Destiny’s Child: Why the break-up?

L.A. Correspondent

In the end, they will leave behind a chart-topping legacy unparalleled for a female group in modern recording history.

Individually and collectively, they have sold an amazing 50 million records worldwide. Destiny’s Child has earned a phenomenal 38 gold, platinum and multi-platinum RIAA certifications. Grammy Awards, AMAs, MTV, VH1, name it and they’ve won it!

But despite all these enviable record-breaking feats, the trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams are calling it quits.

Sad but true.

Last Tuesday night, Nov. 15, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the group as they bade farewell to their legions of fans, some of which flew from as far away as Ireland, and the others flew in from all over the United States. From the biggest to the littlest of fans, they all gathered at the El Capital Theater backlot in Hollywood to cheer on their idols as Destiny’s Child performed for the very last time their 2001 smash Survivor, saucily remixed with a Latin beat.

The group surprised fans when they announced during their concert in Spain on June 11 this year that their Destiny Fulfilled... And Lovin’ It tour would be their last together as Destiny’s Child.

"As a group, we’ve been blessed with success and the greatest fans in the world. We have been working together as Destiny’s Child since we were nine. After all these wonderful years working together, we realized that now is the time to pursue our own personal goals and solo efforts in earnest. We want to thank all our fans for their incredible love and support and hope to see you all again as we continue fulfilling our destinies," the group said in a statement released soon after their June announcement.

Kimmel would not let the girls go so easily, though. Asked if they are fighting, Rowland said, "I think the most beautiful thing is that we are not parting because there are problems. We are parting because we’re celebrating each other’s growth."

Rowland is currently doing the popular UPN series Girlfriends. Williams, meanwhile, has an upcoming TV show, High on High also on UPN. The two are set to record their respective albums in January.

The busiest of the three is Beyoncé, arguably their most popular member. Apart from appearing early next year in the Pink Panther remake with Steve Martin, Knowles will also be in the cast of the longawaited adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls. She is also busy promoting her latest line of clothing called House of Dereon, which she shares with her mom.

As a tribute to their fans, the group released last Oct. 25 a collection of their greatest hits, which features 13 of their biggest-selling and highest-charting hits, including Bootylicious, Survivor, Jumpin, Jumpin, Emotion, Bug A Bo and this writer’s personal favorite, Say My Name, among many others.

The album also includes their newest and final single, Stand Up For Love, written for the World Children’s Day celebration, an event that takes place today worldwide. The song is also the theme for the current Ronald McDonald Houses campaign.

The group performed the single to open the show and gamely joined the fun tribute prepared for them. A clip from a supposed VH1 special was shown to the utter delight of fans when it was suggested that Kimmel himself was part of the original "Destiny’s Children!"

It was a fun night and sentimental but never emotional. Kimmel, joked, in the light of Cher’s never-ending farewell tour, that the girls’ break-up may not be permanent. To which Rowland replied, "You never know."

The singer, however, added that the group is done for, at least for the time being.