Tina Knowles on new book, “Matriarch: A Memoir,” Beyoncé, and her love for Chicago

CHICAGO (WGN) — It’s a family affair with Beyoncé in town this weekend, as Tina Knowles chatted with WGN’s Dean Richards Friday about her daughter’s Cowboy Carter tour, her love for Chicago, and her new memoir about motherhood.

“I have a real affection for Chicago,” says Knowles, who added that Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams was born and raised in the city. 

“We would eat really good because her mom was an incredible cook and the city is beautiful, the river running through it, it’s incredible. The energy is great, so I love Chicago.”

Thursday night’s Cowboy Carter show at Soldier Field was the first of three planned this weekend. Despite the storm delay, Knowles affirmed that she attends every show Beyoncé produces, as most mothers would, even if Mother Nature had other plans.

“I’m glad [the weather] cleared up and she was able to have her show,” Knowles said. 

Knowles was complimentary of the Chicago Bee-Hive, commending fans’ loyalty and patience while Thursday’s storms passed. Despite the late start time, Beyoncé performed her show in full, much to the delight of the patient crowd. 

“They waited it out, and they had the best attitude. They were the best audience, which is a wonderful testament to the people here,” Knowles said. 

Speaking on her daughter’s evolution as a stage performer and her award-winning endeavor in country music, Knowles called the journey special.

“What people don’t know is that Beyoncé is involved in every aspect of every little detail that’s going on in that concert, so they just keep getting better and better,” Knowles said. “She just wants to give her fans the best experience ever.”

Beyoncé’s dedication should come as no surprise, as she and her ex-husband, Matthew, Beyoncé’s father, helped instill that work ethic at an early age. 

“As long as you have your family, you can make it,” Knowles said.

In April, the 71-year-old native of Galveston, Texas, recently released “Matriarch: A Memoir,” which offers a comprehensive look at her journey as the mother of iconic singer-songwriters Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles, and Kelly Rowland, whom she calls a ‘bonus daughter.’ But what does being a matriarch mean to Knowles? It means being a leader among family, she said. 

“You’re always there, just a phone call away,” Knowles added. “That you will take care of things. You’ll manage things. You’ll deal with crisis, and that you’ll keep the family close. That was what my mom did and her mother before her. They were all very good at keeping their families together, and I think that’s a big part of being a matriarch.”

Knowles said that dedication and resilience are paramount, as is the ability to fight through adversity.

“(You may) not necessarily have all the tools in your toolbox, but you create those tools and you make something out of nothing, and that’s my legacy,” Knowles said. 

Tina Knowles’ “Matriarch: A Memoir,” a New York Times best seller and Oprah Winfrey Book Club selection, is now available.