Destiny's Child Plays Finale Gig

11/16/2005 11:00 AM, E! Online
Charlie Amter

It's a wrap for Destiny's Child.

The chart-topping R&B superstars gave their swan-song performance Tuesday on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Kimmel turned over his entire show to the trio, in a first for the ABC late-night gabfest--and a last for Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland.

They performed both indoors and outdoors for nearly 1,000 fans, treating radio contest winners flown in from all over the United States to renditions of "Stand up for Love" and their 2001 smash "Survivor."

The trio also gave its first and apparently last public performance of the new single "Stand Up for Love."

Asked by Kimmel if the split would be permanent, Rowland seemed to leave the door open for a future reunion. "You never know," she replied

But the singer admitted the group was done for, at least for the time being.

"I think the most beautiful thing is that we're not parting because there were problems," Rowland added. "We're parting because we're celebrating each others' growth."

Destiny's Child has been one of the most popular groups in the world, selling more than 40 million records since bursting on the scene in 1997 with the hit "No No No (Part 1)."

Despite several lineup changes (original members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson replaced by Williams and Farrah Franklin, who was eventually booted), the group dominated the charts with songs like "Independent Women, Part 1" and "Bootylicious." They scored back-to-back Grammys in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group category for 2000's "Say My Name" and 2001's "Survivor."

The trio took a hiatus following the release of the Survivor album in 2001 to pursue solo projects. It was at this point that Beyonce became a single-monikered superstar with the multiplatinum success of Dangerously in Love, which went on to capture five Grammys.

Rowland and Williams also released less heralded efforts. Rowland's 2002 album, Simply Deep, featured her Grammy-winning duet with Nelly, "Dilemma," while Williams came out with two solo albums--2002's Heart to Yours and 2004's Do You Know--that failed to make much of a splash.

With Beyonce's meteoric rise, rumors were rampant that the band would never pick up where they left off. But last year, Destiny's Child regrouped to record Destiny Fulfilled, which, appropriately, would become the trio's final studio album.

The threesome announced its split in June. "Now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest," they said in a statement.

"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."

They had some loose ends to tie up first, wrapping a tour, collecting awards, shooting a Wal-Mart commercial and releasing the greatest hits package, #1's, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 this month, and finally the Kimmel appearance.

Tuesday's gig was attended by mostly teenage and twentysomething female fans, who were in mourning.

Vivian Johnson, of Los Angeles, waited over two hours in line to see the group.

"I'm sad," she said. "They shouldn't leave usthey need to do a reunion tour, like next week."