as the preeminent diva in music today. Boasting a catalog of hits, Hollywood success and a lifestyle that one could only dream of, it seems that Queen Bey was predestined for chart-topping greatness.

At one point in time, however, there was question as to whether the Houston, Texas native could match the success she enjoyed as part of Destiny's Child after deciding to embark on a solo career back in 2002. "Work It Out," the lead single from the Austin Powers in Goldmember soundtrack, as well as Beyonce's first single after leaving the R&B group, failed to crack the Billboard 200 chart, creating doubt as to what her future sans Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams held.

Fortunately, Beyonce would go on to squash all uncertainty with her multi-platinum debut record, Dangerously In Love. Today, she stands as one of the most successful artists of all time, while artists that were previously compared to her—and perhaps had even more promising launches—have been surpassed by her superstar status.

Below, we're highlighting seven female artists that had the goods to surpass Beyonce... but didn't.