Destiny’s Child, whose final line-up comprised of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, was one of the bestselling girl groups in the late ’90s and early ’00s. Each group member had their strengths and while Destiny’s Child didn’t always lead songs with a formulaic approach, Williams’ hooks were always something to look out for that differentiated her from the other vocalists.

Williams was the last member of the trio to join Destiny’s Child, as Knowles and Rowland had been in the group since the beginning. She made her Destiny’s Child debut in 2000 in the “Say My Name” video with former Destiny’s Child member Farah Franklin. Franklin left the group after five months. The first song the trio recorded together was “Independent Women Part I,” which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels.

Williams, like Rowland and Knowles, went on to pursue a solo career. Williams was the first group member to release a solo project. Her first solo album was Heart to Yours which was released in 2002 during the hiatus of Destiny’s Child. Two years later she released a gospel album titled, Do You Know.

After the group officially disbanded in 2006, Williams released her first pop album, Unexpected in 2008. She followed up with her fourth studio album Journey to Freedom in 2014.

After music, Williams has been very open about her personal journey with mental health. She released a book Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life—and Can Save Yours in 2021. She spoke about the book with her Destiny’s Child groupmates in a clip uploaded to her Instagram at the time.

“It’s okay to not be okay. and it’s okay to tell somebody you’re not okay. I honestly should have done that with y’all. I’ve been open about a lot of things but I was never really truthful about how I really was,” she said. “Even though y’all have proven to be safe friends, safe sisters, sometimes people have to know you’re not going to be looked at differently if you say, ‘Y’all, I’ve been really sad too long. Something’s going on.”

Destiny’s Child would go on to release five studio albums, earn 14 Grammy nominations and snag three wins, twice for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and once for Best R&B Song. The group has sold an estimated 17.5 million albums in the US and over 60 million records worldwide.

Take a look at five of Michelle Williams’ most memorable hooks on Destiny’s Child:

• 5. "Solider" ft. T.I. and Lil Wayne 'Destiny Fulfilled' (2004)

  In “Solider,” Destiny’s Child is telling men that they want someone who is going to be strong and protect them. Michelle’s hook breathes confidence; she knows exactly what she wants. “Ooh he lookin’ good and he talkin’ right (Talkin’ right)/He the type that might change my life (Change my life)/Everytime he look at me my girls be like (Girls be like)/(That one may be the one tonight).” “Solider” features guest verses from T.I. and Lil Wayne. The music video also featured cameos from Lloyd, Bow Wow, Ginuwine, and Ice Cube.

• 4. "Emotion" 'This Is The Remix' (2002)

  In “Emotion,” Michelle’s soulful approach delivers a whirlwind of sorrow as she sings,”And where are you now?/ Now that I need you/Tears on my pillow/Wherever you go/Cry me a river that leads to your ocean/You’ll never see me fall apart.” This song is stacked differently from most Destiny’s Child songs as there aren’t many individual lines by the vocalists. Almost each individual line is supported by the chorus that plays throughout the song in a round for the “whirlwind” effect. The song was released in 2002 and is a part of their remix album This Is The Remix.

• 3. "Girl" 'Destiny Fulfilled' (2004)

  Now, we aren’t sure whose idea it was to have Michelle and Beyoncé spill Kelly’s business at brunch, but the song is a powerful friendship anthem, knowing that you’ll always have your best friends during tough moments. Michelle echoes that sentiment in her hook, asking Kelly, “What you mean you don’t need us to help? (Girl)
  We known each other too well/Girl, you’re my girl, we’re your girls (Whoa)/We want you to know that we love ya (Yeah, yeah).” The song is a part of the group’s final studio album together, Destiny Fulfilled.

• 2. "Survivor" 'Survivor' (2001)

  In the music video for “Survivor,” Michelle delivers her lines on a floaty alongside her Destiny’s Child groupmates. “After all of the darkness and sadness, soon comes happiness/If I surround myself with positive things, I’ll gain prosperity,” she sings. Michelle also delivers the outro that leads into the third track “Bootylicious” singing, “I will survive being fine (La-la-la)/I will survive being sexy (La-la-la)/I will survive being bootylicious.” The record is the title track to Destiny’s Child third studio album which was released in 2001.

• 1. "Cater 2 U" 'Destiny Fulfilled' (2004)

  By far Michelle’s best hook from Destiny’s Child is from “Cater 2 U.” The record is about taking care of your partner while Beyoncé suggests making a bath, Kelly sings about staying in shape and Michelle sings about catering to every wish. The song slightly slows down during Michelle’s hook breathing a new life into the song as she sings, “I love the way you are (You are)/Fulfill your every desire (Desire)/Your wish is my command (Your wish, command)/I wanna cater to my man (Cater to my man).” The song is found on the group’s last studio album, Destiny Fulfilled.

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