What The Beatles’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Blackbird’ means to this Little Rock Nine member / WKKY Country 104.7 Juliana Kim Apr 2, 2024 | 9:36 AM A fan of both The Beatles and Beyoncé, 82-year-old Melba Pattillo Beals says the song is more special to her than ever. She is one of the Black students who helped desegregate U.S. public schools.