Destiny's Child to Disband; Networks Turn Down Jackson Reality Series

Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child have announced that they'll quit performing as a trio following their upcoming world tour. The three members plan to continue their careers with solo projects. Their final tour begins on July 2 in New Orleans and is scheduled to wrap up in Canada on September 10. Destiny's Child will be promoting its album Destiny Fulfilled, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies in the U.S. since its release in November of 2004.

Now that Michael Jackson has been acquitted on all ten counts in his child molestation trial, many people, including his fans, are wondering what he'll do next in his career. His family says Michael needs to regain his physical strength and will rest for a while. According to reports, three networks have turned down a proposed six-series reality show about the Jackson family and their support of Michael during the four-month trial. Some media consultants feel that being found not guilty might not be enough for him to achieve a comeback in the music industry. Others disagree, including producer and Island Def Jam Records CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, who says, "He can have success. I would say that he has to just make great music and concentrate on nothing else but making great music and making great live performances."

Elton John's "The Red Piano" show will stay in Las Vegas through 2008. His original 75-date contract has been extended to 150 performances. The shows take place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Soul diva Patti LaBelle has a new album out this week. On June 21, Def Soul Classics will release "Classic Moments," a collection of her favorite pop and R&B songs. On it she covers Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me," Elton John's "Your Song" and Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way," among other classics.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has released the names of 12 master folk and traditional artists chosen to receive the 2005 National Heritage Fellowship awards. The annual awards recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence and contributions to their field. Nominations are considered from various creative areas, including music, crafts, storytelling and dance. Musicians chosen to receive this year's fellowship awards are Soul Searchers' leader Chuck Brown, rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson, gospel singer Albertina Walker, Michael Doucet of the Cajun band Beausoleil and Appalachian music preservationist Janette Carter. Each recipient receives $20,000 from the NEA. The formal award presentation will take place in Washington, D.C. in September.

On June 21, Mercury Records will reissue Toby Keith's first three CDs in the box set Chronicles. The set includes 1993's Toby Keith,1994's Boomtown and 1995's Blue Moon. Toby switched to his current label, DreamWorks Records, in 1999. He has one more album left under his DreamWorks contract. He says if negotiations don't work out, he'll form his own label for future album releases.

MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:

On June 20, Boyz II Men, Gerald Levert and BeBe Winans will appear at the Apollo 2005 Spring Benefit at New York's Apollo Theater. Proceeds go to the Apollo Theater Foundation to preserve the legacy of the famous venue. During the event, filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, author Tonya Lewis Lee will receive the Ossie and Ruby Award for their "commitment to family, community and to the craft."

The 10th annual Country Stampede festival will take place June 23 - 26 in Manhattan, Kansas. This year's lineup includes Lonestar, Big & Rich, Sugarland, ZZ Top, Phil Vassar, Keith Urban, Montgomery Gentry and many others. In addition to the concerts, the festival offers various events and vendors to keep fans entertained.

TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION:

John Mellencamp and John Fogerty had so much fun on their spring co-headlining tour, they've decided to head out on the road together again. They'll begin their 37-city summer outing in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 24. John Mellencamp's latest album, Words & Music: Greatest Hits includes 35 hits from his 25-year career, plus two new tracks. Fogerty's classics include "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)," "The Old Man Down The Road" and "Rock and Roll Girls."

Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina will kick off their first tour as a duo in nearly 30 years on June 24. The "Loggins & Messina Sittin' In Again Reunion Tour" begins in Boise, Idaho and will stop in 26 other cities through September 10. They'll perform hits from their years together in Loggins & Messina, as well as songs from their solo careers. Special guests will also be featured in some cities.

On June 24, former Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler will begin a North American tour in support of his 2004 solo album Shangri-La. Concerts get under way in Portsmouth, Virginia and will wrap up in Vancouver on July 31.