Michelle Williams inspires, entertains in return to Rockford for Diamonds gala

July 18, 2024 at 12:09 am Updated: July 18th, 2024 at 9:02 am Kevin Haas

Michelle Williams cheers on the band on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Michelle Williams’ return to Rockford on Wednesday for the Diamonds storytelling gala coincided with an emotional anniversary.

It marked six years to the day that news went public via a TMZ article that revealed she had checked herself into a mental health facility for help with depression.

Her decision to seek help came a few months after a celebrated reunion with Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Kelly Rowland for a Destiny’s Child performance at Coachella. But outside of the public eye she was battling a debilitating depression that, at times, made it near impossible for her to pull herself out of bed.

It was a “feeling like going down a dark barrel, and that barrel has no texture on the inside — it’s just slick and black and dark. I just felt like I could not get my bearings and get up and get out,” Williams said at the gala. “I called my therapist and I said I think I need to go somewhere to be safe.”

On Wednesday, the Grammy Award–winning singer and 1997 Auburn High School graduate discussed her music career and work to improve her mental health with a blend of humor and blunt honesty before hundreds of people at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront for the second Diamonds gala put on by the nonprofit Founders Commission.

She also delivered an impromptu performance with the house band, which included her brother Erron Williams on keyboard. She sang renditions of her gospel songs “Do You Know” and “Say Yes” before ending with the 2001 hit “Survivor” to a standing banquet hall.

“It is great to see people come home,” said Andrell Bragg-Shaw, who attended the event. “We hear so much about the bad things in Rockford, but that’s what the Founders Commission and Diamonds is about, understanding that we have some amazing people who have come out of Rockford and there’s still more to come.”

Michelle Williams sings Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Bragg-Shaw is a licensed professional counselor with Counseling Associates of Rockford. She said the willingness for someone highly regarded like Williams to talk openly about their low points can empower others to take action with their mental health.

“It allows for other individuals to maybe feel a little bit more comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings and concerns regarding their own mental health issues,” she said.

Williams said she had been on the brink of severe depression from 2013 until the moment she checked herself into a mental health facility five years later.

Today, she’s glad the article came out and pushed her mental health in the spotlight. Williams has become a resolute advocate for mental health care, discussing it on her podcast and 2021 book ”Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life — and Can Save Yours.”

She’s also pursuing a coaching certification at the CAPP Institute, which stands for Coaching and Positive Psychology.

“My life affords me to be able to talk about this and make an impact,” Williams said.

Michelle Williams answers questions from Nicole Briscoe on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds storytelling gala and Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Williams stressed the importance of working on your mental health, but she also said her foundation is in her faith.

“I’m not here alone just by therapy,” she said. “I’m here by God, his love, his grace, his mercy and chance after chance to continue to get right, stay right.”

The Diamonds gala was launched last year as a way celebrate the region’s successes and encourage and support local youth. This year the first Diamonds scholarship was awarded, with the honor going to Faith Offermann of Winslow, who is now a student at Concordia University.

Williams, who was joined by ESPN anchor and Roscoe native Nicole Briscoe on stage to moderate the discussion, talked about how she seized an opportunity to go from background singer for Monica to member of Destiny’s Child.

But it was the dialogue around mental health that resonated with many in attendance.

“She was absolutely right when she was talking about the stigma that goes along with mental health, and how one story at a time we get closer and closer to breaking that stigma,” said Christina Valdez, board president for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Northern Illinois. “Michelle being willing to share her story and just be vulnerable was huge.”

ESPN’s Nicole Briscoe and Michelle Williams listen to a question from the audience on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds storytelling gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Williams said these days she’s in a good place both personally and professionally.

She’s getting set to star in the new Broadway musical “Death Becomes Her,” which is an adaptation of the 1992 film by the same name.

“I’m so churchy I almost didn’t take it because of the title,” Williams joked. “We don’t do death around here, we do life.”

Williams has performed on Broadway before, but this is the first time she gets to originate a role.

“Six years ago I had to call out of a Broadway show because of my mental health,” she said. “Now I get to walk in there whole, excited and (I’m) going to complete it.”

“I’m glad to be in a space in life and my career – and I say this humbly – where I do what I want to do.”

More photos

Nicole Briscoe, Martesha Brown, Michelle Williams, Gabrielle Torina and Ron Clewer pose for a photo Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Diamonds storytelling gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Christina Valdez, president of NAMI Northern Illinois, asks a question Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Michelle Williams talks to the audience on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Erron Williams plays keyboard on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

ESPN anchor Nicole Briscoe asks a question to Michelle Williams on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Nick Povalitis, founder and president of Founders Commission, delivers remarks Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Michelle Williams reacts to the audience on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas