Destiny’s Child reunites after 19 years: Why they broke up—and was Beyoncé the reason?

Destiny’s Child just gave fans a blast from the past. As Beyoncé wrapped up her Cowboy Carter tour with a star-studded finale in Las Vegas, she brought out her former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a surprise on-stage reunion.

The trio’s unexpected performance had the crowd roaring and sparked fresh buzz online—not just about their nostalgic hits, but also about what really led to their split nearly two decades ago.

Here's a look back at why one of the most iconic girl groups of all time called it quits.

From Girl’s Tyme to Destiny’s Child

Destiny’s Child, originally known as Girl’s Tyme, was formed in Houston in the early 1990s. Starting with Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett, the group performed at local events and went through several lineup changes.

After years of hustle and building a local reputation, they signed with Columbia Records in 1997 and officially rebranded as Destiny’s Child.Destiny’s Child shot to fame with the release of their debut single No, No, No and their second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which featured chart-toppers like Bills, Bills, Bills and Say My Name. Their mainstream breakthrough led to massive global success, with the group selling over 60 million records by 2013.

Billboard named them one of the greatest musical trios of all time and the 9th most successful artist of the 2000s.

Throughout their career, they earned 14 Grammy nominations and took home two awards.

Trouble Behind the Scenes

While Destiny's Child was soaring in popularity, tensions were brewing behind the scenes. Trouble began when members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett grew dissatisfied with the group's management—particularly with Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, who also served as their manager.

They felt he was giving preferential treatment to Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. In 2000, both Roberson and Luckett filed a lawsuit against Knowles, alleging breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, marking the start of internal conflict within the group.

Lineup Changes and Fallout

In 2000, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. However, Farrah exited the group just five months later. Her departure stirred controversy—she told VLADTV.com that she was "verbally attacked by the management" after missing promotional events due to illness.

Beyoncé, on the other hand, claimed Farrah lacked commitment, which led to her removal. Following this shake-up, Destiny’s Child continued as a trio.

Their 2001 album Survivor was widely seen as a reflection of the group’s turbulent past and resilience.

Reunions Over the Years

Later in 2001, Destiny’s Child announced a hiatus and reunited in 2004 for their fifth and final album, Destiny Fulfilled. While the group gave all its members a platform, Beyoncé’s solo career soared the most prominently. After their formal disbandment, each member pursued individual careers with varying degrees of success. Despite parting ways professionally, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have reunited for special performances over the years—most notably at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and the 2018 Coachella festival.