15 Surprising Solo Careers from Girl Group Members

Diana Ross

Diana Ross left The Supremes in 1970 to embark on a solo career and became one of the most successful entertainers in history. Her transition was carefully planned by Motown’s Berry Gordy, who even renamed the group “Diana Ross & The Supremes” to ease her departure.

Ross scored numerous number-one hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Love Hangover,” and “Upside Down,” making her the female solo act with the most number-one songs at the time. Her solo success completely overshadowed The Supremes’ continued efforts without her.

Beyoncé

After dominating the 1990s with Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé became a household name with chart toppers like “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies”. Her 2003 debut “Crazy in Love” proved she could match and even exceed Destiny’s Child’s popularity as a solo artist.

The song won two Grammys and remains an iconic pop anthem twenty years later, earning her the title “Queen Bey” for good reason. She successfully transitioned from group member to global superstar while maintaining creative control over her career.

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Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello left Fifth Harmony in late 2016 and her debut single “Havana” became an international chart-topper. “Havana” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in 23 countries worldwide, becoming the best-selling digital single of 2018.

Her solo success surpassed Fifth Harmony’s previous peak, with “Havana” reaching number two while the group’s “Work From Home” only reached number four. The acrimonious split from Fifth Harmony turned out to be the best career move she could have made.

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani embarked on a solo career in 2004 after No Doubt went on hiatus, releasing “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” which became a critical and commercial success. “Hollaback Girl” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first US download to sell one million copies.

The song made history by becoming the first million-selling download ever in the US according to Soundscan, earning the first Platinum Digital disk from the RIAA. Her 1980s-inspired pop sound proved she could thrive outside of No Doubt’s ska-punk style.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland was actually the first Destiny’s Child member to score a non-DC Number 1, teaming up with rapper Nelly on “Dilemma” in 2002. For a brief period, it looked like Kelly might become the bigger solo star than Beyoncé.

She later had another Number 1 with David Guetta in 2009 and has scored nine Top 10s out of 13 Top 40s. Her early solo success proved that Destiny’s Child had multiple potential superstars, not just one.

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Cheryl

Cheryl became the huge solo success story of Girls Aloud, scoring a record-breaking five Number 1s – the most by any British female solo star ever until Jess Glynne surpassed it. Her 2009 hit “Fight For This Love” became a million-seller, and “Breathe Slow” reached Number 3 in the UK.

Her solo career completely overshadowed her former bandmates’ individual efforts, making her one of the UK’s biggest pop stars.

Cher

Though initially part of the duo Sonny & Cher, her solo career transformed her from a 1960s folk-pop singer into a disco queen and eventually a dance-pop icon. Her 1998 comeback single “Believe” introduced Auto-Tune to mainstream pop music and became a global phenomenon.

She’s the only artist to have number-one singles in six consecutive decades, proving her remarkable ability to reinvent herself across multiple generations.

Tina Turner

After years of abuse in her partnership with Ike Turner, Tina’s solo career in the 1980s became one of music’s greatest comeback stories. Her 1984 album “Private Dancer” spawned multiple hits and proved she was the real talent behind the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

At age 44, she achieved greater solo success than she ever had as part of the duo, inspiring countless performers with her resilience.

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Nicole Scherzinger

As the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger was often seen as the band’s frontwoman, making her solo transition seem natural. Her collaborations and solo tracks showcased vocal abilities that were sometimes overshadowed by the group’s choreographed performances.

Though her solo career had mixed commercial results, she established herself as a serious vocalist and performer.

Fergie

After achieving massive success with the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie’s 2006 solo album “The Dutchess” spawned multiple hit singles including “London Bridge” and “Glamorous.” Her solo work allowed her to explore a more R&B and hip-hop influenced sound that differed from the Black Eyed Peas’ electronic dance music.

The album went multi-platinum and proved she could carry hit songs on her own vocal prowess.

Louise Wener

After leaving Eternal, Louise launched her solo career with “Light Of My Life,” scoring nine Top 10 hits. Her transition from girl group member to solo artist in the late 1990s UK pop scene was remarkably smooth.

Though she last had a hit single in 2003, she made a comeback in 2020 with her fourth album “Heavy Love”. Her solo success proved that Eternal had genuine individual talent beyond their group dynamics.

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Mel C

The “Sporty Spice” surprised everyone by becoming the most successful solo Spice Girl in terms of chart longevity and critical respect. Her rock-influenced solo material was a complete departure from the Spice Girls’ bubblegum pop, showcasing her serious musical ambitions.

Songs like “I Turn to You” and “Here It Comes Again” proved she had both vocal chops and songwriting skills that were underutilized in the group.

Siobhan Fahey

After leaving Bananarama, Siobhan formed Shakespears Sister and achieved what her old group never managed – hitting Number 1. The duo landed six Top 40 hits, with their biggest success being “Stay,” which spent eight weeks at the top of the UK charts.

Her dramatic reinvention from pop princess to gothic rock star showed remarkable artistic growth and commercial intuition.

Robyn

After moderate success with the group Robyn Is Here in the late 1990s, the Swedish artist reinvented herself as an electronic dance-pop innovator. Her album “Body Talk” received critical acclaim and influenced a generation of pop artists.

Songs like “Dancing On My Own” became indie-pop classics, proving that group members could find success by embracing artistic authenticity over commercial formulas.

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Victoria Beckham

While her solo music career was brief and met with mixed results, Victoria Beckham transformed herself into a respected fashion designer and businesswoman. Her transition from “Posh Spice” to serious entrepreneur shows that solo success doesn’t always have to be musical.

Her fashion label and various business ventures have made her more successful financially than she ever was with the Spice Girls.

From Backup to Superstar

These 15 artists prove that being in a successful group can be both a launching pad and a creative prison. The most successful solo careers came from artists who didn’t try to recreate their group’s sound but instead explored their individual artistic vision.

Whether it’s Diana Ross’s sophisticated soul, Camila Cabello’s Latin-influenced pop, or Gwe