Michelle Williams

Tenitra Michelle Williams (born July 23, 1980), commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is better known for being one-third 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 without notice. Following the departure of Franklin just five months later, Williams continued on with fellow members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland as a trio. In 2002, after a series of commercial successes, she went solo. Williams released her number one Billboard Gospel album Heart to Yours, which became the best-selling gospel album of 2002 and spawned the single "Heard a Word". The album was followed by Do You Know in early 2004. As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a television and Broadway actress.

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 #1 on the Hot Dance Airplay chart; while her second single "The Greatest" peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and reached #32 on the Yahoo Top 100 R&B Music Video chart.

Michelle began playing the leading role of Roxie Hart in London, England in the famous West End production of Chicago in July, 2009. Williams then began working on her fourth studio album.

On January 12, 2010, it was announced that Michelle had parted ways with Matthew Knowles (her manager) and Music World Entertainment. Williams returned to the USA as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway in February, 2010. She is the first African-American to play the role of Roxie on Broadway.

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