Let's hear it for Beyoncé, the hardest-working woman in showbusiness

When Lady Gaga can go from virtual unknown to the biggest-selling artist of 2009 in the blink of a false eyelash, Beyoncé Knowles is something of an old-fashioned pop star. Forget the vertiginous ascent to stardom experienced by many an X Factor finalist, Beyoncé's success at this weekend's Grammys – a record-breaking six awards for a female artist – came after 13 years of tireless work in the pop limelight.

Beyoncé began her career as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, a group created by her music executive father, Matthew Knowles. His reputation in the industry might precede him, but in his daughter he helped mould an extremely hard-working performer. Beyoncé had been singing in church and on TV shows such as Star Search since she was a child. While most teenagers were enjoying lie-ins and high-school proms, Destiny's Child were slogging it out from 6am onwards, usually in four-inch heels. When the band visited London in 2002 for the Notting Hill carnival, one manager who worked closely with the festival told me that he'd never met such a hard-working group as Destiny's Child, nor had he experienced such a dose of Southern politeness and charm.

Despite this furious work ethic, Beyoncé took her time progressing beyond the role of pretty, professional lead singer who followed questionable wardrobe advice and sang good R&B songs. The turning point came with her 2003 single, Crazy in Love. It was her first foray as a solo artist and, as is often the case when an artist cuts loose from their first band, she distanced herself from her previously girlish image. The song was immense, exciting and unlike any other of its time. It also featured a video full of flames, tight outfits and an ass-shaking routine bound to be replicated, with terrible results, across the world's dancefloors.

Beyoncé has barely paused for breath since; the singer is on to her 24th solo single, has appeared in eight feature films and performed at Barack Obama's inauguration ball. Though we shouldn't forget that she also collected a hefty fee to perform for Colonel Gaddafi's son on New Year's Eve, perhaps the result of bad advice.

There have, inevitably, been rumours as to why she has been more successful than her Destiny's Child counterparts, namely that she received support from her father. But the singer was the epitome of humble when she allowed Taylor Swift to take over her acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs last year, following Kanye West's infamous intrusion. Even if you do believe that the whole incident was staged, it's this public facade of grace and dignity with which she is best known.

Not that we will ever truly know what goes on behind that 100-watt smile. Interviews reveal little about Beyoncé. She barely discussed her relationship with Jay-Z until they married in a private ceremony in 2008. A rare glimpse behind her armour was offered when she admitted that earlier in her life, when Destiny's Child underwent a bitter lineup change, she had suffered from depression. For most of her time in the limelight, though, she has remained tight-lipped beyond a few references to being blessed and just wanting to give her fans 100%. From any other pop star this might seem cliched, but that's probably because not many other pop stars can tear through a seemingly endless world tour, perform numerous special-guest appearances with her all-female band or maintain an air of ubiquity since the release of I Am … Sasha Fierce in 2008.

With Beyoncé, there have been none of the break-downs or sex tapes associated with modern fame, none of the tell-all exposes or photoshoots for OK! Instead, she repeats that she expects nothing for free and is prepared to work extremely hard to achieve her dreams. So after years of graft to get to the top of her game, what's next? Some well-earned time off, apparently. She recently told USA Today: "'I've always worked hard, but I feel like I worked harder this last year than I have since I was just starting out … It will be the hardest thing in the world for me to make myself not do an album and shoot a video and turn it in and say, 'I'm ready!' I already have all these melodies and ideas in my head. I have to tell myself, 'Sit down! Sit down!'"

When she finally does, it will be a well-earned rest.