The city of Houston, TX, remains deeply rooted in the heart of Kelly Rowland.
Rowland, originally from Atlanta, GA, relocated to Houston, TX, when she was 8 years old to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and resided with the Knowles family. She rose to fame as part of Destiny’s Child, originally named Girl’s Tyme, which was managed by Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles’ father.
When she was 11, Rowland joined Girl’s Tyme, which originally had six members. She remained part of the group through various lineup changes, ultimately becoming one of the lasting three members of Destiny’s Child in 1999, alongside Michelle Williams and longtime friend Beyoncé.
The group disbanded in 2006, but is still recognized as one of the best-selling music groups in history, with over 60 million records sold, noted Business Insider. Destiny’s Child made its mark in music history thanks to records like “Say My Name” (1999), “Bills, Bills, Bills” (1999), “Soldier” (2004), and “Lose My Breath ” (2005).
Houston, TX’s role was significant as the launch pad of what has become a decades-long career for Rowland, who became a solo artist with hits including “Dilemma,” “Like This,” and “Motivation.”
“Personally, it was a city that changed my life,” Rowland said to AFROTECH™. “Professionally, it was a city that changed my life. It was a city that grew me up. I always say Atlanta-born me. Houston raised me. Houston raised me with Southern values. Houston raised me to be proud of my blackness as well.”
Financial Lessons
Even with the city’s positive impact on her life and career trajectory, Rowland was not exempt from the lessons of early fame, some of which followed her into her 30s.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Rowland had already become a millionaire by age 20, and she was not hesitant to splurge her newly gained fortune. She remembers when she made poor investments, and her funds were dwindling. She attributes some of her spending issues to her love for designer brands.
“Of course, you don’t wanna think about it. But, when you make the financial mistakes is when you learn. Whether it was a bad investment, or it was something that you lost money on, or you watched your money run low, you’re like, ‘How the heck did that happen?’ Or you learn about not trying to keep up with folks,” Rowland told AFROTECH™. “It’s so many lessons you learn. And in my 20s, 30s, I learned all of them. I don’t have to buy something to be fly. I am fly. I think that we have to remember that. Sometimes we put all this money into all these designers’ pockets, and it’s not the clothes that make you fly. You make the sh-t fly.”
In hindsight, Rowland acknowledges that, with her wisdom now, she would have made more informed choices at 19, such as investing in real estate.
She continued, “If I had known at 19 what I know now, it would be so much different, just to say the least… 20-plus years ago, I would have bought this huge, huge space in a specific area that I love. It would have been like, ‘Hey, let’s all buy this block so that we can all have houses on here later.’ Being able to invest your money with your crew and with your community, that is just incredible to me.”
Surrounding Herself With Smarter Friends
Rowland’s financial perspective over the years has been shaped by surrounding herself with people equally invested in growing their wealth.
“Smarter friends and friends make way more money than me,” she told AFROTECH™. “Because the truth is, they were thinking in a different way, and I’m like, ‘How did you do that?’ And friends who don’t mind sharing the knowledge… It’s one thing to have friends who are growing financially, but it’s another to have friends who are growing financially and who want to share their knowledge with you. I think that is priceless.”
Supporting Beloved Black-Owned Houston, TX Restaurant
Beyond navigating the entertainment landscape, Rowland also discussed with AFROTECH™ her partnership with Pepsi, which will now benefit a Black-owned Houston restaurant that both herself and locals adore.
The beverage company is introducing the Local Eats Better With Pepsi program, which will offer devoted restaurantgoers the chance to be featured in a Pepsi ad, have their favorite menu item named after them, and enjoy that meal for free for a certain period.
Rowland and Pepsi have selected Houston This Is It Soul Food to begin the partnership. It is a Black-owned family restaurant founded in 1959 that operates with a mindset similar to Rowland’s: ” Always protect your wealth and share it with family and friends,” its website states.
Rowland would often visit the restaurant growing up after church service on Sundays. She regards the friendly greeting of Craig Joseph, Houston This Is It Soul Food’s third-generation founder and CEO, as one of her favorite memories attached to the establishment.
“Mr. Craig would come by every table and ask you guys enjoy yourself. ‘Can I get you anything?’ It was this personable experience, and I love that about him. I love that about this restaurant,” she told AFROTECH™. “I love that it not only feeds me, but it feeds me and it nurtured me, even after, whether it was awards and fame or whatever. He was still like, ‘What you want? I know you want.’ It’s like knowing him, knowing what would make my feet touch the ground and what would make me feel happy. He was incredible and connected, and I love him for that.”
Houston, TX, residents are encouraged to form lasting memories at Houston This Is It Soul Food. From August 27 through September 24, they will be incentivized to dine in at the restaurant and feast on a peppered steak with rice and gravy, green beans, peach cobbler, and a fountain Pepsi for $15 exclusively at both locations.
Restaurant visitors can then consider applying to Pepsi’s contest and submit their favorite restaurant story. Submissions will remain open until Oct. 31, 2024.
“Neighborhood restaurants have a unique way of connecting with their diners. The Local Eats Better With Pepsi program is about celebrating the eateries that keep guests coming back for more than just the food but also the community they create,” said Scott Finlow, chief marketing officer of PepsiCo Global Foodservice, in a news release. “We’re honored to spotlight these hometown gems and the loyal regulars who support them.”
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