Revisiting Destiny’s Child: What are Kelly and Michelle Up to Now?

Find out what Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have been up to since the legendary girl group released their final album fifteen years ago

Written by Delaney Davis

Let’s face it. In a group of three, one is always going to stand out above the rest. In Destiny’s Child, the breakout star was clearly Beyoncé. Think about it: we refer to the other members as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Beyoncé is a name that stands on its own. But, this doesn’t mean that the careers of both Rowland and Williams have stagnated since the group’s split in 2006.

Rowland’s career hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down since her first hit solo album, Simply Deep, was released 17 years ago in 2002. The Atlanta-born singer still continues to release new music, with her upcoming fifth album, Kelly, dropping in September of 2019.

The first single from the album, “Kelly,” is a catchy tune that presents Rowland at her most confident, as she brags that “Kelly got a house, big house on a hill / Kelly's so blessed, thick, yes XL / Kelly ain't, Kelly ain't got no chill / Kelly don't really give a f--- how you feel.” With her mezzo-soprano vocals layered over a trap-inspired beat, Rowland shows her ability to maintain relevance in a constantly changing music industry. “Kelly” reminds the music industry that Rowland still has the energy that made audiences around the world fall in love with her as a member of Destiny’s Child.

The second single from Rowland’s upcoming studio album, “Crown,” was released in early February. The music video for the song was created in partnership with Dove in support of their #MyHairMyCrown campaign, which encourages women to find the beauty in their natural hairstyles.

In addition to releasing new music, Rowland also entered the world of TV in 2019. She is currently starring as the “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight in the BET drama “American Soul.” The show highlights the development of the legendary music-dance program “Soul Train,” which ran from 1971 to 2006. “American Soul”premiered in early February.

Rowland is not the only former Destiny Child’s member to star in the BET drama — Williams was cast as the iconic Diana Ross in December 2018. In an interview with Ebony, Williams reflected upon her casting as the lead singer of The Supremes, saying, “it is really such a humbling experience to play such an icon.”

Williams has also mirrored Rowland in that she has recently begun to release more music as a solo act. In late 2018, her single “Fearless” dropped in collaboration with Radiance Music Group. However, while the record label claims their aim is to “pioneer and release a new sound — to step outside the box and break the mold of the current sound of this era,” “Fearless” doesn’t exactly meet this goal. Instead, the single sounds like any typical pop-R&B hybrid found on mainstream radio today. Even without considering the lack of originality in the track’s sound, it sounds much too immature for William’s vocals, which are much more suited to a gospel-esque style. Williams has previously shown this unique vocal ability in past Destiny’s Child songs, such as “Gospel Medley” from Survivor.

Still, her role in “American Soul” and the release of new music symbolizes a new start for Williams. In the summer of 2018, the singer checked herself into a mental facility to treat her depression. Additionally, in December 2018, it was reported that Williams and pastor Chad Johnson had called off their engagement, nine months after it began. But with the release of new content, Williams seems poised to begin a new chapter in her life.

The durability of both Rowland’s and Williams’ careers, in addition to Beyoncé’s, illustrate that Destiny’s Child remains one of the most successful girl groups ever, in terms of their members’ solo success. The trio’s continued solo presence isn’t at all surprising, though, when considering the group’s major star power.