In her newly released memoir Matriarch, Tina Knowles—mother of global icons Beyoncé and Solange—opens up about a deeply personal and unexpected chapter of her life: a private, short-lived reconciliation with her ex-husband, Mathew Knowles, after their highly publicized split in 2009.
The couple’s initial separation followed revelations of Mathew’s infidelity, which resulted in the birth of a child with another woman. Despite the betrayal, Tina admits that she was eventually drawn back to him after he pursued therapy and made persistent efforts to mend their relationship.
“He’d changed after new counseling,” she wrote. “I didn’t believe him at first, but he was persistent, proved he’d gotten help, and as he courted me, I found myself falling in love again. The magnetic pull between us… was stronger than ever.”
Tina explains that her decision to file for divorce was made out of necessity, stating she felt she had “no choice” after the affair. But in 2010, the former couple quietly rekindled their relationship, keeping it hidden—even from their daughters—to avoid reopening old wounds.
The truth came to light unexpectedly on Mother’s Day, when Beyoncé and Solange paid Tina a surprise visit at her home in Galveston, Texas. Beyoncé reacted with quiet understanding, while Solange, Tina recalls, was more emotional.
“Beyoncé was more understanding than Solange, who I know was just being protective of me,” she wrote. “They each loved their dad in different ways.”
Though the pair briefly reconnected, Tina ultimately chose to prioritize her well-being. Their divorce was finalized in 2011. She went on to marry actor Richard Lawson in 2015—a marriage that ended in divorce in 2024.
Reflecting on her journey, Tina shares a message of growth and self-discovery: “I clearly knew my relationship with Mathew was unhealthy, and it was the fear of going it alone that kept me stuck.”
