Michelle Williams

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• Genre: Contemporary R&B
• Hometown: Rockford

About

The last diva to join Destiny's Child (following the rather controversial exodus of disgruntled original Children LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson), Michelle Williams seemed poised to have the least successful solo career. But rather than try to be yet another Beyonce wannabe, the Rockford, Ill., native has made her own post-Destiny's destiny by making some rather unconventional career choices. Williams was actually the first member of the trio to put out an individual project, but she turned her solo focus to gospel, releasing 2002's phenomenally successful Heart to Yours, which topped the Billboard gospel charts and became the top-selling gospel album of that year. Another gospel album and a couple of surprisingly successful Broadway stints (including starring as Shug Avery in the 2007 tour of Oprah Winfrey's musical version of The Color Purple) followed before Williams began working on her pop debut, 2008's Unexpected. "We Break the Dawn," the lead single from that album, hit No. 1 on the Billboard dance charts.

- Rachel Devitt