The Truth About Beyoncé And Kelly Rowland's Relationship
We all know Beyoncé Giselle Knowles as an international solo superstar, but she wasn't always a one-woman show. When Bey was 9 years old, she was a member of the girl group Girls Tyme and they performed at talent shows around Beyoncé's hometown of Houston, Texas, according to Associated Press. Beyoncé and three other young girls went on to form Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. Though the group went through many member changes, its final form consisted of Beyoncé, Kelendria "Kelly" Rowland, and Michelle Williams.
In both groups, Queen Bey's only other constant bandmate was Rowland. Destiny's Child became one of the biggest girl groups in music, giving fans hits like "Survivor," "Soldier," and the entire 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, until their fifth and final album Destiny Fulfilled in 2004 (per Grammys).
Rowland went on to have a successful career as well, but can you imagine being Beyoncé's bestie and coworker for the majority of your adolescence and young adulthood? Let's take a look at what Rowland had to say about it.
Kelly Rowland grew up with the Knowles family
Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland aren't technically related, but they might as well be — the two singers grew up together, becoming tight-knit after meeting at a Girls Tyme audition when they were nine, according to a 2019 Marie Claire interview. Rowland told the outlet, "I grew up with Beyoncé, her sister Solange [Knowles], her mother Tina [Knowles-Lawson], and her eldest cousin Angie [Beyince]." She went on to say that she and Beyoncé were particularly close since the two have been doing rehearsals together since they were so young.
"We grew up in this industry together; we've shared ups and downs and we are closer than ever," she said. "I can tell her anything and she'll never judge me. She's a real friend: genuine, loyal, and trustworthy." As all sisterhoods, though, it wasn't all roses. The "Coffee" singer got real about some of her harder times with Queen Bey and how it affected her.
The Beyoncé comparisons haunted Kelly Rowland
Of course, Kelly Rowland would never speak badly about her friend Beyoncé Knowles — even their kids are besties, according to People — but it hasn't always been easy living in her shadow. Rowland opened up about this on The Voice Australia while speaking to a contestant who felt as though he was in the shadow of his brother, who was also a contestant on the singing competition show. According to Harper's Bazaar, Rowland said, "I know this feeling. Can you imagine what it's like being in a group with Beyoncé? I would just torture myself in my head like, 'Well, I can't wear this dress 'cause they're gonna say it's like B.' Or, 'I can't have a song like that because it sounds too much like B.'"
She went on to add that it would be a lie to say it didn't bother her. "There was a whole decade — if I'm being completely honest, decade — that it was like the elephant in the room," the singer added, "the thing that would constantly be on my shoulder."
However, she didn't allow these feelings to weigh her down, as Rowland is a Grammy-winning musician, coach of The Voice Australia, and actress. Besides, she has a few cameos in Beyoncé's 2020 visual album Black Is King and the duo was all smiles.