Destiny’s Child is an American girl group formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. The group is most widely known in its final and most iconic lineup consisting of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Destiny’s Child became one of the most influential and commercially successful girl groups in music history, shaping the sound and image of R&B and pop music throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The group’s origins date back to 1990, when Beyoncé Knowles participated in a girl group audition and met rapper LaTavia Roberson. That same year, the two began performing together in Houston under the name “Girl’s Tyme,” combining rapping, singing, and choreographed dance routines. In 1992, Kelly Rowland joined the group after moving in with Beyoncé Knowles’ family due to family-related circumstances.

The original duo later expanded into a six-member group with the addition of Támar Davis and sisters Nikki Taylor and Nina Taylor. As Girl’s Tyme, the group attracted national attention. West Coast R&B producer Arne Frager traveled to Houston to observe the group and subsequently invited them to record at The Plant Recording Studios in Northern California. Frager emphasized recordings that highlighted Beyoncé Knowles’ vocal ability, which he viewed as distinctive in tone and personality.

Seeking a major recording deal, Arne Frager arranged for Girl’s Tyme to compete on the televised talent competition Star Search. The group ultimately lost the competition. According to Beyoncé Knowles, the group’s song choices were misguided; she later stated that they were effectively rapping instead of focusing on singing, which contributed to their defeat.

Following the group’s loss on Star Search, Beyoncé Knowles’ father, Mathew Knowles, voluntarily assumed the role of manager. Under his direction, the group underwent significant restructuring. Támar Davis and Nikki and Nina Taylor were removed from the lineup, and in 1993 LeToya Luckett was added, reducing the group to four members.

As manager, Mathew Knowles imposed rigorous vocal and dance training on the group. During this developmental period, Destiny’s Child performed as an opening act at concerts for established R&B groups such as SWV, Dru Hill, and Immature. Beyoncé Knowles’ mother, Tina Knowles, designed the group’s stage outfits and performance costumes.

Throughout the early 1990s, the group experimented with several names, including “Something Fresh,” “Cliché,” “The Dolls,” and “Destiny.” Between 1993 and 1996, they continued performing as Girl’s Tyme with the lineup of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett. In 1996, the group officially adopted the name Destiny’s Child and signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.

Destiny’s Child released their self-titled debut studio album, Destiny’s Child, in the United States on February 17, 1998. The album marked the group’s commercial entry into the mainstream music industry.

The group achieved major international success with their second studio album, The Writing’s on the Wall, released in 1999. The album produced multiple number-one singles, including Bills, Bills, Bills and Say My Name. Selling approximately 11 million copies worldwide, the album became one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s and firmly established Destiny’s Child as a dominant force in contemporary R&B.

During this period, internal conflicts and legal disputes arose within the group. LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett accused manager Mathew Knowles of favoring Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland. As a result, both members sought to sever professional ties with him and initiated legal action. By late 2000, Roberson and Luckett reached a settlement that removed Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland from the lawsuit, though legal proceedings against Mathew Knowles continued. As part of the settlement, all parties agreed not to discuss the dispute publicly.

After leaving Destiny’s Child, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett attempted to form a new girl group called Anjel. However, due to conflicts with their record label, the project was ultimately shelved.

Following the departure of Roberson and Luckett in 1999, Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin joined the group. Franklin exited the group after approximately five months in 2000, leaving Destiny’s Child as a trio. This lineup released their third studio album, Survivor, which reflected the group’s internal struggles and perseverance. The album featured internationally successful singles such as Independent Women Part I, Survivor, and Bootylicious.

During this era, Destiny’s Child performed as an opening act for major pop artists, including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

In October 2000, Destiny’s Child recorded Independent Women Part I for the soundtrack of the film Charlie’s Angels, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. The song topped U.S. music charts for eleven consecutive weeks, making it both the group’s longest-running number-one single and the longest-running number-one song of that year.

The success of Independent Women Part I significantly boosted sales of the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack, which sold approximately 1.5 million copies by the end of 2001. In 2000, the group received the Soul Train Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award. At the 2001 Billboard Music Awards, Destiny’s Child won multiple honors, including Artist of the Year and Group of the Year.

In October 2001, the group released a holiday album titled 8 Days of Christmas, featuring modern interpretations of classic Christmas songs.

In 2002, Destiny’s Child announced a hiatus to allow members to pursue solo careers. After two years of individual projects, the group reunited and released their fourth and final studio album, Destiny Fulfilled, in 2004.

During the recording sessions for Destiny Fulfilled, the group decided to officially conclude their fourteen-year career in order to focus on personal and solo ambitions. Beyoncé Knowles stated that their “destiny had been fulfilled.” The group sent a formal letter to MTV explaining their decision.

“We have been working together since we were nine years old, and touring together since we were fourteen. After much discussion and soul-searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave on a high note. United in our friendship, our gratitude for our music, our fans, and for each other, we decided to move on. After all these wonderful years of working together, we realized that it is time to seriously pursue our personal goals and solo efforts. No matter what, we will always love each other as friends and sisters and support each other as artists.”
— Destiny’s Child

Destiny’s Child reunited on February 19, 2006, in Houston to perform a farewell concert during the NBA All-Star Game. Beyoncé Knowles later stated, “This may be the last album, but not the last show.” Their final televised performance occurred shortly afterward at the Fashion Rocks charity concert in New York.

On March 28, 2006, Destiny’s Child was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the 2035th inductee.

Over the course of their career, Destiny’s Child sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. Billboard ranked the group among the most successful trios in music history and named them the ninth most successful musical act of the 2000s. In 2008, they were ranked 68th on Billboard’s list of the Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time. The group won three Grammy Awards, including two for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, as well as a BRIT Award for Best International Group.

After the group’s official disbandment, all members—including LeToya Luckett—continued to pursue solo careers. The final lineup of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams is widely regarded as the group’s most recognizable formation. Billboard has consistently ranked Destiny’s Child among the greatest girl groups of all time, placing them behind TLC and The Supremes as the third most successful girl group in history.

Former Members:
Beyoncé Knowles (1990–2005)
Kelly Rowland (1991–2005)
Michelle Williams (2000–2005)
LaTavia Roberson (1990–2000)
LeToya Luckett (1993–2000)
Farrah Franklin (2000)
Támar Davis (1990–1993)
Nikki Taylor (1990–1993)

Studio Albums:
1998 – Destiny’s Child
1999 – The Writing’s on the Wall
2000 – Survivor
2001 – 8 Days of Christmas
2004 – Destiny Fulfilled

Source: Biyografiler.com