Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Michelle Williams launched her vocal journey by delivering her very first solo, “Blessed Assurance,” at age seven inside the St. Paul Church of God in Christ choir. During her teenage years she lent her voice to the gospel ensembles United Harmony and Chosen Expression, yet uncertainty about a professional path prompted her to complete two years of college. In May 1999 she passed an audition that placed her as a backing vocalist for Monica, remaining on tour with the singer until October. The following January she received an invitation to become a member of Destiny’s Child, making her recorded debut on the chart-topping single “Independent Women Part I.” She subsequently contributed to the group’s blockbuster 2001 album Survivor, the seasonal project 8 Days of Christmas, and the remix collection This Is the Remix.
April 2002 saw Williams become the first Destiny’s Child member to release a solo project, the contemporary gospel album Heart to Yours, which emerged as that year’s top-selling gospel release. Do You Know, another gospel-focused set, arrived in 2004, while the glossy, dance-pop-oriented Unexpected surfaced in 2008, boasting production and writing input from StarGate, Solange Knowles, and Rico Love. In 2009 she stepped onto the stage of London’s West End production of Chicago, becoming the first African-American performer cast as Roxy Hart; her initial six-week engagement at the Cambridge Theater was extended by three additional weeks. Early in 2010 she announced her departure from manager Matthew Knowles and Music World Entertainment, then reprised the Roxy Hart role on Broadway, stepping in for Ashlee Simpson.
August 2010 brought news that she would compete on the British series Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Brendan Cole; the pair exited the show during week seven. The next year she joined forces with Ultra Nate for the track “I’m Waiting On You” and launched a 28-city tour starring in David E. Talbert’s play What My Husband Doesn’t Know. In 2012 Williams signed with Light Records and began preparing her fourth studio album. January 2013 found her portraying Sandra on the U.S. tour of the musical Fela!, while Destiny’s Child issued the compilation Love Songs that included the Williams-co-written song “Nuclear.” She later rejoined her former bandmates for Beyoncé’s Super Bowl XLVII halftime performance.
Williams soon confirmed that her fourth album, Journey To Freedom, would appear in mid-2014 alongside her own reality series, My Sister’s Keeper. The lead single “If We Had Your Eyes” was issued in advance of the June 2014 release date. She also took on the role of Mary Magdalene for the North American production and tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, appearing alongside John Lydon, JC Chasez, and Brandon Boyd.
