Former Destiny's Child star Michelle Williams has turned her full-time attention to a stage career.

The singer has taken a role in the Chicago production of musical The Colour Purple. She will play singer Shug Avery from April 17 of this year, as the Broadway version starts its tour of the city.

The Colour Purple is being produced by chat show host Oprah Winfrey, who herself was in the big screen version of the show, released in 1985.