Michelle Phillips was born Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach, California on June 4, 1944. She met her soon-to-be husband, John Phillips, in 1961, and with Denny Doherty formed the group the New Journeymen. After four years, the group decided to go to the Virgin Islands and were joined by Cass Elliott. The foursome soon became the Mamas & the Papas, scoring the number one hits "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Monday, Monday." "California Dreamin'," another one of the group's hits, became its theme song after its release in January 1966. Due to internal problems, romantic involvements, and substance abuse, the group disbanded in 1968 only to regroup in 1971 to produce the album People Like Us. The Mamas & the Papas called it quits for good in 1971 and went their separate ways. John and Michelle Phillips had one daughter together, Chynna Phillips, who would go on to a singing and acting career herself with the group Wilson Phillips.

After the Mamas & the Papas disbanded, Phillips largely focused on an acting career, even receiving a Golden Globe nomination in 1974 for her performance as Billie Frechette in Dillinger. However, she did release several singles, including the John Phillips-produced "No Love Today" for the 1976 film Mother, Jugs & Speed. Finally, in 1977 she released her first and only solo album, the Jack Nitzsche-produced Victim of Romance. Although generally considered a worthy debut, the album did not perform well in the charts and Phillips returned to her acting career.

Her successful television career began in 1987 when she landed the role of Anne Matheson on the popular prime-time series Knots Landing. On a March 1987 episode she sang the popular Mamas & Papas tune "Dedicated to the One I Love." Phillips continued to act regularly throughout the '90s and 2000s and has made appearances on such popular television shows as Beverly Hills 90210, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, 7th Heaven, and others.