Kelly Rowland

Who Is Kelly Rowland?

Kelly Rowland rose to fame in the late 1990s as a founding member of the renowned R&B girl group Destiny’s Child, which garnered multiple Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of records worldwide. Since then, Rowland has forged a successful solo career, releasing several albums, and has served as a judge on prominent talent shows such as The X Factor and The Voice.

Early Life

Born Kelendria Trene Rowland on February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, Kelly was the daughter of Doris Rowland Garrison and Christopher Lovett. Inspired by her idol, Whitney Houston, Rowland began singing in the church choir. At the age of 7, following her parents’ separation due to domestic abuse, she moved with her mother to Houston, Texas. There, Rowland formed a strong bond with fellow aspiring singer Beyoncé Knowles. To provide a stable environment for Kelly, Beyoncé’s parents, Tina and Matthew Knowles, offered legal guardianship over Rowland.

Girl’s Tyme to Destiny’s Child

In the early 1990s, Rowland and Beyoncé were members of the group Girl’s Tyme, which competed on the nationally televised talent show Star Search. Though they did not win, the group continued to perform locally, building a reputation for their vocal and dance talent. By 1997, the group had signed a record deal with Columbia under the name Destiny’s Child, with Matthew Knowles as their manager.

Commercial Success

Destiny’s Child achieved remarkable success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with Rowland contributing lead and background vocals to several chart-topping albums. Their self-titled debut in 1997 was followed by The Writing’s on the Wall in 1999, and the highly successful Survivor in 2001, which included the hit single of the same name. Rowland became a millionaire by the age of 18, a milestone she credits to the guidance of Matthew Knowles. After a brief hiatus to focus on solo projects, Destiny’s Child reunited to release Destiny Fulfilled in 2004. However, during a concert in Barcelona, Rowland shocked fans by announcing that the group would disband after years of successful collaboration.

In a heartfelt statement, the group explained, “We have been working together as Destiny’s Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14. After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny’s Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other.”

Although Destiny’s Child officially disbanded, the members have occasionally reunited for special performances, with Rowland and Michelle Williams joining Beyoncé for her historic 2018 Coachella performance.

Solo Career

In 2002, Kelly Rowland embarked on her solo music journey with the release of Simply Deep, which featured the hit duet “Dilemma” with rapper Nelly. The song achieved significant success, spending two months at the top of the charts.

Rowland followed with her second album, Ms. Kelly, in 2007. While the album garnered moderate success, she made a significant career move in 2009 by parting ways with her manager, Matthew Knowles. Her next project, Here I Am (2011), released under Universal Motown, received favorable reviews from critics, marking a return to her musical roots.

In 2013, Rowland co-wrote the majority of the tracks for her fourth studio album, Talk a Good Game. This project featured collaborations with artists like Wiz Khalifa and her former Destiny’s Child bandmates, continuing to solidify her presence as a solo artist.

After a brief hiatus, Rowland released “Kelly,” her first single in several years, in November 2018. This was followed by “Crown” in early 2019, both of which were slated to be included in an upcoming album.

Television Judge and Actress

Beyond her music career, Rowland has expanded her talents into television and film. She served as a judge on both the U.K. and U.S. versions of the popular music competition show The X Factor. In addition, she appeared in the ensemble cast of the 2012 film Think Like a Man.

Rowland’s efforts in television continued with the launch of the short-lived musical career competition series Chasing Destiny. She later returned to her judging role on the Australian version of The Voice. In early 2019, Rowland took on the role of R&B legend Gladys Knight in the BET series American Soul, further showcasing her versatility in the entertainment industry.