Music World/Columbia Records Set to Release 'Unexpected,' The New Full-Length Studio Album From Grammy-Winning Musical Artist Michelle Williams

Music World/Columbia Records Set to Release 'Unexpected,' The New Full-Length Studio Album From Grammy-Winning Musical Artist Michelle Williams

Superstar Creates Bold New Contemporary Pop/Dance Sounds on Eagerly-Anticipated Third Solo Album

Michelle Williams Selected as Judge on New Music Competition Series, 'MTV's Top Pop Group,' Premiering Thursday, September 11 at 10pm (ET/PT)

'Unexpected' Available in Stores & Online Tuesday, October 7

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Music World/Columbia Records will release Unexpected, the long-awaited new full-length solo album from music superstar Michelle Williams, on Tuesday, October 7.

With the aptly-titled Unexpected, her third solo album and first since 2004's Do You Know, Michelle Williams has moved away from the gospel flavor characterizing her debut and sophomore releases and created a bold new collection of contemporary pop/dance classics.

Executive produced by Mathew Knowles for Music World Productions and Michelle Williams, Unexpected finds Michelle collaborating with some of today's hottest producers including Jim Jonsin (Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris, Sean Paul, Danity Kane, Trina featuring Kelly Rowland, Pretty Ricky, Lil Wayne featuring Static Major, Bow Wow and Omarion); Rico Love (Usher, Omarion, Natasha Bedingfield, Tiffany Evans featuring Bow Wow); Wayne Wilkins (Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue, Pink, No Doubt); Andrew Frampton (Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue); StarGate and more.

"We Break The Dawn," the first single from "Unexpected," hit the #1 slot on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart. The track is produced by Wayne Wilkins and Andrew Frampton, who co-wrote the track with the singer/songwriter Solange Knowles (who's written songs for her sister Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland and Trinitee 5:7, among others).

Other stand-out tracks on "Unexpected" include the album's two latest singles, "The Greatest" and "Hello Heartbreak" and the irresistible "Stop This Car," produced by StarGate (the Norwegian production team behind #1 hits for Ne-Yo and Rihanna as well as Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," the biggest song of the year on the Hot 100 Billboard Year End Chart 2007).

Michelle is putting her musical expertise to work as one of the judges -- along with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas and Brian Friedman, choreographer to the stars -- critiquing the undiscovered music groups appearing on "MTV's Top Pop Group," a new music competition series premiering on MTV on Thursday, September 11, at 10pm (ET/PT). Please check your local listings.

Unexpected - Michelle Williams
Tracklisting

Unexpected Intro
Hello Heartbreak
We Break The Dawn
Lucky Girl Interlude/Lucky Girl
The Greatest
Til' The End Of The World
Private Party
Hungover
We Break The Dawn, Part 2 (featuring Flo Rida)
Stop This Car
Unexpected
Thank U
Too Young For Love

American R&B and gospel singer Michelle Williams rose to international renown after joining Destiny's Child, the top-selling female group of all time, in 2000. As a member of Destiny's Child, Michelle received three Grammy Awards and performed on several #1 hit singles by the group.

With the arrival of her debut album, the gospel-infused Heart To Yours in 2002, Michelle Williams -- who'd originally entered show business as a backing vocalist for the R&B performer Monica -- became the first member of Destiny's Child to release a solo record. Heart To Yours entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1, peaked at #3 on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart and became the year's top-selling Gospel album.

Her second solo album, Do You Know, achieved similar success to her debut, peaking at #2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and #3 on the Top Christian Albums chart following its release in 2004.

Michelle Williams made her on-stage acting debut in 2003, replacing R&B icon Toni Braxton in the title role of "Aida," the hit Broadway musical with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.

In February 2006, Michelle made her television acting debut on the UPN comedy series, "Half & Half" and, later that year, appeared in the FOX reality series, "Celebrity Duets" performing Destiny's Child's "Say My Name" with Jai Rodriguez.

Beginning in April 2007, Michelle Williams joined the national touring company -- performing extended runs in Chicago and San Francisco with members of the original Broadway cast -- of the hit musical adaptation of "The Color Purple."

http://www.michellewilliamsonline.com/http://www.myspace.com/michellewilliamshttp://www.musicworldentertainment.com/http://www.columbiarecords.com/

Source: Music World/Columbia Records

CONTACT: Yvette Noel-Schure, Senior Vice President Media, Columbia
Records, Sony BMG Entertainment, +1-212-833-4483, Fax: +1-212-833-8536,
yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.musicworldentertainment.com/
http://www.michellewilliamsonline.com/
http://www.myspace.com/michellewilliams

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