Kelly Rowland

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One of the world's biggest R&B stars, Houston-raised Kelly Rowland shot to fame as part of Destiny's Child, the all-conquering all-girl group that she formed with childhood friend Beyonce Knowles in the early-1990s.

Destiny's Child released three albums between 1997 and 2001 -- 1998's eponymous debut, 1999's The Writing's on the Wall, and 2001's Survivor -- selling more than 50 million copies and topping charts all over the world with a string of killer singles including "No, No, No," "Survivor," "Say My Name," "Independent Woman," and "Bootylicious."

The group separated in 2001 to concentrate on solo material, before reforming for one final album, 2004's Destiny Fulfilled, three years later. A world tour followed in 2005 during which Rowland announced that the group were again to split.

Rowland is already well established as a solo artist, selling two million copies of her debut, "Simply Deep," in 2002 and topping the U.S. charts for 10 weeks with "Dilemma," a Grammy-winning duet with the rap star Nelly.

The album showed off a more contemplative style, laden with guitar-stringed balladry.

"We wanted our solo albums to be different from Destiny's Child so that people wouldn't compare them to the group's work," says Rowland. "The albums are an opportunity for people to get to know our personalities."

Rowland says her second album, due out later in 2006,will have more of an "R&B ... feelgood vibe."

"It has been a very personal album for me," she says. "It has been one of the best experiences of my life. It's a look into the past two years, going through different relationships, love and growing as a woman. It's a soul-searching record. It's really beautiful."

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