Michelle Williams on Being Destiny’s Child’s Least Recognisable Member

The Destiny’s Child lineup had changed four times by the time the final trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams was reached. Williams joined the group in 2000 and by the end of 2001 they had split to focus on their solo careers.

But within that time they released Survivor, their biggest album, as well as a huge number of smash hits. 

Yet Williams isn’t the household name you’d expect her to be. Unlike Beyoncé, who has gone on to become one of the biggest names in global music mega-stardom, Williams has maintained her work in music, but also focuses her energy into her podcast, writing and theatre work. 

One thing that’s for sure, though, is that whatever jokes you’re making about Williams, she’s not only in on them, she’s also cashing in on them. Her latest campaign with Uber One proves that, and proves she knows how to make hay while the sun shines. 

“I don’t [take myself too seriously]. There are pros and cons, I think of some of my peers who cannot walk down the street in Atlanta without being recognised and phones out all the time. I can’t imagine what that’s like,” says Williams.

“I do get the occasional nod – ‘Oh, that’s so-and-so’ – and if I’m shopping everyone wants to be my sales associate because they think I’m spending money.”

Speaking with Rolling Stone AU/NZ Editor-in-Chief Poppy Reid on the newest episode of the ‘Behind The Rolling Stone Cover’ podcast, sponsored by Shure, Williams says the money definitely eases any pain of being less recognised.

“Money isn’t everything, but I love that I can make a living out of doing what I love to do. I can help provide resources for people, to help them get the help they need, or branch off and do something in their career. I love that.

“So while you’re making fun of me, I just left the bank.”

For Williams, that money has allowed her to follow her passion for mental health awareness, within her book Checking In and her podcast of the same name. 

“Purpose is to positively impact the lives of as many people as I can, to give people the language for feelings or responses that they feel, so they know they’re real. Hopefully it gives them courage, you don’t have to shout it from the mountaintop like I do, but hopefully if you want to quietly go seek some counselling, you can do that. Everybody deserves that.”

‘Behind The Rolling Stone Cover’ is sponsored by Shure, the premier choice for affordable, durable, and exceptional-sounding microphones. 

Not only is Shure already the brand of choice for musicians everywhere, their reliable and durable microphones also make the perfect choice for podcasters and streamers. With a history of audio innovation spanning for almost a century, Shure has turned a passion for making great microphones into an unparalleled legacy of audio innovation.

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