From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

D. Woods
Background information
Birth name	Wanita Denise Woodgette
Also known as	D. Woods
Born	July 6, 1984 (1984-07-06) (age 25) Springfield, Massachusetts U.S.
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B, hip hop, pop
Occupations	Singer
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Bad Boy Records (2005-2008)
Associated acts	Danity Kane (2005-2008), Lloyd, The Girls Club (present)
Website	D. Woods Official Website

Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgette (born July 6, 1984) is an American R&B singer, dancer, and actress. She is a former member of the girl group Danity Kane. On the October 14, 2008 season finale of Making the Band, it was declared that Woods was no longer a member of the group.

Early life

Woodgette coined the nickname "D. Woods" (her middle initial and shortened surname) because she felt it was easier to pronounce and more memorable than her birth name. Developing a love for performing at an early age, and went on to attend Tri-Cities High School, a visual and performing arts magnet school in East Point, Georgia; she attained further dance training from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and acting instruction at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a B.F.A. in musical theatre.

Career

Before joining Danity Kane, Woods toured with several major recording artists as a background dancer, performed in off-Broadway theater productions, and appeared in the film Stomp the Yard. She also appeared in the video "Change Clothes" by Jay-Z, where she was one of the models. She was discovered in 2005 on the second season of the MTV reality television program Making the Band 3, founded by Sean "Diddy" Combs. Danity Kane's first album debuted August 22, 2006 at #1;^[1] the album has been successful since. Danity Kane, along with the Pussycat Dolls, toured as the opening act for Christina Aguilera.^[2]

In December 2006, Woods was the lead girl in Lloyd's video "You". In 2007, she made an appearance in Gorilla Zoe's album Welcome to the Zoo, on the track "You Don't Know Me". Her writing credits include multiple tracks on the platinum-selling Danity Kane album Welcome to the Dollhouse.

On October 14, 2008, Combs declared Woods no longer a member of Danity Kane, as well as fellow bandmate and best friend Aubrey O'Day, following a heated discussion with Combs.^[3] MTV News gauged fan reactions to the dismissal of Woods and O'Day. Fans left empassioned, long and detailed comments on the MTV News site about their discontent at the group's breakup. They cited what they felt was a lack of individuality and excitement left within the group.^[4] New members were expected to be chosen for Danity Kane as "replacements" for Woods and O'Day,^[5] but the group broke up completely early 2009 when it was reported Woods and O'Day, along with group member Shannon Bex, declined the offer to return to the series and the group.^[6] O'Day, however, stated that she was unsure if Woods was asked back, but that she herself was not asked to return.^[7] Although Woods was fired in 2008, she was "officially" released from her Bad Boy Records contract by Combs in the April 16, 2009 episode of Making the Band.^[8] Despite this, in the April 23, 2009 finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decided to reunite the group.^[9] Woods said she is going to release a full-length album later in the year, and in addition to a single that will be released early summer 2009.^[9]

In an interview conducted after the finale show, Woods spoke with BE Entertained Magazine journalist Phonz L. Thomas.^[10] Woods was asked about an alleged rivalry between her and ex-Danity Kane member Dawn Richard. Woods replied, "I don’t know if she has a problem with me per say [sic]. I don’t know why she would have a problem. I was very disappointed by a lot of the things that she did say in the media and her different interviews. People are kind of aware of her comments and then also of course on the show, those comments were definitely going to get back to me. I was really disappointed and I don’t know why she would go that route. And if it was to depict her as the victim and everybody else is the bad guy… I don’t really know where all that stems from, but to me it’s like she has her situation. And as you guys saw, I congratulated her as I was walking out the door! So it was like I don’t have a problem and I don’t know why she would have a problem… but she might, I’m not sure."^[10] Woods went on during this interview to comment, "I don’t have any animosity towards any of the girls. Like things happen for a reason, it’s time to move on you know, chapter ends. People are in each other's lives for a reason and a season, as they say! So there’s no reason to hold any grudges. Um, however – the way that you present yourself, the actions you take, the comments that you make can lend themselves to having a ‘beef’ or having animosity."^[10]

Woods has had two photo spreads with King Magazine.^[11] In the past, it has been reported that she has plans to work with another group, The Girls Club.^[3] She is currently recording songs for a possible solo album that can be heard via her MySpace, and appeared in Ludacris's music video "One More Drink". She has recently appeared in Lil Wayne's new video "Prom Queen" and Young Money video "Every Girl". She also is working on film/television projects. She is currently filming a music video for her upcoming single "Legalize Me." It was later revealed that "On My Side" is the lead single with her filming the video in Los Angeles in June.^[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Mixtapes

Solo

• Independence Day Vol. One (2009) Released free of charge on D. Woods Official MySpace
• Independence Day Vol. Two (2009) Released free of charge on D. Woods Official MySpace

See also

• Bad Boy Records

References

External links

• Official MySpace Profile
• D.Woods Official Website
• That Grape Juice Interviews Danity Kane's D. Woods