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Connect the World
Interview with Kelly Rowland
Aired May 25, 2010 - 16:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As a member of mega group, Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland was part of one of the most successful girl groups of all time. With four U.S. number one singles, the group was one of the most popular acts in the States.
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ANDERSON: After they split, Rowland struck out on her own and has sold more than two million albums as a solo artist.
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ANDERSON: Away from music, she's embraced a number of humanitarian causes. As an ambassador for MTV's Staying Alive organization, she traveled to Kenya and took an AIDS test to take a stand against the stigma surrounding HIV in Africa.
This year, she's been heavily involved in one goal -- the World Cup campaign, hoping to bring education to children around the world.
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ANDERSON: A singer with a soul, Kelly Rowland is our Connector of the Day.
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MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Becky sat down with Kelly here in London and started off by asking her about her work with the One Goal program.
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KELLY ROWLAND, SINGER: You know what?
I'll get straight to the point. Seventy-two million kids are without education. Fifty-five percent of those kids are young girls. And for me, I think about young women and needing an education, how important it is to themselves, their -- their value, their future. And for me, when I was asked to become a part of One Goal, I was like I'm completely there. And I just think that people should, of course, log onto the Web site, find out the same way I did. It's just as simple as that. And it's very important.
And I'm so happy at how many people have become a -- a part of the campaign, as well. I think that it really showcases how important it is, you know?
ANDERSON: I've got to ask you this, because this One Goal initiative is in and around the 2010 World Cup.
Are you a soccer fan?
ROWLAND: I'm a soccer fan, but I get nervous to watch them play. You know, I -- I think it's really fun to go and the energy, which is really through the -- the stands. And you can feel it rumble. And then you're like -- everybody is like oh, yes, oh, he just got hurt. You know, it's -- it's such great energy when I go.
ANDERSON: A question about your own charity here. It's from
Adaku, who says: "How does your charity, I Heart My Girlfriends, help address racial issues that young girls experience growing up?"
ROWLAND: I think when it comes to racial issues, I think that it's more so about young girls knowing their -- their self-worth, their value first and not finding it from other places. And -- and I Heart My Girlfriends empowering and strengthening young girls to be confident within themselves and within their race. And when it comes to racial issues, I'm very passionate about young girls just loving who they are in their own skin. Because I remember going to an all white school and being the only black girl in an all white school, think -- looking around me, thinking there's no one else here that looks like me.
And I couldn't appreciate the color of my skin until I saw a Whitney Houston on television. And I thought, I see this woman that looks like me and I'm just like, this is really cool.
ANDERSON: Leila has written to us -- to you. She says: "When are we going to see you next on a solo tour?"
ROWLAND: Ah. A solo tour?
Hopefully this year. Maybe the end of this year. I have an album. I have yet to title it, because it's been so hard to title. But the producers and the material has me -- I'm really actually floating above myself, if you can see the other me. I'm so excited and so high just -- just being so happy with the way the record has turned out and the producers and the writers and the songs and just the material is -- I'm happy.
ANDERSON: It's as good as it gets, is it?
ROWLAND: I'm a happy girl. And I definitely want to be singing it on stage. And I definitely want to be in the U.K. singing it on stage - - everywhere singing it on stage.
ANDERSON: Oh, we look forward to that.
Val has written in. Says: "Which artist would you love to tour with, given the choice?"
ROWLAND: Hmmm, Pink.
ANDERSON: Why?
ROWLAND: She's so -- I love how strong she is, as far as like being a female, having a voice, not being afraid to -- to use her voice and say her opinions and speak her opinions. I love her as -- or from what I see as a person.
ANDERSON: Carlos from Florida says: "How does it finally feel to actually be known as Kelly Rowland and not as Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child?"
Does it make a difference?
ROWLAND: You know what, I think that for me, it solidifies me as a solo artist. I made a stamp with Destiny's Child. We made a stamp together, above anything. And making a stamp on my own, I'm very proud. And above anything, I couldn't have done it without you, without you guys out there supporting me. So I thank you for making that possible.
ANDERSON: Well, good.
The last question.
What is your favorite album that you've worked on and why?
I think you might have just answered that. It's going to be this forthcoming one, isn't it?
ROWLAND: Yes. It is. It is definitely this forthcoming record. It's -- for me, it's me being fearless on this record and creative people on the album that are fearless, as well. And they love music. And they love the turn and the change in music. And it's exciting.
ANDERSON: Who are your biggest inspirations out of interest (ph)?
ROWLAND: Right now, it would probably have to be my mother.
ANDERSON: Oh.
ROWLAND: I've -- we've overcome a lot. It took us a long time to get along. Oh, but it's -- it's really cool to say that I'm -- I'm really close to her now.
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FOSTER: Kelly Rowland.
Now, tomorrow's Connector of the Day is Saif Gadhafi, the recognized (INAUDIBLE). He's the son of controversial Libyan president, Moammar Gadhafi. Saif graduated from the London School of Economics with a PhD in 2009. He was also involved in efforts to release the nine convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, Abdul Baset al-Megrahi. This Connector plays a prominent role within Libya's political landscape and now runs the Gadhafi International Charity and Development Foundation.
If you've got any questions you'd like to put to our Connectors, make sure you send them in. And remember to tell us where you're writing in from. Head to CNN.com/connect.
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