Kelly Rowland On Transcending Beyonce’s Shadow
Kelly Rowland come into her own since being a part of Destiny’s Child, alongside her “sisters” Beyonce and Michelle Williams. As a solo artist and television host, she’s now speaking on how she lived in her fellow group member and best friend Beyonce’s shadow for a decade.
During a recent episode of The Voice Australia, Kelly Rowland related to her Team Kelly contestant, Chris Sebastian, on what it’s like to experience standing in the professional shadow of a loved one.
Sebastian’s older brother, 2003 Australian Idol winner, Guy Sebastian is Rowland’s co-judge on the singing competition show, and Rowland assured Sebastian that she could relate to him.
LAS VEGAS – FEBRUARY 18: Singers Beyonce Knowles (L) and Kelly Rowland share a laugh during the 2007 NBA All-Star Game on February 18, 2007 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the term and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
In 2002 and for a second time in 2005, when DC3 went on hiatus, Rowland said she “tortured herself” trying to cultivate an identity outside of Queen Bey. “I know this feeling. Can you imagine what it’s like being in a group with Beyoncé?…I would be lying if I said ‘No, it’s never bothered me,'” Rowland said.
“That’s bull. There was a whole decade, if I am being completely honest, a decade where it was like the elephant in the room. It was the thing that would constantly be on my shoulder,” Rowland said.
“I would just torture myself in my head. Like, I can’t wear this dress because they’re going to say it’s like B. Or, I can’t have a song like that because it sounds too much like B. They’re gonna compare anyways.”
The recent episode isn’t the first time that Rowland brought up Bey on The Voice Australia. The “Coffee” singer once brought up a time that she and Beyonce crashed a karaoke goer’s karaoke session while singing Beyonce’s “Party.”
According to Rowland, the fan was a bit too drunk to realize what exactly was happening, but it was a comical moment for the singers.
