Kelly Rowland's Real Name: Kelendria Trene Rowland

Quick answer: The singer is known professionally as Kelly Rowland. AllMusic and Biography.com independently give the name Kelendria Trene Rowland and date the birth to February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers identify her under the professional name Kelly Rowland and give the name Kelendria Trene Rowland. AllMusic dates the birth to February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, and says she later moved to Houston, became friends with Beyoncé Knowles, and in 1992 joined Girls Tyme, a group Knowles co-founded. Biography.com independently dates the birth to February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, and says her mother moved the family to Houston when Rowland was 7, that she later lived with the Knowles family, and that she and Beyoncé performed in the early 1990s as part of Girl's Tyme.

Career highlights

AllMusic says Girls Tyme developed into Destiny's Child, who in 1997 debuted with the single "No No No," followed by a self-titled album in 1998, then The Writing's on the Wall and Survivor. Biography.com independently records a 1997 Columbia deal under the name Destiny's Child and later albums including the self-titled debut, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), Survivor (2001), and Destiny Fulfilled (2004). AllMusic dates the later solo album Simply Deep to 2002 and says "Dilemma," a collaboration with Nelly, had a two-month stay at number one and won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; later solo albums include Ms. Kelly (2007), Here I Am (2011), and Talk a Good Game (2013). Biography.com independently records Simply Deep, "Dilemma," Ms. Kelly, Here I Am, and Talk a Good Game. The official Recording Academy artist page lists four Grammy Award wins and 17 nominations, including a 2003 win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Dilemma" and a 2002 win for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Survivor," plus later nominations for "When Love Takes Over" and "Motivation." AllMusic independently records a later U.K. number one as vocalist and co-writer of David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over," later work as a judge or coach on versions of The X Factor, and later acting in American Soul (2019) and Bad Hair (2020). Biography.com independently records judging work on The X Factor and The Voice, the 2012 film Think Like a Man, and a later appearance as Gladys Knight in American Soul.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Kelly Rowland or Kelendria Trene Rowland are looking for the same singer, including the later Destiny's Child and solo work most often associated with her name. Search traffic often uses the professional name Kelly Rowland.