Why Did Destiny’s Child Break Up? Inside The Iconic Girl Group’s Sudden Disbandment 20 Years Ago

NEED TO KNOW

• Destiny’s Child broke up in 2005 after over a decade together while at the height of their success

• In a statement to fans, they cited focusing on individual projects as the reason for their split

• Beyoncé, who was an original member of the group, has reunited with former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for multiple surprise performances

After almost 15 years together, Destiny’s Child announced that they were officially disbanding amid a world tour in 2005.

The iconic all-girl R&B pop group was first formed in the 1990s with four members: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. They released their self-titled debut album in 1998 and achieved breakthrough success with their second album, The Writing’s on the Wall, thanks to chart-topping hits like “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Jumpin’ Jumpin’ ” and “Say My Name.”

“We had no idea of what its impact would be,” Beyoncé told The Guardian in August 2006. “We had no idea that The Writing’s on the Wall would be as big a record as it was. Especially worldwide … at that time that we’d talk to people at the record company and they’d say, ‘Look, they don’t even play R&B in Europe right now.’ “

Around that time, Roberson and Luckett were replaced by newcomers Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin, the latter of whom left the group after a few months. After a three-year hiatus following Survivor, the band released their fourth and final album, Destiny’s Fulfilled, in 2004.

In the decades since their disbandment, some of the group’s members have reunited for surprise performances. During the final concert of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour in July 2025, Rowland and Williams joined the singer onstage to belt out some of their classic Destiny’s Child hits, marking the first time they had performed together since 2018.

So, why did Destiny’s Child break up? Here’s everything to know about the R&B group’s abrupt disbandment and where its members are now.

When did Destiny’s Child break up?

Destiny’s Child announced their disbandment in June 2005. Rowland broke the news on stage during a concert in Barcelona, and the group released an official statement the following day.

“We have been working together as Destiny’s Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14,” the message read. “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 group continued their worldwide tour following the announcement and performed their final concert on Sept. 10, 2005, in Vancouver, Canada.

Why did Destiny’s Child break up?

According to the group’s official statement, Destiny’s Child broke up because each member wanted the time to pursue their “personal goals and solo efforts in earnest.”

The message continued, “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.”

In December 2016, Roberson told PEOPLE that she “never left Destiny’s Child” and was “dismissed from the group.” The singer also claimed that she found out about her dismissal after she saw the “Say My Name” music video, in which she and Luckett were replaced by Williams and Franklin.

“It was very difficult. I’m pretty sure that it was difficult for all of us — because we were young,” Roberson said. “My issue was always with the management; it was never with the girls.”

The group was managed by Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles.

Where are Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams now?

Like Beyoncé, Rowland and Williams went on to have successful musical careers post-Destiny’s Child. After releasing several chart-topping hits like “Work” and “Like This,” Williams went on to host and serve as a coach for several singing competition shows like The X Factor US, The X Factor UK and The Voice AU.

In June 2025, she announced on Instagram that she would join season 14 of The Voice UK as a coach. Off-screen, she’s been married to talent manager Tim Weatherspoon since 2014, with whom she shares two children.

In addition to her solo singing career, Williams has also become a Broadway staple. In 2024, she played the iconic role of Viola Van Horn (originated by Isabella Rossellini in the 1992 film) in the musical adaptation of Death Becomes Her.

Where are LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett now?

After leaving Destiny’s Child in 2000, Roberson went on to star in TV One’s R&B Divas: Atlanta and has acted in films, including But Deliver Us from Evil and The Hills in 2017.

Luckett has also flexed her talents as an actress. In addition to releasing three studio albums as a solo artist, she’s starred in series like Single Ladies, Greenleaf and the hit BET+ comedy Divorced Sistas, which premiered in 2025.

The R&B star, who shares two children with her ex-husband Tommicus Walker, married entrepreneur Taleo Coles in July 2024.

Is Destiny’s Child getting back together?

No, the former members of Destiny’s Child haven’t announced any plans to come back as a group. But that doesn’t mean fans should rule out any future performances.

Beyoncé brought out Williams and Rowland during her 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and her 2018 Coachella headlining performance. Six years later, Luckett and Roberson met with the trio backstage during the superstar’s Renaissance tour in September 2024.

Williams, Rowland and Beyoncé reunited once again to sing a medley of hits — including “Lose My Breath” and “Bootylicious” — for the last Cowboy Carter show in Las Vegas on July 26.

Fans have theorized that the iconic group is reuniting as part of Beyoncé’s three-act albums, which began in 2022 with the release of her Renaissance album and record-breaking tour. Her 2024 Cowboy Carter album and accompanying tour served as act 2.

Act 3 has yet to be announced, but Billboard reported in 2023 that the Destiny’s Child website had been updated with a clip of the trio’s Super Bowl reunion and a message that read: “25 years — new website coming soon.”

The message has since been deleted, but the clip from the show remains. 

Read the original article on People