African Celebrities: Kelly Rowland

Kelendria Trene Rowland popularly known as Kelly Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She was born on February 11, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the daughter of Doris Rowland Garrison and Christopher Lovett. When she was seven her mother took her and left her father, who was an abusive alcoholic.

Kelly Rowland rose to fame in the late 1990s as a founding member of R & B girl-group Destiny's child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She released her debut solo album Simply Deep (2002), which sold 2.5 million copies worldwide and produced the number-one single "Dilemma" with Nelly, as well as the international top-ten hit "Stole".

Following the disbandment of Destiny's child in 2005, she released her second album Ms. Kelly (2007), which included international hits "Like This" and "Work".

Her work has earned her several awards and nominations including four Grammy Awards, a Billboard Music Award and a Soul Train Music Award. Kelly Rowland has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Destiny's Child and has been honored by the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers and Essence for her contributions to music.