Successful solo artists who started their career in a band

Check out some of our favourite solo artists who found fame after leaving the band behind.

With a career spanning six decades and counting, Cher is a superstar in her own right. Sher gained popularity in the 1960;s as one-half of husband and wife duo 'Sonny & Cher'.

(Photo by Amy Sussman/BBMA2020/Getty Images for dcp )

With over 90 million records sold worldwide, Lionel Richie is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Before embarking on a solo career, Richie was a member of funk and soul band The Commodores.

(Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize)

Beyoncé famously rose to fame as part of girl group Destiny's Child.

(Photo by Larry Busacca/PW/WireImage for Parkwood Entertainment)

Cheryl Cole began her solo career while still part of girl group 'Girls Aloud'. The group had been formed for ITV's 'Popstars' in 2002.

(Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Prior to embarking on her own solo career, Nicole Scherzinger had been part of THREE girl bands. She was part of American rock band 'Days of the New' and later gained recognition as part of 'Eden's Crush' via the show Popstars. Scherzinger then made her mark as lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls in the early 2000's.

(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for MTV)

English singer songwriter George Michael started his career as part of the music duo Wham!

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

American singer Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009) entered the music business at a young age as part of the Jackson 5.

(Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)

English singer songwriter Gary Barlow has made a name for himself as a solo artists and X Factor judge in recent years. He started his career with pop group Take That in 1990 alongside Howard Donald and Mark Owen.

(Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Hip hop queen Missy Elliot is well known as a solo artists with hits like 'Get Your Freak On
and 'Work It'. She got into the music business in the early-mid 1990's as part of R&B girl group 'Sista'.

(Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

Justin Timberlake appeared on kids TV show The All New Mickey Mouse CLub as a child alongside Britney Spears. He later went on to find fame with bestselling boy band NSYNC.

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

American musician and fashion designer Gwen Stefani found fame as a solo artist while her band No Doubt were on hiatus in 2004.

(Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Harry Style entered The X Factor in 2010 as a solo artist before being placed in boy band One Direction. The band became one of the best selling boy bands of all time. Styles released a solo album in 2017 and has frequented the charts ever since.

(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Lauryn Hill has often been regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, pioneering the Neo soul genre. She garnered fame with hip hop group 'Fugees' before embarking on a solo career with her award winning album 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.

(Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Fergie is best known as a solo artist and part of hip hop group Black Eyed Peas. She was originally part of girl group Wild Orchid as part of the Kids Incorporated TV show back in 2001.

(Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Sting rose to fame as the principal songwriter, lead singer and bassist for The Police from 1977-1984. He went on to launch a solo career, selling over 100 million records between the two.

(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)

Will.I.Am has had a successful solo career as well as having been the leading member and founder of the Black Eyed Peas.

(Photo by Dave Mangels/Getty Images)

Dr Dre is well known as a rapper, producer and record executive. Prior to his solo career, Dre was part of American hip hop group N.W.A.

(Photo by Dave Mangels/Getty Images for Coachella)

Stevie Nicks is best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac in the 70's and 80's. She wen ton to launch a solo career that garnered her eight Grammy Award nominations.

(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Diana Ross rose to fame as lead singer of The Supreme's, the world's best-selling girl group of all time.

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

R&B superstar Usher originally started out as part of a quintent called NuBeginnings at the age of ten.

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

American musician Paul Simon has been in the music business for nearly six decades. He reached fame as one half of the duo SImon & Garfunkel.

(Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

Alongside Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams started out in pop group Take That from 1990-1995. He went on to acheive greater success as a solo singer.

(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

Boy George has had immense success both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of pop band Culture Club in the 1980's.

(Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty Images for SeriousFun)

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