4 Iconic Solo Artists Who Left Legendary Girl Groups

Bolting from a successful group is never easy. Well, it’s easy in terms of “I can’t stand another minute on a tour bus with these people,” but more practically difficult to find solo success.

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Jennie from South Korea’s Blackpink collaborated with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp on the viral hit “One of the Girls,” which appears in the HBO series The Idol—in which she also has a supporting role. She went solo with her single “Solo” in 2018 though the force that is Blackpink is still active. (“Solo” has been viewed 1 billion times on YouTube.)

Also, each of the Spice Girls—the world’s best-selling girl group—pursued solo careers with varying success. And don’t forget ultra-cool legend Ronnie Spector’s “Be My Baby” on Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight.” Spector also appeared on The Raveonettes’ “Ode to L.A.” and her 2006 album The Last of the Rock Stars features collaborations with Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Nick Zinner (of Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and Joey Ramone.

The four artists below also left successful girl groups and in some cases, became bigger stars.

Just like Ronnie sang…

Camila Cabello

Fifth Harmony formed on The X Factor in 2012 and became one of the biggest-selling girl groups in the world. However, Camila Caballo, striking out solo, has surpassed her former group. She left in 2016 and two years later her debut album Camila reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, thanks to her summery single “Havana” featuring Young Thug.

On her fourth album C,XOXO, Cabello turns toward hyperpop, most notably on her single “I Luv It” featuring Playboi Carti. The new sound echoes Charli XCX and PC Music, leaving behind the Latin pop and R&B of earlier releases.

Supersonic, in your orbit
And I’m bad, diabolic
Bottle rocket, on the carpet
Threw it back and he caught it
I go soprano, baby, go down low
And when he leads, I gotta follow
I’m blackin’ out, I’m on a spiral
I need you now and tomorrow

Kelly Rowland

Though Kelly Rowland is the second-most famous singer from Destiny’s Child, she’s enjoyed an extraordinary solo career, too. She collaborated with Nelly on “Dilemma,” a colossal hit that remained on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.

Rowland has sold more than 40 million records as a solo artist while also starring in the films Freddy vs. Jason and The Seat Filler. How did Rowland view the success of her childhood friend and ex-groupmate Beyoncé? In her 2013 song “Dirty Laundry” she writes:

While my sister was on stage, killing it like a motherf—-r
I was enraged, feeling it like a motherf—-r
Bird in a cage, you would never know what I was dealing with
Went our separate ways, but I was happy she was killing it
Bittersweet, she was up, I was down
No lie, I feel good for her, but what do I do now?
Forget the records, off the record, I was going through some bulls–t
Post “Survivor,” she on fire, who wanna hear my bulls–t?

Diana Ross

The Supremes are Motown’s most successful act, with 12 No. 1 singles. Though Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard (and Cindy Birdsong) became famous too, Berry Gordy put the spotlight primarily on Diana Ross. Soon, The Supremes became known as Diana Ross & the Supremes, mimicking Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

Eventually, Ross’ star rose too high for the group and Motown made plans for her solo career in 1969. Her self-titled debut featured the hits “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” In 1980, she released Diana, produced by Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. An R&B and disco hit, it featured the timeless banger “Upside Down.”

The Supremes and Diana Ross are the standard. You don’t get to Destiny’s Child or Beyoncé (or Kelly Rowland) without them.

Instinctively, you give to me the love that I need
I cherish the moments with you
Respectfully, I say to thee
I’m aware that you’re cheating
When no one makes me feel like you do

Beyoncé

It’s hard to remember Beyoncé as a member of a group. Looking back on Destiny’s Child, it seemed obvious from the start she was too big for an ensemble. Though she kicked off her solo career while Destiny’s Child was still active, her debut Dangerously in Love showcased an unstoppable force in pop music.

Meanwhile, each member of Destiny’s Child also released solo albums, but they all lived under the shadow of Beyoncé. She became both a cultural icon and an institution. Pop music bends in her direction, and she’s continued to release groundbreaking albums since her 2003 solo debut. Her 2024 country album Cowboy Carter is her eighth straight No. 1. She’s also the first Black woman to top the country charts.

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no

I look and stare so deep in your eyes
I touch on you more and more every time
When you leave, I’m begging you not to go
Call your name two, three times in a row
Such a funny thing for me to try to explain
How I’m feeling and my pride is the one to blame
’Cause I know I don’t understand
Just how your love can do what no one else can

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Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella