It appears Chaka Khan has set her mind on never hitting the road again. The iconic singer, 70, disclosed in a recent interview with Rolling Stone that she has made a firm decision not to embark on another tour for the rest of her career. It seems that Khan will continue performing live.
However, it is touring on a bus where she draws the line, particularly because now she enjoys a “rich-a*s life.” Explaining her perspective, she noted “Some people, that’s all they have, you know? I got this rich-a*s life. I’ve got great-grandchildren I want to get to know better. So I will not do another tour.” She went on to add, “I’ll do dates, but it won’t look like a tour. They’ll be far enough apart that I can have time to sleep in between.”
‘It was just insanity’
The “Through The Fire” singer further elaborated on why touring no longer aligns with her lifestyle. She shared, “Riding on a bus, pissing in a little bathroom, waking up in the morning and you’re five hours from your hotel where you can take a proper bath or shower and go to bed like a normal human being. And then you got a gig that night.”
“That’s friggin’ insane,” she went on. “It was just insanity. It’s like being a truck driver and a performer. It’s lonely as all get-out.” With the hitmaker seemingly stepping back from performing for extended tours, she also playfully hinted at the possibility of a full retirement from performing in the future. “Well, I might do that three or four times, like other bitches do,” she quipped.
Khan celebrated her 70th birthday in 2023
In 2023, Khan marked her 70th birthday and 50th year in the music industry with concerts. She’ll continue the celebration in 2024, starting with a Los Angeles show on January 27 and headlining U.K. festivals next summer. Additionally, the “Ain’t Nobody” artist joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2023.
Chaka Khan on her incredible career graph
Earlier this year, Khan reflected on her notable career graph and her reluctance to slow down during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. She expressed, “The thing is, if you have a calling or a dream, you’re either going to realize it or you’re going to crash and burn; kill yourself or kill somebody else or something, you know? You’re gonna have to do it, it has to be done. Or you have to pick something else. Because the calling is just the calling. It’s that simple. It’s bigger than you. So, you have to do it. And if you don’t, the post office is always hiring.”
With a touch of humor, she added, “I’ve done everything but kick myself in the back of the head… I feel like I’ve done a great deal. I’m wondering, you know, what’s next?”