http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/entertainment/3223095 Destiny's Child breaking up after tour ends in fall Associated Press NEW YORK — Staying together was not part of Destiny's Child's destiny — the multiplatinum group is splitting up. In a statement released to MTV News, the trio of Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams announced plans to disband after their world tour ends in the fall. "We have been working together as Destiny's Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14. After a lot of discussion and some deep soul-searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other," the statement said. The group was unavailable for comment Monday, but a representative said another statement would be released later in the day. The breakup of the girl group, which first debuted as a teenage R&B foursome in 1997, isn't much of a shocker. Many critics didn't expect the group to exist at all after the multiplatinum solo debut of Beyonce in 2003. Her album, Dangerously In Love, won five Grammys and solidified her as a one-name superstar apart from the group. And the title of Destiny's Child's latest album — Destiny Fulfilled — appeared to signal the end was near. In an interview with The Associated Press in November, the women were noncommittal when asked about their future. "I think as far as Destiny's Child, our main focus is for us to maintain our friendship. And if in three years, five years, 10 years, whenever we decide we wanna do another Destiny's Child record, then we will do it," Beyonce said. "But I think our main goal was to do this next record, and I think we just wanna eventually have kids that play together." Beyonce and Rowland have been members of the group since it was formed in their hometown of Houston. They scored instant success with their debut, thanks to the hit No No No (Part I). Back then, the founding members also included LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. But after the release of their second album, 1999's The Writing's On The Wall, Luckett and Roberson were booted from the group. (The duo later sued the group and Beyonce's manager-father, Matthew Knowles, and reached a settlement.) Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin replaced Roberson and Luckett the same year, but Franklin was later dropped, making the group a trio. Among the group's biggest hits have been Bootylicious, Survivor and Independent Women (Part I). All of their albums have sold at least 1 million copies; their latest has sold more than 2 million. Besides Beyonce, Rowland and Williams have released solo albums — with less fanfare. Despite the impending breakup, the women pledged to remain close friends. "After all these wonderful years working together, we realized that now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest," the statement said. "No matter what happens, we will always love each other as friends and sisters and will always support each other as artists. We want to thank all of our fans for their incredible love and support and hope to see you all again as we continue fulfilling our destinies."
I knew from their very first single (No, No, No) that Beyonce would strike out on her own. She's a born superstar. I'm surprised it took as long as it did.
The members of Destiny's Child were such virtuoso musicians and classic songwriters that I wonder if the music industry will survive their breakup.
First B2K, then NSync, now Destiny's Child. How will we recover? Destiny's Child was my second favorite girl group...next to Hanson.
Well, I mean, how long could Beyoncé "Hottest Black Woman Alive" Knowles realistically be expected to split her check three ways?
Ain't that the truth... great group/entertainers. But Beyonce is the backbone of the group and she deserves to go off on her own. And forget hottest black woman... she's one of the hottest women alive!
My ass. Give them 5 years and they'll be back for the big reunion tour. Who can blame them for wanting to cultivate their solo careers? I'm surprised more groups don't do so.
Thank God!! Now I don't have to suffer through the camera shifting from Beyonce to Kelly to the other girl...Now it is ALL Beyonce all the time. More Beyonce is always a good thing
I told you they weren't really breaking up. Destiny's Child's 'farewell' is actually 'see you later' By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY NEW YORK — According to the members of Destiny's Child, reports of the best-selling girl group's demise have been greatly exaggerated — or at least misinterpreted. True, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams released a statement last week acknowledging that they would be "retiring as Destiny's Child and moving forward to pursue personal goals and individual careers in music, theater, television and film." That announcement came after Rowland told a concert audience in Barcelona that the group's current Destiny Fulfilled ... and Lovin' It tour would mark its last performances in Europe. The American leg of that trek, scheduled to kick off July 9 in St. Louis and wrap up Sept. 9 in Seattle (with a Vancouver date Sept. 10), also is being billed as a last-chance opportunity to see the trio as a live act. But while chatting in a midtown recording studio after a rare week off, Knowles and her bandmates are less committal. "We don't like the word 'farewell,' because we're still so young," says Knowles, 23, who began working with Rowland and Destiny's two other original members, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, 14 years ago. (Williams joined in 2000, after the departures of Luckett and Roberson.) Knowles prefers to see Destiny's dissolution as "the end of a chapter in our lives." That chapter could have a sequel, too: Knowles says it's "possible" that the women could work together again in some capacity. "Maybe we could do a play together; we've talked about that. Who knows what's ahead? This isn't breaking up, what we're doing; it's growing up." Destiny's decision to dissolve for now wasn't impetuous. "It's not a coincidence," Knowles says, "that our latest (CD) is called Destiny Fullfilled. We had been talking about this, that it was important that we ended while we were still hot and still selling records — not because we had some big, catty argument or because one person wanted to go solo." In fact, all three members of the act have released solo albums. Knowles', predictably, was the biggest blockbuster. But Rowland also enjoyed commercial success, and Williams made a foray into theater when she starred in Broadway's Aida. "But we always have more fun on the road when we're together," Knowles says. "We still have one dressing room and stay next door to each other in the hotel. We have the same makeup artist and hair stylist. That's why this has worked for so long. "And there are little things about being in a group that you don't always think about. Like, if you have to perform at the Grammys and you're terrified, you have the other girls there. And if you forget a word or step, there are two other people you can look at." "Or," Williams quips, "two other people the audience can look at!" Rowland adds: "We made history as a female group. I can't think of another one that came out together, then branched out to do solo records, then came back together for another record. It's a blessing we've been able to do that, and our fans have remained loyal." Says Knowles: "Destiny's Child's legacy is friendship. We want to be known for that, and for talent — we wrote and produced our songs, and we've done record-breaking things. But if I never sell another record, and Destiny's Child never sells another record, these will still be my girls. Nothing will ever take that away from us." USA Today
