Rooted in soul, shaped by lived experience and standing firmly in her truth, Chicago-based vocalist Simone Green will release new single, “Black Queen,” on February 24.
“Black Queen” is a breakthrough, a release and return to self, reframing strength as something you don’t perform, you embody. Arriving during Black History Month, the record honors Black womanhood as lived truth – resilience, tender, radiant and real, powerful on its own terms.
“This song is for the woman who’s been strong for everyone else and forgot she was allowed to be whole for herself,” says Green. “‘Black Queen’ is that moment you stop shrinking, stop apologizing, and remember you come from women who turned struggle into strength. That crown didn’t come from nowhere… it’s inherited.”
The single follows a standout run of high-profile performances, underscoring Simone’s growing cultural presence. The rising star started off the year as the opening act for DJ Jazzy Jeff in Chicago. Other recent highlights include opening for Ledisi at the 2025 Urban League Gala, performing at the 2025 Black Women’s Expo, taking the stage at the inauguration of Emmanuel “Chris” Welch, the first Black Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, and opening for Dru Hill at the 2024 South Shore Summer Festival. Expanding her artistry beyond music, Simone also made her theatrical stage debut in 2025, starring as Madame Zinzanni at Teatro Zinzanni Chicago.
That momentum builds on a career defined by cultural reach, longevity and range. Simone’s body of work spans decades and genres, including a #1 independent radio hit, “We Could Be,” and a voice woven into the fabric of American media, from award-winning campaigns for Walmart, Toyota, and the Illinois Lottery to placements on Dance Dance Revolution and the television series Ugly Betty.
Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Simone relocated to Chicago in 1997, where she co-founded the beloved band Soul Sanctuary, performing to sold-out crowds and becoming a respected fixture in the city’s music community. Her recent solo work continues that legacy; blending soul, R&B, and contemporary influences with storytelling that is emotionally precise and culturally rooted.
“Black Queen” will be available on all major streaming platforms on February 24, 2026.
###
ABOUT SIMONE GREEN
Simone Green is a Chicago-based vocalist, songwriter, and cultural storyteller whose career spans commercial success, live performance excellence, and genre-defying artistry. A SAG-AFTRA member, Simone has been featured in award-winning national campaigns and across television and gaming platforms. From co-founding Soul Sanctuary to earning a #1 independent radio hit with “We Could Be,” Green’s voice carries the weight of experience and the clarity of purpose. Her work bridges soul, R&B, and contemporary music with emotional precision and cultural truth. For more information and updates, follow Simone Green across social platforms at @SimoneGreenLive.
