Dismissed destiny's Child tops Album Charts

Former DESTINY'S CHILD star LeTOYA LUCKETT is celebrating after topping the US album charts six years after she was kicked out of BEYONCE KNOWLES' all-girl group. The R&B star's LeTOYA album toppled hits compilation NOW! THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC with opening week sales of 165,000. She becomes only the second former Destiny's Child star to top the Billboard charts with a solo album - Knowles achieved that feat with her debut DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE. Luckett's album surprised many chart watchers by beating solo releases by PHARRELL WILLIAMS and TOM PETTY to the top of the charts. Williams' delayed solo debut, IN MY MIND, entered at number two with 142,000 copies sold, while Petty's acclaimed HIGHWAY COMPANION sold 112,000 copies to score the highest debut of his career at number four. (KL/BB/SH)