Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado has announced she is stepping back from live performances after a 25-year career that saw her rise from indie newcomer to international hitmaker.
Furtado, 45, revealed the decision in a reflective post marking the anniversary of her debut album Whoa, Nelly! which was released in 2000. The record launched her to global fame with hits such as I’m Like a Bird, Promiscuous and Maneater, earning her a Grammy, a Brit and a Billboard Music Award.
“Twenty-five years later, my music has reached a whole new generation of fans and I could not be happier about that,” she wrote. “To have so many people rediscovering my music has been surreal and joyful. It has made me really believe in magic.”
While she expressed gratitude for her long career and the enduring love of her fans, Furtado said she would now focus on “other creative and personal endeavours” that better suit this next phase of her life. She described songwriting as a lifelong passion she intends to continue pursuing privately.
“I have enjoyed my career immensely,” she wrote. “I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career. I will identify as a songwriter forever.”
Fans and fellow artists responded with messages of admiration and support. Canadian television presenter Dina Pugliese praised her as “an icon and international superstar,” while actress Amanda Brugel wished her “many years of magic and inspiration” in her next chapter.
Furtado, who has sold more than 45 million records, has spoken in recent years about the pressures of body image in the music industry, urging fans to “celebrate individuality” and embrace self-acceptance.
Her parting message to followers was simple: “We are all cute little humans just bouncing around the earth looking for hugs.”
