Beyoncé turned 45 on September 4, 2026, and marked the birthday by releasing an expanded reissue of her album B'Day, the second studio record she originally put out in 2006 to coincide with her 25th birthday. The album helped establish her as a star of R&B and pop.
Twenty years later, on the same date, the multiple Grammy winner released the new version of B'Day with 31 tracks, including a reworked take on one of its best remembered songs. "Irreplaceable," the hit that topped R&B charts in both English and Spanish, returns remastered with the rhythm of "Como la Flor," the 1992 song that remains one of the enduring anthems of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Beyoncé sings over the musical base of "Como la Flor" and performs some verses in Spanish.
Beyoncé's admiration for Selena
Beyoncé, who was born in Texas and is known for hits including "Single Ladies," "Halo" and "Run the World," has spoken on several occasions about her admiration for Selena, who died in 1995 and whom she listened to growing up in Texas.
Beyoncé said that growing up in Texas she heard Selena on the radio, and that she considers her a legend she admires.
Years ago, Beyoncé recalled a chance encounter with Selena at the Galleria mall in Houston, at a time when Beyoncé was not yet a public figure. She told MTV that she actually met Selena at the Galleria mall in Houston, Texas, but that she did not say much to her because she was not a celebrity at the time, and that she simply said hello and walked away.
Chris Pérez and the Quintanilla family react
The new version of "Irreplaceable" also drew a reaction from Chris Pérez, Selena Quintanilla's widower, who welcomed the collaboration on his official Instagram account. Pérez wrote that one of his favorite singers, Beyoncé, had just sung alongside his all-time favorite singer, Selena.
Beyoncé said she tried to emulate Quintanilla by listening to her music. She said that listening to Selena's album, even without knowing exactly what she was saying, helped her in the studio with her pronunciation. She added that learning something new and feeling embraced by the Latin community was great for her, noting that although she does not speak Spanish, many of her friends and the people she grew up with do.
The Quintanilla family, which manages Selena's legacy, said the collaboration had their full approval. A statement from the family said the wholehearted endorsement from Selena Quintanilla's heirs toward Beyoncé made possible this timely and meaningful duet.
A Maluma collaboration and unreleased tracks
The new production also features a collaboration between Beyoncé and Colombian singer Maluma on "Cuerpo Tumbao" (Get Me Bodied), which includes excerpts from Celia Cruz's "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" sung in Spanish by both artists. In a statement, Beyoncé expressed her admiration for the late Cruz for her refusal to give in to racism.
The reissue of B'Day also includes previously unreleased songs, among them "Creole," "Back Up," "Lost Yo Mind" and "Can I Watch You," featuring Pharrell Williams.
Irreplaceable's chart history
"Irreplaceable" spent 10 consecutive weeks at number one in the United States, making it the most successful single by a female artist of the entire 2000s decade. It was crowned the best-selling song in the United States in 2007, reached the Top 10 in multiple countries, and sold more than 4.6 million copies internationally in its year of release alone.
