A Dolores boy who grew up to be a pastor is now engaged to pop singer Michelle Williams from the band Destiny’s Child, according to People Magazine.
Chad Johnson, 40, grew up and went to school in Dolores, said his grandfather Jim Koenig. He played local sports and swam and fished with friends on the Dolores River. After a church retreat, he became inspired and decided to became a pastor.
Johnson found success in the ministry and as a life coach. He has served as chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Dodgers, and started his own spiritual retreat program in Phoenix that Williams, 37, attended.
“He really went head over heels for her,” Koenig said. “I’ve met her on FaceTime, she is a very pleasant girl.”
Williams, along with Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, formed Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling female R&B groups of all time, selling 60 million records. Williams has also released pop and gospel solo albums. Destiny’s Child performed for the Superbowl halftime show in 2013.
According to articles about the engagement in People Magazine, Johnson became smitten by Williams, who attended a spiritual retreat that he was leading. After an initial awkward attempt to flirt via text messaging, the two became acquainted via social media and FaceTime before officially dating. They plan to get married this summer.
Koenig said the couple plan to visit him in Dolores, but he was not sure when.
“I don’t know her music, but she’s obviously very talented,” Koenig says. “She’s down-to-earth like Chad, so they make a good couple.”
On whether Williams might perform locally, Koenig said “he’d pass on” the idea.
Chad Johnson is the son of Monte and Barbie Johnson. His brother is Brandon Johnson, general manager of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation District.