Tenitra Michelle Williams (born July 23, 1980), commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of the successful R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time according to Sony BMG.

Originally a backing vocalist for singer Monica, Williams, alongside Farrah Franklin, joined Destiny's Child in 2000 replacing former members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. Following the departure of Franklin just five months later, Williams continued with fellow members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland as a trio. In 2002, after a series of commercial successes, she went solo. Williams released her US number one gospel album Heart to Yours, which became the best-selling gospel album of 2002, selling over 200,000 copies in the US alone. The album won Williams a MOBO Award for "Best Gospel Act" in 2002, giving Williams her first ever award as a solo artist. The album was followed by Do You Know in early 2004. The album has so far sold nearly 80,000 copies in the US and gained Williams a nomination for "Best Gospel Act" at the 2004 MOBO Awards. As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a television, Broadway and West End theatre actress, gaining a nomination for best "Lead Female Actress" in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards.

In 2008 she released her first commercial pop album, Unexpected, on October 7, 2008. The lead single from the album ("We Break the Dawn") reached number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart and peaked within the top 50 of the UK Singles Chart becoming her most successful single to date. The critically acclaimed single was also nominated at the 2008 NewNowNext Awards for "Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Female Artist". While Unexpected's second single "The Greatest" peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart and was ranked number thirty-nine on Billboard Magazine's Best of the 2000s Dance/Club Songs decade-end chart.