Michelle Williams

Singer and actress Michelle Williams became a superstar at the turn of the millennium when she joined the R&B group Destiny’s Child. She’s since made her mark with gospel albums and high-profile theater roles. • Hailing from Rockford, Illinois, Williams began singing in church as a child. She studied criminal justice at Illinois State before leaving school to pursue music and tour as a backup singer for Monica. • She joined Destiny’s Child in 2000 and made her group debut with the single “Independent Women Part I.” • After a string of successful releases with the group, she was the first to go solo. Her 2002 debut, Heart to Yours, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. • In 2006, after Destiny’s Child split up, Williams released her first pop album, Unexpected. It spawned two Top 5 hits on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart, including “The Greatest,” which reached No. 1. • Her 2014 album Journey to Freedom includes “Say Yes,” featuring her Destiny’s Child bandmates Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. The song hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. • Williams has cultivated a thriving stage acting career, landing leading roles in Aida and Chicago on Broadway.