Whitney Houston Tried to Keep Destiny's Child Together

Whitney Houston had a little something to do with Beyoncé’s solo career. During an interview promoting her new Oxygen reality show, Fix My Choir, Michelle Williams recalled the time that Destiny’s Child first met Whitney and heard her singing the group’s classic anthem, “Say My Name.”

Michelle told The Huffington Post:

“Myself, Beyonce, and Kelly we were walking into our hotel. Bobby Brown was in the hotel lobby, and he said, ‘My wife loves you girls!’ She comes and starts singing ‘Say My Name.'”

“I stayed normal because it’s nerve-wracking for me when someone sees me and they freak out. So I don’t do that to other people. I went to my hotel room. I got the pillow, put it to my face, and just went into convulsions and screams of joy… To see her? And for her to be killing Say My Name’?”

This makes me wonder exactly which part of the song Whitney was singing. I hope it was: “You actin’ kinda shady/ Ain’t callin’ me baby/ Better say my name.” Also, glad it was that and not “Bug-a-Boo.”

Michelle added that Whitney then told the children of Destiny to try to avoid the girl group curse:

“We couldn’t believe that she was singing ‘Say My Name’ and then she was encouraging us. She said, ‘Y’all stay together, stick together, love each other.'”

I like to think that Whitney, at that point, had a That’s So Raven-esque premonition and saw the impending D.C. split in her head. Too bad Beyoncé’s brain also immediately went into action and started planning her solo exit anyway.

We should all be glad that Bey (and Mathew Knowles) defied Whitney’s advice ’cause then we’d be singing “Bug-a-Boo, Pt. 3” or something instead of “Drunk In Love.” Lesson learned: Never tell Beyoncé not to do something. Watch Michelle’s interview below.