Destiny's Child [ tickets ] was at the peak of its career--and the top of the charts--when Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland [ tickets ] first decided it would be a good idea to take a break from the band to temporarily pursue solo projects.

So, following 2001's quadruple-platinum "Survivor," that's exactly what they did. Rowland used the break to appear in films, including 2003's "Freddy vs. Jason," and to release her solo debut, 2002's "Simply Deep." Williams recorded two contemporary gospel records, 2002's "Heart to Yours" and 2004's "Do You Know," and appeared on Broadway as the lead in "Aida." Beyonce--the only band member known worldwide by her first name--experienced the greatest success with 2003's multi-platinum, multi-Grammy-winning CD "Dangerously in Love." She also established herself as a movie star with 2002's "Austin Powers in Goldmember," which has led to starring roles in the upcoming films "Dreamgirls" and "Pink Panther."

All of that, apparently, was enough to convince the three women that their individual destinies were outside of Destiny's Child. The trio announced in June that their current tour in support of 2004's "Destiny Fulfilled," which winds up Sept. 10 in Vancouver, would be their last, and that they would be breaking up to pursue solo careers. Since that announcement, however, the group has seemingly backpedaled a tad in regard to the finality of the retirement.

Rowland recently spoke to liveDaily from Houston to try to clear up any confusion that remains over the band's destiny.

liveDaily: Let's start by clearing up all the muddy stuff ...

Kelly Rowland: What's the muddy stuff?

OK, perhaps muddy is not the right word. But there does some to be some confusion over the status of Destiny's Child. Is this the last chance to see the band?

Well, this is the last chance to see Destiny's Child. But (we're not splitting up) on a bad note. For one, we've been doing this since we were nine or 10 years old.

You were cute 9 and 10 year olds.

Oh, thank you. We've been doing this for a very long time. It's been a wonderful, a blessing, of a run, but all good things must come to an end. It was very important for us, also, to embrace our friendship even more, if you know what I mean, and embrace growth and embrace change and learning, and still share all that with each other. Destiny's Child is based on friendship, and it's based on support and it's based on love. That's how we got this far. So, it's not like when we branch out and do solo projects we're not going to include each other. It's very important for us to include each other.

How long have you been talking about splitting up?

It was around "Survivor" that we talked about doing solo projects. When we actually started this album ("Destiny Fulfilled"), we said that it would be our last one. It was just something that we came to a decision together on.

How firm is that decision? Some of the comments that the band has made to the press leads one to think that Destiny's Child might get back to together down the road.

People always want to say that because other artists have said this was their final thing and then they've gone back and done something else. Right now, this is definitely the final tour and the final album. We have made a decision. And, maybe, we might wake up 10 years from now and we might want to do an album. Or we might wake up three years or five years from now and say, "Y'all feel like doing another album?" What people don't realize is that we are still only 24 or 25 years old.

Was it a mutual decision between all three members?

Yes. We were all supportive of each other. That's the most important thing.

And you were all supportive of the idea of breaking up?

Yes.

Well, that's not always the case with every break up. There have certainly been cases where some band members are against the idea.

That's very true, but not in this group. We are very respectful of each other and also of each other's personal goals. Like, if Michelle knows a lot of different Broadway people and I want to do a Broadway play, then she'll try to help me get there or go there. I think that--if it is a goal and it's something that we are passionate about--as sisters, you support each other and help each other, correct?

Correct. Well, I'm not a sister, but I think I get what you mean. Speaking of Michelle, I have to say that I loved her first gospel record, 2002's "Heart to Yours."

It's an amazing gospel record.

What should we look for from the three ladies following the break-up?

I'm definitely putting out an R&B/pop record, which I'm really excited about. I'm hopefully doing some more TV and some more movies. I know Michelle is in talks now with doing another Broadway play. She was so amazing on Broadway. She should definitely do it again. Beyonce, of course, is going to start "Dreamgirls," I think, at the end of this year. And "Pink Panther" comes out February of next year. We all have different things that we want to do. We just support each other.

"Survivor" is my favorite Destiny's Child record, although I really like the holiday record, "8 Days of Christmas," as well. You put a lot of effort into supporting "Survivor." Were you feeling burnt out after that album?

We were tired. We had a long run. We went straight from "The Writing's on the Wall" to "Independent Women" (originally released on the "Charlie's Angels" soundtrack). Then we immediately did another album, "Survivor."

Yeah, it didn't seem like there was much time between projects.

It was quite quick. But we got through it. And after ["Survivor"], we were like, "You know? It's breathing time." So that's what we did.

Was it scary to leave the band and pursue individual projects?

Of course. We used the analogy of a child's moving out of the house and going to college. That's like years by yourself where you learn about yourself and what you like and what you don't like and what you're going to tolerate. It's just about being you in that time. I think all of us got a chance to do that. It made us grow up a little bit more. We learned a little bit more about ourselves. Growth and change is always something we embrace.

How does it feel to be back on tour as Destiny's Child?

It feels wonderful being on the road together. We love being out there together. We like the company we give each other and the love. I think when you do solo projects sometimes you go to your room and you're just like, "It's just me." But you want to have your sisters near. With this tour and this album, of course, we get to experience that again.