Chaka Khan Says She's 'Not Nostalgic' for the Past: 'I'm Just Busy with My Life'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chaka Khan for Harper’s Bazaar.Photo:Theo de Gueltzl

Theo de Gueltzl

Living in the past isn’t of interest toChaka Khan.

The 10-time Grammy winner, 71, opened up about her five decades in the music industry for a newHarper’s Bazaarcover story, telling the outlet she doesn’t spend much time looking back on her career.

“I’m not nostalgic at all,” said Khan, who rose to fame in the ’70s as the lead singer of Rufus. “I’m just busy with my life, and suddenly I’ve been doing it for 50 years.”

Chaka Khan for Harper’s Bazaar.Theo de Gueltzl

Khan, however, is aware of what she’s accomplished — and the fact that her fan base now spans generations, as many of her longtime listeners have passed her catalog onto their kids.

“The beautiful thing is throughout my career, I’ve always had a lot of love,” said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member. “That has been maybe the high point of what I do: the love that I receive from people.”

She added, “To see now how the daughters and the granddaughters and the grandsons of people who grew up with me are now into me, that’s really special to me. It’s always been a lovefest with my audience and myself, and it still is.”

Looking at her career as a whole, Khan told the outlet she hopes to leave a “good and loving, positive” legacy behind her — “one that has brought joy and some enrichment to somebody’s life, that has been of some help to someone in some way, in a good way.”

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Khan recently revealed one thing she doesn’t want to be said of her — that she’s the “Queen of Funk.” She toldThe Independentin June, “That’s ridiculous! I’ve been trying to drop that ‘funk’ thing forever. For. EVER! I hate to be boxed in, you know?”

In the newHarper’s Bazaarstory, she spoke about her ability to perform within numerous and unexpected genres. “I can do anything,” declared Khan. “I could sing Chinese folk music if I got the pronunciation right.”

source: people.com