Singer and actress LeToya Luckett says her life got rough 20 years ago when she departed Grammy Award-nominated singing group Destiny’s Child.
Luckett says the abrupt vacancy brought about a fearful change in her life. The platinum-selling singer called her period after DC ‘’uncomfortable” while speaking to her fans Sunday on Instagram Live. She recalled her time within the group as being fast-paced.
‘I wasn’t the most secure person because I was so used to having a team mentality, and to think of going out on my own was terrifying,” said Luckett.
“During my journey, I was staying in people’s houses… I slept in a car in L.A. while I was making my first album. Not a lot of nights, but a few,” she continued.
Read More: Letoya Luckett announces she’s pregnant with second child
She released her first solo album, LeToya, in 2006, and it went platinum.
“I was staying in a hotel and couldn’t really afford anything else. I was drinking a gallon of water and buying the microwaveable oodles and noodles. And I was like cooking them on the coffee pot in the hotel,” she said through tears.
After the release of her first solo project, she searched for an opportunity to kick off her acting career.
“And then I went out for a role, my first role ever, which was Preacher’s Kid, and I got it. And that’s what got me out of that hotel. And from Preacher’s Kid, God aligned it that I met Tank. Went back and started doing my second album. Yeah. It was a lot. I was uncomfortable for a minute,” said the star.
Read More: Beyonce donates $1 million to small Black-owned businesses
When Luckett became a member of Destiny’s Child in 1993, the group included her, LaTavia Roberson, Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland. In 2000, she and Roberson were unexpectedly replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin before the release of their well-known hit, “Say My Name”.
According to reports, LeToya had no say in her removal; the decision was made by the group’s management.
Franklin went on to leave the group, while Destiny’s Child experienced Grammy Award-winning success as a trio featuring Knowles, Rowland and Williams.
Read More: Kelly Rowland slams cancel culture: ‘Try to remember not to judge others’
The aftermath of Luckett’s removal led to multiple lawsuits, including a breach-of-fiduciary duty suit filed against the group’s manager, Mathew Knowles, and a federal suit filed against her ex-band members and Sony Music over alleged disparaging comments. Most of the suits were settled out of court, Billboard reports.
Today, Luckett’s career as a singer and actress is very much intact. Back 2 Life, her most recent album, was released in 2017, and she carried a recurring role in the OWN Network drama “Greenleaf” while continuing to act in movies.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Download our newest episodes now!