UB Anniversary ReVisit: Michelle Williams Talks Motivation, DC + Infamous 106 Fall

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty.

Tenitra Michelle Williams, other-wise known as Michelle Williams, is an artist and songwriter, born in Rockford, Illinois. Michelle rose to fame in the 2000s as a member of R&B girl group Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling female groups of all time.

During their hiatus, she released her debut solo album “Heart to Yours” in 2002, which topped the US gospel album chart and became the best-selling gospel release of the year.

Also in 2002, Billboard named her the fifth Top Gospel Artist of the year and she received a MOBO Award for “Best Gospel Act”. Following this she released “Do You Know” in 2004, which gained her a nomination for “Best Gospel Act” at the 2004 MOBO Awards.

After Destiny’s Child’s disbanded in 2005, Williams released her first pop album, “Unexpected” in 2008, which spawned the internationally-charting single “We Break the Dawn” and the US Dance #1 “The Greatest”. Her fourth studio album, “Journey to Freedom” in 2014, was critically acclaimed and became her highest-charting charting album in the U.S.

Michelle Williams has earned several awards and accolades including but not limited to, a Grammy Award and star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Destiny’s Child.

She has also found success as a television and Broadway actress, in “Chicago.”

In 2021 Michelle released the memoir, “Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life—and Can Save Yours.”

This interview took place in February of 2006. Josiah from UB (now known as JDot.) spoke to Michelle shortly after it was announced Destiny’s Child would be going on hiatus. At the time Michelle was gearing up for her single release on the “Roll-Bounce” Soundtrack.

In this no-holds bar, real talk interview. Michelle talks about the “Roll Bounce” Soundtrack, Destiny’s Child and learning how to come out of her shell.

Michelle also got candid with us about her infamous fall on 106th & Park, lessons learned in the industry, what she looks for in a man and she speaks on, the best-selling female group of all-time debate.

UrbanBridgez.com: How did you get involved with the soundtrack to ‘Roll Bounce?’
Michelle Williams: I got involved with the ‘Roll Bounce’ Soundtrack because it’s on Sanctuary Records, my manager’s label and it was just easy. It’s his label and I’m on the label and it’s cool to be on the record with some of my label mates like Ray J, Beyonce, etc.

UrbanBridgez.com: How does it feel to be apart of an all-star soundtrack?
Michelle Williams: I was actually surprised when he (Matthew Knowles) said they were going to put ‘Let’s Stay Together’ on there because that particular song was actually intended for the Gap campaign that I did. But it’s all good, it’s all good.

UrbanBridgez.com: How was it putting your spin on the Al Green classic, ‘Let’s Stay Together’?
Michelle Williams: It was great! I wanna talk to him and I hope he likes it. I didn’t do nothing extra on it, I stayed cool with it. Jazzy Pha produced the track so I love that soulful music. I could sing that all day long.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you plan on doing any more acting (Broadway, touring stage plays, TV/Film)?
Michelle Williams: Oh gosh, yes. I would love to do some more Broadway. I auditioned for a Broadway musical a few days ago in New York. And then I have some other movie scripts that I’ve been reading. So I think that as long as I keep God first, I believe that the sky is the limit for what it is that I can do.

UrbanBridgez.com: Recently, Destiny’s Child received an award at the World Music Awards for being the ‘World’s Best-Selling Female Group of All-Time.’ Tuesday night on ‘R U the Girl’ with T-Boz & Chilli, they were introduced as the world’s best-selling female group of all-time. Do you care to comment on this?
Michelle Williams: No, I don’t. We grew up listening to TLC but as far as that I have no comments on that. I just know that we got the award a few weeks ago, so I don’t know how they do there calculations or how they tally them. A lot of people can say the Dixie Chicks are the number one selling group or the Supremes. I dunno, we are all in this together. We’re all up there, it don’t matter to me if your number one or number two; I know my girls and I are up there. Destiny’s Child doesn’t get into all that foolishness. Life is definitely too short.

UrbanBridgez.com: And that’s the media for you. They always want to create some type of competition.
Michelle Williams: They do and that’s their job.

UrbanBridgez.com: Talk to me about the upcoming ‘Greatest Hits’ Album due next month.
Michelle Williams: Wow! It’s going to be incredible. I was looking at the song list the other day. It’s like wow, that’s a lot going on there because we’ve got three new songs that we recorded. One stand out song is called ‘Stand Up For Love.’

UrbanBridgez.com: Definitely. I heard the song on AOL First Listen, it’s definitely hot.
Michelle Williams: That song is incredible! It came out beautifully. We put our heart into that song because those words are just so emotional. It makes it hard to sing that song due to what happened down South in Louisiana and Mississippi. Actually we need to say a prayer for them again because of this hurricane…

UrbanBridgez.com: Rita!
Michelle Williams: Rita & Katrina, they upset at somebody.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah, they really are! I just hope they leave us alone.
Michelle Williams: I know, I hope so.

UrbanBridgez.com: You really did your thing on the DC Fulfilled and Loving It Tour. Fans were more receptive to you on the tour than they have been in the past. Were you expecting such overwhelming support?
Michelle Williams: Umm, you know what. I think it’s because this time I really came out of my shell. I’ve been out of my shell but somehow I just burst out and said you know what, I’m going to give it all I have. I’m used to this industry now. I know when I first came in I was a lil’ different. When around the girls they knew how crazy I was, I was so protective of them because of what had happened to them. So when I would be in interviews or just around people I would be mean muggin’ them and just like “don’t even ask me any questions.” But then I was like okay Michelle, you have to get over that and just be Michelle, be that Michelle that my Moms and them know.

UrbanBridgez.com: What will Michelle be up to after DC officially splits?
Michelle Williams: Umm, wow. I’m definitely gonna rest. Career-wise, I’ve got businesses that I want to open. I’ve got some music that I want to do. I love all types of music. I want to do a Soul record for my next album. I want to get married and have some little kids one day. One day, not soon but one day.

UrbanBridgez.com: It’s interesting that you want to do a soul album, because a lot of people from the fan forums wanted to know whether or not you are going to record a soul album.
Michelle Williams: Thank you so much. That’s good to know.

UrbanBridgez.com: It is said that you are the one in the group with the biggest sense of humor. Any possibility of Michelle starring in her own show, like a sitcom?
Michelle Williams: Definitely. Definitely, one day. It’s got to be right though.

UrbanBridgez.com: Did you ever think in a million years that you would be apart of a mega-successful group?
Michelle Williams: Never and I can say never. I never thought this. It’s a dream come true.

UrbanBridgez.com: What does Michelle Williams do on a typical day “off?”
Michelle Williams: On a typical day off, I’m usually asleep till about 3:00 in the afternoon. I sleep my life away.

UrbanBridgez.com: What keeps you motivated?
Michelle Williams: Definitely not listening to negative people or I even have to sometimes turn off the radio. If hear the name Destiny’s Child and then hear what they are about to go into I’ll turn it off immediately. There are also certain magazines that I can’t even read now because they are so disrespectful. I know they have to do what they have to do to sell a magazine, but I’m just not one of the buyers.

UrbanBridgez.com: When you had your infamous fall on 106th and Park earlier this year, what where your thoughts when you felt yourself going down?
Michelle Williams: It just happened. There are so many artists that fall. A lot of them usually don’t fall on live TV. I’ve seen many of artists fall, and they just get right back up, that’s just professionalism. Unfortunately my heel got caught in the loop of my cargo pants. So, there was nothing that I could do but go down. But it was okay!

UrbanBridgez.com: That’s right. I just wanted to let you know that you had fans pumping their fists yelling “Go Michelle” at the TV. I just think it was very professional of you to keep going. Had it been other artist they might not have kept going and we really appreciate your professionalism.
UrbanBridgez.com: What artists would you like to work with throughout your solo career?
Michelle Williams: Let’s see. I would love to work with Jill Scott. I love all types of music so if I throw out names like Sting, don’t get mad. I think Sting is hot. John Legend I would love to work with one day. I would also love to see what me and Fantasia would do. That’s about it.

UrbanBridgez.com: You used to sing with the group “United Harmony.” Do you plan on recording any music with them in the near future?
Michelle Williams: You know what everybody has kinda split up. One is preparing to be a doctor. Another is married and has a baby. I don’t know. I speak to them from time to time. I don’t know how serious everybody is about it. You’ve got to be serious about wanting to be an artist. If you want to do other things with your career that’s cool, but when you want to record and be artist, it takes some sacrifice.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s in your CD player right now, or your Ipod?
Michelle Williams: In my Ipod I got everything! Al Green, Jonathan Butler, some Boyz II Men. I got some Jay-Z, Ciara and a lot of gospel. In my CD Changer I have this young quartet called the Soul Seekers. I got Darinda Clarke Cole in there. My album is in there. Syleena Johnson, Charlie Wilson and Yolanda Adams.

UrbanBridgez.com: What is the difference for you in singing solo versus with DC3?
Michelle Williams: Singing solo is just more of me I guess. I’m up for different type of music. I can feel it.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned since you’ve gotten into the music industry?
Michelle Williams: Not to take anything personally. Business is evil. This music business is crazy, but you know what the thing is, being of a certain genre, I just thought that an artist could just be a artist. But you’ve got some labels and people that tell you that you have to do this and do that. If you’re a size 8 you have to get down to a size 4. You have to dance even if you don’t dance. I’m so sick of seeing folks dancing that don’t dance, just let these people sing! Ya know what I’m sayin.

UrbanBridgez.com: Is there ever a time where you just want to give up being a celebrity due to the pressures and rumors that are always?
Michelle Williams: Definitely, but you can’t be a punk. I would have got talked about if I was a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher. Folks are always going to have something to say about you.

UrbanBridgez.com: Are you dating anyone? If not, what do u look for in a man?
Michelle Williams: No I’m not dating anyone. I look for a guy who takes care of himself. A guy who loves God and who definitely has a sense of humor. Someone who’s focused. There’s nothing like a focused man. I want him to be focused but also still able to pay attention to me.

UrbanBridgez.com: Has it been difficult to maintain your Christian values and your integrity since you began singing secular music?
Michelle Williams: No, it hasn’t been difficult at all. You just have to make that choice to do right.

UrbanBridgez.com: Now that Destiny’s Child is over, have you ever considered joining a different singing group?
Michelle Williams: No sir, no! Destiny’s Child is the only group for me!

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Michelle Williams: I would just like to thank everyone for there love and support. Love You!

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