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Michelle Williams (singer)
Encyclopedia
Tenitra Michelle Williams (born July 23, 1980), commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter
, record producer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of the successful R&B
girl group
Destiny's Child
, one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time according to Sony BMG.
Originally a backing vocalist
for singer Monica
, Williams, alongside Farrah Franklin
, joined Destiny's Child in 2000 replacing former members LeToya Luckett
and LaTavia Roberson
. Following the departure of Franklin just five months later, Williams continued with fellow members Beyoncé
and Kelly Rowland
as a trio. In 2002, after a series of commercial successes, Williams released her debut album Heart to Yours
, which topped the US gospel album chart and became the best-selling gospel
album of 2002. The album won Williams a MOBO Award
for "Best Gospel Act" in 2002, giving Williams her first ever award as a solo artist. In 2004, Williams released its successor, Do You Know which gained Williams a nomination for "Best Gospel Act" at the 2004 MOBO Awards. In 2008 she released her first commercial pop
album, Unexpected
, on October 7, 2008. The lead single
from the album ("We Break the Dawn
") reached number one on the Hot Dance Airplay
chart and peaked within the top 50 of the UK
and Hungarian singles charts becoming her most successful single to date. Unexpecteds second single "The Greatest" peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play
chart and was ranked number thirty-nine on Billboard
magazine's Best of the 2000s Dance/Club Songs decade-end chart.
As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a television
, Broadway and West End theatre
actress, gaining a nomination for best "Lead Female Actress" in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards
.
to her mother, a nurse and her father a car salesman, she became one of four children raised in a "stable, loving" household. She made her musical debut at the age of seven, performing a rendition of the hymn
"Blessed Assurance
" at the St. Paul Church of God in Christ
. She later sang in the gospel groups United Harmony and Chosen Expression. After attending Rockford Auburn High School
and being a part of the school's Creative and Performing Arts magnet program
, she pursued a degree in criminal justice
at Illinois State University
, doubtful of her ability to make a career as a professional singer. However, after two years of university, she left to pursue a music career and began touring as a backing vocalist for Grammy-award winning R&B artist Monica in October 1999, after successfully auditioning in May.
band members Beyoncé
and Kelly Rowland
in the lobby of an Atlanta hotel. Months later Beyoncé asked an acquaintance if she knew anyone who could sing for a possible spot with the group and was referred to Michelle.
After the much-publicized turmoil, Williams—alongside Farrah Franklin
—officially joined the group in early 2000, replacing LeToya Luckett
and LaTavia Roberson
without notice. Buoyed by the group's breakout success, Luckett and Roberson had both attempted to split with the group's manager in late 1990s, claiming that he kept a disproportionate share of the band's profits and unfairly favored Knowles and Rowland. The issue was heightened after Williams and Franklin appeared in the video of "Say My Name
", implying that the original band members were already replaced. Franklin, however, faded from the group after five months, as evidenced by her absences during promotional appearances and concerts. Franklin attributed her departure to negative vibes in the group resulting from the strife. After settling on this final lineup, the trio recorded "Independent Women Part I
", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
. It became their best-charting single yet, topping the official US singles chart
for eleven consecutive weeks; the success cemented the new lineup and skyrocketed them to fame.
Following this success, in May 2001 Williams and Destiny's Child released the group’s third studio album Survivor. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
with sales of 663,000 copies. Survivor has sold over ten million copies worldwide, 4.1 million of which were sold in the US alone. The album's other number-one hits are "Bootylicious
" and the title track "Survivor", the latter earning the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
. After releasing their holiday album, 8 Days of Christmas
, the group announced their temporary break-up to pursue solo projects.
. The album material included collaborations with singers Carl Thomas, Shirley Caesar
and the Mary Mary
duo, taking the singer's work further into urban contemporary gospel
and Christian music
. "Some people will do gospel when their career fails, but I chose to do it at the height of the popularity of Destiny's Child," Williams explained during the album's release. "And I didn't want to do it because it was a fad. I wanted to do it because it's in me. It's in my heart." Released on April 16, 2002 in North America to much critical acclaim, Williams became the first member of Destiny’s Child to release solo material with Heart to Yours. The album sold 17,000 copies in its first week, placing it at number fifty-seven on the Billboard 200
and number two on the Billboard
Gospel Albums chart, where it later rose to number one. It became the year's best-selling gospel album, selling over 200,000 units stateside. A music video
for the album’s first and only single, "Heard a Word," was produced by film director
Sylvain White
. Heart to Yours won Williams a MOBO Award for "Best Gospel Act" along with a raft of nominations including a Stellar Award nomination for "New Artist of the Year", a GMWA Excellence Award nomination for "Female Vocalist of the Year Urban Contemporary" and a nomination for "Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year" from GMA Dove Awards for her collaboration with Shirley Caesar on "Steal Away To Jesus" which was first featured on Caesar's Hymns album.
Following the release and promotion of Heart to Yours, Williams made her on-stage acting debut in 2003, replacing fellow R&B singer Toni Braxton
in the title role of Aida
, the hit Broadway musical with music by Elton John
and lyrics by Tim Rice
. She was the first and remains the only Destiny’s Child member to have acted on Broadway.
, Dawkins & Dawkins, and brother Erron Williams. However, released on January 26, 2004 in the United States, Do You Know reached a disappointing number one-hundred-and-twenty on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,000 copies in its first week despite warm reception from critics who lent praise to Williams' songwriting ability. Once again, Williams scored more success on the component charts, where the album debuted at number two on the Top Gospel Albums chart and number three on the Top Christian Albums tally. The album was later re-released, including previously unreleased songs, to find greater success but did not re-chart; its same-titled lead single
also failed to chart. As of March 2008, Do You Know has sold 78,000 copies domestically.
After a three-year hiatus, Destiny's Child reunited for Destiny Fulfilled
, released in November 2004. The album hit number two on the Billboard 200
, and spawned the singles "Lose My Breath
", "Soldier", "Girl
" and "Cater 2 U
". In support of the album, Destiny's Child embarked on a 2005 Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It
world tour, which started in April to September of the same year. On the Barcelona
, Spain visit, the group announced their disbandment after their final North American leg would end. In October 2005, the group released a greatest hits
compilation album
, entitled #1's
, including the their most successful singles alongside three new tracks, including the band's final single "Stand Up for Love
", penned by David Foster
. Destiny's Child was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in March 2006. They were also recognized as the world's best-selling female group of all time.
debut in the UPN
comedy Half & Half
, where she played the role of Naomi, a record company executive who is HIV
positive. Later that year, she appeared as one of the celebrity singers on the FOX
reality television show Celebrity Duets
, duetting with actors Alfonso Ribeiro
and Jai Rodriguez
. In April 2006, Williams performed "America the Beautiful" at World Wrestling Entertainment
's event Wrestlemania 22
, which was in her hometown of Chicago
. Beginning in April 2007, Williams joined Oprah Winfrey
's Chicago-based cast of the hit Broadway musical
The Color Purple
for its national tour, starting with an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre
. Williams described the opportunity as "a dream come true", playing the part of blues singer Shug Avery
, which earned her positive reception.
and Music World Entertainment revealed that Williams would be releasing her third studio album Unexpected
on October 7, 2008 in the U.S. The album, her first secular release and first release since the disbanding of Destiny's Child, involves production by Stargate
, Rico Love
, the Heavyweights, Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton and Soulshock & Karlin
, among others. In June 2008, Williams released lead single "We Break the Dawn
" to universal acclaim from critics who hailed it as "a terrific fusion of European disco and American R&B". The song became Williams' most successful single, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart, whilst also charting internationally at number forty-seven on the UK Singles Chart
and number thirty-eight on the Hungarian Singles Chart before eventually being listed on Hungary's year-end singles chart. During the week of July 11, 2008 "We Break The Dawn
" hit number one on the US Billboard
Hot Dance Airplay
chart. After the album's release date was delayed from September 12, 2008 to October 7, 2008, "The Greatest" replaced "Stop This Car" as the anticipated second single release, and was serviced to mainstream radio. Meanwhile, "Hello Heartbreak
" was catered to dance clubs. "The Greatest" - described as a "fantastic pop ballad" - became Williams' second hit on the Billboard dance charts when it peaked at number-one the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, thanks to its numerous remixes, before being listed at number thirty-nine on the chart's decade-end list - ironically, just behind "Lose My Breath
" which Williams recorded while a member of Destiny's Child 5 years prior. Gaining favorable reviews from critics, in October 2008 Unexpected
debuted on the US Billboard 200
albums chart at number forty-two and number eleven on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first week sales of 14,000 units.
Speaking of her move from gospel music to secular pop/R&B with Unexpected in August 2008, Williams told noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul
: "For me to sell the number of units that I did, and to get the amount of love and reception that I got, from doing gospel was great. It's just that, right now I'm ready to try something different and to get my name and face out there in a different way."
In 2009, Williams confirmed in a video blog that she and a production team were putting the finishing touches on a remix version of the album due for release in North America
and Asia
. Williams also later confirmed via her Twitter
account that Unexpected would soon receive a full UK re-release with "Hello Heartbreak
" serving as its lead single. In July 2009, Williams elaborated further on the re-release in an interview for Digital Spy
, confirming that Sony Music (London division) was considering a re-issue of the album for which some new songs could be recorded. Furthermore she revealed that the Unexpected remix album was "completely done" and puts a hip-hop and/or jazz spin on some the album's original tracks. She also said that some of the new remixes could also be released as part of the UK re-issue. However by November 1, 2009 no more confirmation had been made on any Unexpected re-releases, suggesting that all plans had been scrapped. As of January, 2010 the album has sold 32,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Billboard.com.
On July 13, Williams began a limited six-week engagement at the Cambridge Theatre
in Chicago
, making her the first African-American to be cast in the West End
production of the musical. On discussing Williams' acquiring of the coveted role of murderous chorus girl Roxie Hart
, manager and Music World Entertainment executive Matthew Knowles said, "She's one of the greatest characters in the history of musical theater and it's both a challenge and a lot of fun to bring her to life on-stage. I hope that everyone who comes to the show enjoys it as much as I do, Michelle is a prime example of an all-round entertainer, she has enjoyed many successes as a music artist and now theater goers are going to experience her far reaching talents once again" whilst Williams is quoted as saying, "It's a real thrill to be given the opportunity to play Roxie Hart in the West End's spectacular production of 'Chicago'." Her run was extended and Williams continued appearing for three additional weeks for an extended engagement starting August 23 through September 12, 2009.
, replacing Ashlee Simpson
. In April, producers Barry and Fran Weissler announced that Williams would extend her limited engagement in Chicago. Originally slated to play her final performance on Sunday, March 28, 2010, Williams played an additional 18 performances through Tuesday, April 13, prior to joining the Los Angeles engagement of the Chicago national tour, Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, May 9 at the Pantages Theatre
. In commenting on Williams' engagements Barry Weissler said, “Michelle has proven to be a tremendous asset to CHICAGO, first in London last year and now on Broadway. In addition to being a fantastic performer, she’s as delightful and genuine offstage as she is onstage. We’re thrilled that she’s not only able to extend her Broadway run, but to join our national tour for its third return engagement in Los Angeles.”
In August, it was reported that Williams would be appearing in series 8
of Strictly Come Dancing
. On the launch show for the series it was revealed that Williams had been paired with Brendan Cole
, who 'immediately described the pairing as "perfection"'. They remained in the competition for seven weeks with variable results; on 23 October Ian Waite
stood in as her professional partner when Brendan Cole was unable to do so. Williams was eliminated on November 14.
Strictly Come Dancing performances
In December, 2010, Williams joined DJ Martin Jay to became a co-host on Choice FM
's Breakfast Show in London
for the month, replacing Lucy Ambache who was on maternity leave.
account multiple times that she will release a new album in 2011. In 2010, she started work on her fourth studio album. Michelle stated on Twitter that her new album will have a similar sound to Unexpected and might contain a dance track she has recorded Ultra Naté
titled "I'm Waiting on You". The upcoming album has been stated to feature production from Timbaland
. In December 2010, Williams released a song titled "Stay For A Minute" for free digital download
via Twitter
to celebrate gaining over 100,000 followers. "Stay For A Minute", written by Keli Nicole and produced by Jazz Nixon in 2006, was due for inclusion on the original version of Williams' Unexpected, which she described as a "solid R&B album", however when "the sound changed", the song was shelved and left unreleased. Furthermore, a track produced by Stargate
titled "If You Wanna Go", leaked to the internet, believed to be an outtake from the Unexpected sessions as Williams dismissed the song as "old" during a Twitter post.
In January 2011, Williams appeared on BBC
's popular comedy
panel game
show Never Mind The Buzzcocks
. On February 4, 2011, Williams began a 28-city tour starring in the David E. Talbert
stage-play What My Husband Doesn’t Know along with Brian J. White
, Ann Nesby
and Clifton Davis
, playing the lead role of Lena Summer. Summer is described as "the envy of all her friends. Big house. Successful husband. It's the perfect life... or so it seems. But with her husband's demanding career, the other side of her bed is too cold too often. When a handsome young foreman is hired to work on their home, the spark she's been missing quickly rages into a wildfire that could cost her everything."
In June, Williams posted a series of tweets and pictures documenting her time in Munich
, Germany
; including a visit to the BMW Museum
.
On June 5, she announced from Munich, Germany, that the following day she would be going to Ibiza
, Spain
. She further detailed her plans on June 6, announcing that she'd met with a "video director" for a 2 day shoot in Ibiza for a song titled "On the Run". On 6 July 2011, Williams released a buzz single titled "Love Gun" produced by Druski, to precede the release of her upcoming fourth solo album. Describing the sound of the album, Williams stated "My album will be 'inspirational pop". Think of Katy Perry
’s "Firework" or Natasha Beddingfield’s "Unwritten
". I want to give people a message of hope while at the same time get them moving with dance inspired tracks." The album is "slated to drop this winter with an official single release in August/September". In August 2011, during an interview for The BoomBox she discussed collaborating with hip-hop artist Talib Kweli
on a song produced by Hi-Tek
on which she sings a verse and the hook. Furthermore, she revealed the sound of her upcoming album would include more "live instrumentation", inspired by the gospel music she "grew up" on. In August, Electronic Giant Beatz released a press release, cover art and a music video teaser for a song featuring Williams titled "On the Run". "On the Run" was released in the UK on November 27, 2011.
In 2005, music producer David Foster
, his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies, and Knowles wrote "Stand Up for Love
", which would serve as the anthem of World Children's Day
, an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children's causes worldwide. Destiny's Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 World Children's Day program. In this role, Knowles, Rowland and Williams visited Ronald McDonald Houses around the world during their Destiny Fulfilled...and Lovin' It World Tour and donated a portion of their North American ticket sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
On September 19, 2006, Williams jump-started the Chicago PepsiCo S.M.A.R.T. - which stands for five simple steps that encourage active living and better food choices - program to promote active, healthy lifestyles by building a new "Smart Spot" playground in Chicago. Williams, along with friend Lance Bass
, was on hand to sing to and greet kids at the opening of Camp Heartland, a camp dedicated to helping kids suffering from HIV/AIDS enjoy life and take their mind off their illness. Furthermore, in 2006, the Chicago Sky
, a team in the Women's National Basketball Association
, announced that Williams, along with Mathew Knowles, is part of a group of minority shareholder owners in the team.
In 2011, Williams became a spokesperson for the Training, Education & Research Institute (TERI) and their Power of Ten campaign to raise money to fund a £21.8 million specialist facility in San Marcos, California. During an interview Williams revealed she has "a personal connection to the movement" as her godson was diagnosed with the development disorder at the age of two. In discussing the campaign, Williams said "It's such a great organisation dealing with people with autism and other developmental disabilities" and she was "just blown away" when she was informed "that they're trying to build a 20-acre facility that will have (an) equestrian centre, aquatics, arts and crafts facility and theatre".
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of the successful R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time according to Sony BMG.
Originally a backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for singer Monica
Monica (singer)
Monica Denise Brown , and professionally known as Monica, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, by the time she was ten...
, Williams, alongside Farrah Franklin
Farrah Franklin
Farrah Destiny Franklin is an American singer, actress, and model. She is an ex-member of Destiny's Child who replaced LaTavia Roberson; she left the group after 5 months.-Recording & movie career:...
, joined Destiny's Child in 2000 replacing former members LeToya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
and LaTavia Roberson
LaTavia Roberson
LaTavia Marie Roberson is a two-time Grammy Award–winning American contralto singer-songwriter, as well as an original member of Girl's Tyme which later became Destiny's Child. She was eventually replaced by Farrah Franklin in 2000. She was an original founder of the group with Beyoncé as they...
. Following the departure of Franklin just five months later, Williams continued with fellow members Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
as a trio. In 2002, after a series of commercial successes, Williams released her debut album Heart to Yours
Heart to Yours
Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member...
, which topped the US gospel album chart and became the best-selling gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
album of 2002. The album won Williams a MOBO Award
MOBO Awards
The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
for "Best Gospel Act" in 2002, giving Williams her first ever award as a solo artist. In 2004, Williams released its successor, Do You Know which gained Williams a nomination for "Best Gospel Act" at the 2004 MOBO Awards. In 2008 she released her first commercial pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
album, Unexpected
Unexpected (Michelle Williams album)
Unexpected is the third solo studio album by American singer Michelle Williams, released via Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 . It is Williams' first full length dance-influenced commercial pop album, moving away from the gospel style of her...
, on October 7, 2008. The lead single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
from the album ("We Break the Dawn
We Break the Dawn
"We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
") reached number one on the Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
chart and peaked within the top 50 of the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and Hungarian singles charts becoming her most successful single to date. Unexpecteds second single "The Greatest" peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart and was ranked number thirty-nine on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's Best of the 2000s Dance/Club Songs decade-end chart.
As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, Broadway and West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
actress, gaining a nomination for best "Lead Female Actress" in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards
NAACP Theatre Awards
The NAACP Theatre Awards is an award presented annually by the Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in theatre....
.
1980-1999: Early life
Born July 23, 1980 in Rockford, IllinoisRockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
to her mother, a nurse and her father a car salesman, she became one of four children raised in a "stable, loving" household. She made her musical debut at the age of seven, performing a rendition of the hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
"Blessed Assurance
Blessed Assurance
"Blessed Assurance" is a well-known Christian hymn. The lyrics were written in 1873 by blind hymn writer Fanny J. Crosby to the music written in 1873 by Phoebe P. Knapp.-History:...
" at the St. Paul Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
. She later sang in the gospel groups United Harmony and Chosen Expression. After attending Rockford Auburn High School
Rockford Auburn High School
Auburn High School is a public high school located in Rockford, Illinois, USA. The school is divided into two campuses: one a campus for freshmen and the other for upperclassmen....
and being a part of the school's Creative and Performing Arts magnet program
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
, she pursued a degree in criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, doubtful of her ability to make a career as a professional singer. However, after two years of university, she left to pursue a music career and began touring as a backing vocalist for Grammy-award winning R&B artist Monica in October 1999, after successfully auditioning in May.
2000-2002: Breakthrough with Destiny's Child
In late 1999, Williams met Destiny's ChildDestiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
band members Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
in the lobby of an Atlanta hotel. Months later Beyoncé asked an acquaintance if she knew anyone who could sing for a possible spot with the group and was referred to Michelle.
Farrah Franklin
Farrah Destiny Franklin is an American singer, actress, and model. She is an ex-member of Destiny's Child who replaced LaTavia Roberson; she left the group after 5 months.-Recording & movie career:...
—officially joined the group in early 2000, replacing LeToya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
and LaTavia Roberson
LaTavia Roberson
LaTavia Marie Roberson is a two-time Grammy Award–winning American contralto singer-songwriter, as well as an original member of Girl's Tyme which later became Destiny's Child. She was eventually replaced by Farrah Franklin in 2000. She was an original founder of the group with Beyoncé as they...
without notice. Buoyed by the group's breakout success, Luckett and Roberson had both attempted to split with the group's manager in late 1990s, claiming that he kept a disproportionate share of the band's profits and unfairly favored Knowles and Rowland. The issue was heightened after Williams and Franklin appeared in the video of "Say My Name
Say My Name
"Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000 . The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their...
", implying that the original band members were already replaced. Franklin, however, faded from the group after five months, as evidenced by her absences during promotional appearances and concerts. Franklin attributed her departure to negative vibes in the group resulting from the strife. After settling on this final lineup, the trio recorded "Independent Women Part I
Independent Women Part I
"Independent Women" is a song by American girl group Destiny's Child. The song first appeared as the soundtrack to the 2000 film adaption of Charlie's Angels, and later included in the group's third studio album, Survivor...
", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
. It became their best-charting single yet, topping the official US singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for eleven consecutive weeks; the success cemented the new lineup and skyrocketed them to fame.
Following this success, in May 2001 Williams and Destiny's Child released the group’s third studio album Survivor. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
with sales of 663,000 copies. Survivor has sold over ten million copies worldwide, 4.1 million of which were sold in the US alone. The album's other number-one hits are "Bootylicious
Bootylicious
"Bootylicious" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. It was written and produced by Rob Fusari, Falonte Moore, and band member Beyoncé Knowles for the band's third studio album Survivor , and contains a prominent sample from the 1981 recording "Edge of Seventeen," as written and...
" and the title track "Survivor", the latter earning the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1970 and 2011. From 1967 to 1969 and in 1971 the award included instrumental performances...
. After releasing their holiday album, 8 Days of Christmas
8 Days of Christmas
8 Days of Christmas is a Christmas album by R&B girl group Destiny's Child, released by Columbia Records in October 2001 in the United States .-Background:...
, the group announced their temporary break-up to pursue solo projects.
2002-2003: Solo career and Aida
While Williams was still with Destiny's Child, she intensified work on her debut solo album Heart to YoursHeart to Yours
Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member...
. The album material included collaborations with singers Carl Thomas, Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
and the Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
duo, taking the singer's work further into urban contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
and Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
. "Some people will do gospel when their career fails, but I chose to do it at the height of the popularity of Destiny's Child," Williams explained during the album's release. "And I didn't want to do it because it was a fad. I wanted to do it because it's in me. It's in my heart." Released on April 16, 2002 in North America to much critical acclaim, Williams became the first member of Destiny’s Child to release solo material with Heart to Yours. The album sold 17,000 copies in its first week, placing it at number fifty-seven on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number two on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Gospel Albums chart, where it later rose to number one. It became the year's best-selling gospel album, selling over 200,000 units stateside. A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the album’s first and only single, "Heard a Word," was produced by film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Sylvain White
Sylvain White
Sylvain White is a film director.Son of an American professional basketball player and a French flight attendant, Sylvain White was born in France and grew up mostly in Paris. After attending La Sorbonne University for law, he earned a scholarship to Pomona College in California, where he...
. Heart to Yours won Williams a MOBO Award for "Best Gospel Act" along with a raft of nominations including a Stellar Award nomination for "New Artist of the Year", a GMWA Excellence Award nomination for "Female Vocalist of the Year Urban Contemporary" and a nomination for "Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year" from GMA Dove Awards for her collaboration with Shirley Caesar on "Steal Away To Jesus" which was first featured on Caesar's Hymns album.
Following the release and promotion of Heart to Yours, Williams made her on-stage acting debut in 2003, replacing fellow R&B singer Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
in the title role of Aida
Aida (musical)
Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Walt Disney Theatrical....
, the hit Broadway musical with music by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and lyrics by Tim Rice
Tim Rice
Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
. She was the first and remains the only Destiny’s Child member to have acted on Broadway.
2004-2005: Destiny Fulfilled, hiatus and Do You Know
During the release of her fellow Destiny's Child members' debut albums, Williams spent time in the studio, recording her second album. The album saw her generally re-teaming with the majority of the producers and songwriters from her previous effort, also including Solange KnowlesSolange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
, Dawkins & Dawkins, and brother Erron Williams. However, released on January 26, 2004 in the United States, Do You Know reached a disappointing number one-hundred-and-twenty on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,000 copies in its first week despite warm reception from critics who lent praise to Williams' songwriting ability. Once again, Williams scored more success on the component charts, where the album debuted at number two on the Top Gospel Albums chart and number three on the Top Christian Albums tally. The album was later re-released, including previously unreleased songs, to find greater success but did not re-chart; its same-titled lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
also failed to chart. As of March 2008, Do You Know has sold 78,000 copies domestically.
After a three-year hiatus, Destiny's Child reunited for Destiny Fulfilled
Destiny Fulfilled
Destiny Fulfilled is the fourth and final studio album by American R&B trio Destiny's Child, first released in North America on November 16, 2004. It marked the return of Destiny's Child after it went into hiatus, which allowed each member to release solo albums...
, released in November 2004. The album hit number two on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, and spawned the singles "Lose My Breath
Lose My Breath
"Lose My Breath" is an R&B song performed by the American group Destiny's Child. It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Sean Garrett, and Shawn Corey "Jay-Z" Carter for Destiny's Child's fourth studio album, Destiny...
", "Soldier", "Girl
Girl (Destiny's Child song)
"Girl" is an R&B song performed by R&B girl group Destiny's Child. It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, Ric Rude, Angela Beyince, Sean Garrett, and Patrick Douthit for Destiny's Child fourth studio album Destiny Fulfilled...
" and "Cater 2 U
Cater 2 U
"Cater 2 U" is a song by American recording trio Destiny's Child, taken from their fourth studio Destiny Fulfilled . It was written by band members Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Ricky "Ric Rude" Lewis and Robert Waller, with Knowles, Rude and...
". In support of the album, Destiny's Child embarked on a 2005 Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It
Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It
Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It Tour was a massive worldwide 2005 concert tour by the reunited American female R&B trio Destiny's Child, that visited 16 countries throughout Australia, Japan, Middle East, Europe, and North America with 67 dates in total. The U.S...
world tour, which started in April to September of the same year. On the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain visit, the group announced their disbandment after their final North American leg would end. In October 2005, the group released a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, entitled #1's
Number 1's (Destiny's Child album)
#1's is a compilation album released by R&B group Destiny's Child containing songs from their albums The Writing's on the Wall, Survivor, This Is The Remix, and Destiny Fulfilled...
, including the their most successful singles alongside three new tracks, including the band's final single "Stand Up for Love
Stand up for Love
"Stand Up for Love" was the last song of the group and first and only single from Destiny's Child's greatest hits album, #1's. Released in 2005, the single became Destiny's Child's first single to fail to chart in the United States...
", penned by David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
. Destiny's Child was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
in March 2006. They were also recognized as the world's best-selling female group of all time.
2006-2007: Television debut and The Color Purple
Following Destiny's Child's disbandment in early 2006 Williams made her televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut in the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
comedy Half & Half
Half & Half
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
, where she played the role of Naomi, a record company executive who is HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
positive. Later that year, she appeared as one of the celebrity singers on the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
reality television show Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets was an American reality television show of the progressive game-show type, which combined celebrities of different backgrounds with professional singers in a weekly elimination competition....
, duetting with actors Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro is an American actor, director, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial featuring Michael Jackson, Ribeiro is best...
and Jai Rodriguez
Jai Rodriguez
Jai Rodriguez is an actor and musician best known as the culture guide on the Bravo network's Emmy-winning American reality television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He has also co-authored a book with the other Queer Eye hosts.-Biography:Rodriguez is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent,...
. In April 2006, Williams performed "America the Beautiful" at World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's event Wrestlemania 22
WrestleMania 22
Notes: .The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton over the World Heavyweight Championship. Mysterio won the 2006 Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Orton, to earn a World Championship match at WrestleMania. At No Way Out, Orton defeated...
, which was in her hometown of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Beginning in April 2007, Williams joined Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
's Chicago-based cast of the hit Broadway musical
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
The Color Purple
The Color Purple (musical)
The Color Purple is a Broadway musical based upon the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. It features music and lyrics written by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, with a book by Marsha Norman. It ran on Broadway in 2005 and has been touring throughout the US...
for its national tour, starting with an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre
Cadillac Palace Theatre
The Cadillac Palace Theatre is operated by Broadway In Chicago, a Nederlander Presentation. It is located at 151 West Randolph Street in the Chicago Loop area downtown.-History:...
. Williams described the opportunity as "a dream come true", playing the part of blues singer Shug Avery
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is an acclaimed 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction...
, which earned her positive reception.
2008-2009: Unexpected and Roxie Hart
In March 2008, Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and Music World Entertainment revealed that Williams would be releasing her third studio album Unexpected
Unexpected (Michelle Williams album)
Unexpected is the third solo studio album by American singer Michelle Williams, released via Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 . It is Williams' first full length dance-influenced commercial pop album, moving away from the gospel style of her...
on October 7, 2008 in the U.S. The album, her first secular release and first release since the disbanding of Destiny's Child, involves production by Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, Rico Love
Rico Love
Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...
, the Heavyweights, Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton and Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
, among others. In June 2008, Williams released lead single "We Break the Dawn
We Break the Dawn
"We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
" to universal acclaim from critics who hailed it as "a terrific fusion of European disco and American R&B". The song became Williams' most successful single, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, whilst also charting internationally at number forty-seven on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number thirty-eight on the Hungarian Singles Chart before eventually being listed on Hungary's year-end singles chart. During the week of July 11, 2008 "We Break The Dawn
We Break the Dawn
"We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
" hit number one on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
chart. After the album's release date was delayed from September 12, 2008 to October 7, 2008, "The Greatest" replaced "Stop This Car" as the anticipated second single release, and was serviced to mainstream radio. Meanwhile, "Hello Heartbreak
Hello Heartbreak
"Hello Heartbreak" is a dance-pop song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was co-written by Williams, James Scheffer, Travis Jones and Rico Love, and produced by Alex da Kid and Jay Wes for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
" was catered to dance clubs. "The Greatest" - described as a "fantastic pop ballad" - became Williams' second hit on the Billboard dance charts when it peaked at number-one the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, thanks to its numerous remixes, before being listed at number thirty-nine on the chart's decade-end list - ironically, just behind "Lose My Breath
Lose My Breath
"Lose My Breath" is an R&B song performed by the American group Destiny's Child. It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Sean Garrett, and Shawn Corey "Jay-Z" Carter for Destiny's Child's fourth studio album, Destiny...
" which Williams recorded while a member of Destiny's Child 5 years prior. Gaining favorable reviews from critics, in October 2008 Unexpected
Unexpected (Michelle Williams album)
Unexpected is the third solo studio album by American singer Michelle Williams, released via Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 . It is Williams' first full length dance-influenced commercial pop album, moving away from the gospel style of her...
debuted on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart at number forty-two and number eleven on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first week sales of 14,000 units.
Speaking of her move from gospel music to secular pop/R&B with Unexpected in August 2008, Williams told noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul is a British music magazine covering black music. Genres covered include soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. It was first published in 1966 and is known for first using the term Northern Soul....
: "For me to sell the number of units that I did, and to get the amount of love and reception that I got, from doing gospel was great. It's just that, right now I'm ready to try something different and to get my name and face out there in a different way."
In 2009, Williams confirmed in a video blog that she and a production team were putting the finishing touches on a remix version of the album due for release in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Williams also later confirmed via her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that Unexpected would soon receive a full UK re-release with "Hello Heartbreak
Hello Heartbreak
"Hello Heartbreak" is a dance-pop song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was co-written by Williams, James Scheffer, Travis Jones and Rico Love, and produced by Alex da Kid and Jay Wes for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
" serving as its lead single. In July 2009, Williams elaborated further on the re-release in an interview for Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, confirming that Sony Music (London division) was considering a re-issue of the album for which some new songs could be recorded. Furthermore she revealed that the Unexpected remix album was "completely done" and puts a hip-hop and/or jazz spin on some the album's original tracks. She also said that some of the new remixes could also be released as part of the UK re-issue. However by November 1, 2009 no more confirmation had been made on any Unexpected re-releases, suggesting that all plans had been scrapped. As of January, 2010 the album has sold 32,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Billboard.com.
On July 13, Williams began a limited six-week engagement at the Cambridge Theatre
Cambridge Theatre
The Cambridge Theatre is a West End theatre, on a corner site in Earlham Street facing Seven Dials, in the London Borough of Camden, built in 1929-30. It was designed by Wimperis, Simpson and Guthrie; interior partly by Serge Chermayeff, with interior bronze friezes by sculptor Anthony Gibbons...
in Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
, making her the first African-American to be cast in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of the musical. On discussing Williams' acquiring of the coveted role of murderous chorus girl Roxie Hart
Roxie Hart
Roxanne "Roxie" Hart is a fictional showgirl in various adaptations of the same story. She first appeared in the 1926 play Chicago written by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins was inspired by the real-life unrelated 1924 murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, which she covered for...
, manager and Music World Entertainment executive Matthew Knowles said, "She's one of the greatest characters in the history of musical theater and it's both a challenge and a lot of fun to bring her to life on-stage. I hope that everyone who comes to the show enjoys it as much as I do, Michelle is a prime example of an all-round entertainer, she has enjoyed many successes as a music artist and now theater goers are going to experience her far reaching talents once again" whilst Williams is quoted as saying, "It's a real thrill to be given the opportunity to play Roxie Hart in the West End's spectacular production of 'Chicago'." Her run was extended and Williams continued appearing for three additional weeks for an extended engagement starting August 23 through September 12, 2009.
2010: Chicago, Label Troubles and Strictly Come Dancing
On January 12, 2010, it was announced that Michelle had parted ways with Mathew Knowles (her manager) and Music World Entertainment. On February 8, 2010, Williams made a return to Broadway by commencing a seven-week limited engagement in Chicago at the Ambassador TheatreAmbassador Theatre (New York)
The Ambassador Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 219 West 49th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts, the structure is unusual in that it is situated diagonally on its site to fit the maximum number of...
, replacing Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...
. In April, producers Barry and Fran Weissler announced that Williams would extend her limited engagement in Chicago. Originally slated to play her final performance on Sunday, March 28, 2010, Williams played an additional 18 performances through Tuesday, April 13, prior to joining the Los Angeles engagement of the Chicago national tour, Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, May 9 at the Pantages Theatre
Pantages Theatre
Pantages Theatre may refer to:*Pantages Theatre , now Warnors Theatre*Pantages Theatre , California*Pantages Theatre *Pantages Theatre , Washington*Pantages Theatre , Ontario, now Canon Theatre...
. In commenting on Williams' engagements Barry Weissler said, “Michelle has proven to be a tremendous asset to CHICAGO, first in London last year and now on Broadway. In addition to being a fantastic performer, she’s as delightful and genuine offstage as she is onstage. We’re thrilled that she’s not only able to extend her Broadway run, but to join our national tour for its third return engagement in Los Angeles.”
In August, it was reported that Williams would be appearing in series 8
Strictly Come Dancing (series 8)
The eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a red carpet launch show on 11 September 2010, and the competitive live shows began on 1 October. The series concluded on 18 December when Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev won the competition...
of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
. On the launch show for the series it was revealed that Williams had been paired with Brendan Cole
Brendan Cole
Brendan Cole is a ballroom dancer specialising in Latin American dancing. He is most famous for appearing on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, a dance contest in which a professional ballroom dancer is partnered with a celebrity amateur dancer...
, who 'immediately described the pairing as "perfection"'. They remained in the competition for seven weeks with variable results; on 23 October Ian Waite
Ian Waite
Ian Waite is a professional Latin-American dancer, teacher and choreographer.-Biography:Waite was born in Reading, UK. He started dancing at the age of 10. Mary Richardson, a former Latin American champion put him through a rigorous medallist regime...
stood in as her professional partner when Brendan Cole was unable to do so. Williams was eliminated on November 14.
Strictly Come Dancing performances
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' score | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Goodman | Dixon | Tonioli | Total | |||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha Cha-cha-cha (dance) The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953... / Stone Cold Sober Stone Cold Sober "Stone Cold Sober" is the debut single by English singer and actress, Paloma Faith. It was released on 15 June 2009 and entered the UK chart at number 17. The accompanying video was directed by the British music video director Sophie Muller.... |
5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 24 | N/A |
| 2 | Foxtrot / It Had to Be You It Had to Be You It Had to Be You may refer to:* It Had to Be You * It Had to Be You * It Had to Be You * It Had to Be You! * It Had to Be You * "It Had to Be You"... |
6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba Rumba Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no... / Wicked Game Wicked Game "Wicked Game" is a 1989 song by Chris Isaak from his third studio album Heart Shaped World. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it did not become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart... |
4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | Bottom Two |
| 4 | Tango Tango (ballroom) Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance.... / Killer Killer A killer is someone or something that kills, such as a murderer.Killer may also refer to:-Games:*Killer , a multi-player pocket billiards game* Killer , a climbing card game related to tien len... |
6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Bottom Two |
| 5 | Jive Jive (dance) In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance... / The Time Warp |
7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 6 | Waltz Waltz The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim... / Right Here Waiting Right Here Waiting "Right Here Waiting" is a ballad recorded by Richard Marx on his second album, Repeat Offender. "Right Here Waiting" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the 700th song to do so. It also peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom.-Background and writing:... |
6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Bottom Two |
| 7 | Paso Doble / American Woman American Woman American Woman is the seventh album by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, released in 1970. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts... |
4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 24 | Eliminated |
In December, 2010, Williams joined DJ Martin Jay to became a co-host on Choice FM
Choice FM
Choice FM, branded on-air as London's Choice, is a brand used by the UK's biggest radio company, Global Radio for its network of black music radio stations...
's Breakfast Show in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for the month, replacing Lucy Ambache who was on maternity leave.
2011-present: Fourth album
Williams has stated on her TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account multiple times that she will release a new album in 2011. In 2010, she started work on her fourth studio album. Michelle stated on Twitter that her new album will have a similar sound to Unexpected and might contain a dance track she has recorded Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté is an American house music, Dance-pop and sometimes R&B musician who has achieved a respectable amount of success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind" as part of Stars on 54....
titled "I'm Waiting on You". The upcoming album has been stated to feature production from Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
. In December 2010, Williams released a song titled "Stay For A Minute" for free digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
to celebrate gaining over 100,000 followers. "Stay For A Minute", written by Keli Nicole and produced by Jazz Nixon in 2006, was due for inclusion on the original version of Williams' Unexpected, which she described as a "solid R&B album", however when "the sound changed", the song was shelved and left unreleased. Furthermore, a track produced by Stargate
Stargate
Stargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
titled "If You Wanna Go", leaked to the internet, believed to be an outtake from the Unexpected sessions as Williams dismissed the song as "old" during a Twitter post.
In January 2011, Williams appeared on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's popular comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
panel game
Panel game
A panel game or panel show is a radio or television game show in which a panel of celebrities participates. Panelists may compete with each other, such as on The News Quiz; facilitate play by guest contestants, such as on Match Game/Blankety Blank; or do both, such as on Wait Wait.....
show Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
. On February 4, 2011, Williams began a 28-city tour starring in the David E. Talbert
David E. Talbert
David E. Talbert is an American playwright.. Talbert is a graduate of Morgan State University and attended the New York University film program....
stage-play What My Husband Doesn’t Know along with Brian J. White
Brian J. White
Brian Joseph White is an American actor, dancer, football player, lacrosse player, stock broker and youth activist.-Personal life:...
, Ann Nesby
Ann Nesby
Ann Nesby is an American R&B, gospel, and dance music singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness; a songwriter with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight; plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations with Cuba...
and Clifton Davis
Clifton Davis
Clifton Duncan Davis is an American actor, songwriter and minister. He has appeared on the television shows as A World Apart, That's My Mama and Amen...
, playing the lead role of Lena Summer. Summer is described as "the envy of all her friends. Big house. Successful husband. It's the perfect life... or so it seems. But with her husband's demanding career, the other side of her bed is too cold too often. When a handsome young foreman is hired to work on their home, the spark she's been missing quickly rages into a wildfire that could cost her everything."
In June, Williams posted a series of tweets and pictures documenting her time in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; including a visit to the BMW Museum
BMW Museum
The BMW Museum is located near the Olympiapark in Munich and was established in 1972 shortly before the Summer Olympics opened. It deals with the history of the automobile manufacturer BMW. In connection with the construction of the BMW Welt, directly opposite the museum, it was renovated from 2004...
.
On June 5, she announced from Munich, Germany, that the following day she would be going to Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. She further detailed her plans on June 6, announcing that she'd met with a "video director" for a 2 day shoot in Ibiza for a song titled "On the Run". On 6 July 2011, Williams released a buzz single titled "Love Gun" produced by Druski, to precede the release of her upcoming fourth solo album. Describing the sound of the album, Williams stated "My album will be 'inspirational pop". Think of Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
’s "Firework" or Natasha Beddingfield’s "Unwritten
Unwritten (song)
"Unwritten" is a song by English singer Natasha Bedingfield. Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, and Wayne Rodriguez wrote it for her debut album, Unwritten. The single was released as the album's third UK single and second US single...
". I want to give people a message of hope while at the same time get them moving with dance inspired tracks." The album is "slated to drop this winter with an official single release in August/September". In August 2011, during an interview for The BoomBox she discussed collaborating with hip-hop artist Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
on a song produced by Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
on which she sings a verse and the hook. Furthermore, she revealed the sound of her upcoming album would include more "live instrumentation", inspired by the gospel music she "grew up" on. In August, Electronic Giant Beatz released a press release, cover art and a music video teaser for a song featuring Williams titled "On the Run". "On the Run" was released in the UK on November 27, 2011.
Philanthropy
In 2001, Williams made a "bountiful" donation of $148,900 to her church, St. Paul Church of God in Christ in Rockford, Illinois - to which she has been a member since birth - to finish construction of the church's school, St. Paul Academy. The church is pastored by her uncle, Bishop James E. Washington.In 2005, music producer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies, and Knowles wrote "Stand Up for Love
Stand up for Love
"Stand Up for Love" was the last song of the group and first and only single from Destiny's Child's greatest hits album, #1's. Released in 2005, the single became Destiny's Child's first single to fail to chart in the United States...
", which would serve as the anthem of World Children's Day
Children's Day
"Children Day", as an event, is celebrated on various days in many places around the world, in particular to honor children. Major global variants include a Universal Children's Day on November 20, by United Nations recommendation...
, an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children's causes worldwide. Destiny's Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 World Children's Day program. In this role, Knowles, Rowland and Williams visited Ronald McDonald Houses around the world during their Destiny Fulfilled...and Lovin' It World Tour and donated a portion of their North American ticket sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
On September 19, 2006, Williams jump-started the Chicago PepsiCo S.M.A.R.T. - which stands for five simple steps that encourage active living and better food choices - program to promote active, healthy lifestyles by building a new "Smart Spot" playground in Chicago. Williams, along with friend Lance Bass
Lance Bass
James Lance Bass , best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band 'N Sync. 'N Sync's success led Bass to work in film and television...
, was on hand to sing to and greet kids at the opening of Camp Heartland, a camp dedicated to helping kids suffering from HIV/AIDS enjoy life and take their mind off their illness. Furthermore, in 2006, the Chicago Sky
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team based in Rosemont, Illinois, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender...
, a team in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
, announced that Williams, along with Mathew Knowles, is part of a group of minority shareholder owners in the team.
In 2011, Williams became a spokesperson for the Training, Education & Research Institute (TERI) and their Power of Ten campaign to raise money to fund a £21.8 million specialist facility in San Marcos, California. During an interview Williams revealed she has "a personal connection to the movement" as her godson was diagnosed with the development disorder at the age of two. In discussing the campaign, Williams said "It's such a great organisation dealing with people with autism and other developmental disabilities" and she was "just blown away" when she was informed "that they're trying to build a 20-acre facility that will have (an) equestrian centre, aquatics, arts and crafts facility and theatre".
Discography
- Heart to YoursHeart to YoursHeart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member...
(2002) - Do You Know (2004)
- UnexpectedUnexpected (Michelle Williams album)Unexpected is the third solo studio album by American singer Michelle Williams, released via Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 . It is Williams' first full length dance-influenced commercial pop album, moving away from the gospel style of her...
(2008) - TBA (2012)
Acting
| Theatre | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Aida Aida (musical) Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Walt Disney Theatrical.... |
Aida Aida Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette... |
Lead role |
| 2007 | The Color Purple The Color Purple (musical) The Color Purple is a Broadway musical based upon the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. It features music and lyrics written by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, with a book by Marsha Norman. It ran on Broadway in 2005 and has been touring throughout the US... (Tour) |
Shug Avery | |
| 2009 | Chicago Chicago (musical) Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"... (West End, London) |
Roxie Hart Roxie Hart Roxanne "Roxie" Hart is a fictional showgirl in various adaptations of the same story. She first appeared in the 1926 play Chicago written by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins was inspired by the real-life unrelated 1924 murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, which she covered for... |
|
| 2010 | Chicago Chicago (musical) Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"... (Ambassador Theatre, Broadway, New York) |
||
| Chicago Chicago (musical) Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"... (Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles) |
|||
| 2011 | What My Husband Doesn't Know David E. Talbert David E. Talbert is an American playwright.. Talbert is a graduate of Morgan State University and attended the New York University film program.... |
Lena Summer | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Half & Half Half & Half Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship... |
Naomi Dawson | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | MTV's Top Pop Group MTV's Top Pop Group MTV's Top Pop Group was a competition consisting of nine pop groups looking to be the next Top pop group. The show aired on MTV and was hosted by Mario Lopez. The judges were Brian Friedman , Michelle Williams and Taboo... |
Judge | All episodes |
| 2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race RuPaul's Drag Race RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo. RuPaul plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."... |
Episode 2 | |
| Gospel Dream | All episodes | ||
| 2010 | You're Cut Off | Herself; special guest | Episode 7 - "Giving Back" |
| Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing (series 8) The eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a red carpet launch show on 11 September 2010, and the competitive live shows began on 1 October. The series concluded on 18 December when Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev won the competition... |
Herself; contestant | 16 episodes | |
| Films | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Blessed & Cursed | Herself; cameo appearance | Straight to DVD |
| 2011 | What My Husband Doesn't Know | Lena Summer | Live performance recording |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Category | Recording | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMA Dove Awards | ||||
| 2002 | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Steal Away To Jesus" | ||
| GMWA Excellence Awards | ||||
| 2003 | Female Vocalist of the Year Urban Contemporary | Heart to Yours Heart to Yours Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member... |
||
| Stellar Awards Stellar Awards The Stellar Awards is the first Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music Artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in... |
||||
| 2003 | New Artist of the Year | Heart to Yours Heart to Yours Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member... |
||
| MOBO Awards MOBO Awards The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music.... |
||||
| 2002 | Best Gospel Act | Heart to Yours Heart to Yours Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member... |
||
| 2004 | Do You Know | |||
| 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards NAACP Theatre Awards The NAACP Theatre Awards is an award presented annually by the Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in theatre.... |
||||
| 2008 | Lead Female Actress | The Color Purple The Color Purple (musical) The Color Purple is a Broadway musical based upon the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. It features music and lyrics written by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, with a book by Marsha Norman. It ran on Broadway in 2005 and has been touring throughout the US... |
||
| NewNowNext Awards NewNowNext Awards The first NewNowNext-Awards were held in 2008 by the gay and lesbian-themed network Logo.- 2008 :The nominees were announced by Cazwell and Amanda Lepore. Hosts were Candis Cayne and Colman Domingo... |
||||
| 2008 | Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Female Artist | "We Break The Dawn We Break the Dawn "We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected... " |
||
External links
- Michelle Williams - official website