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Pop icon Nelly Furtado has announced she is stepping away from music, shocking fans around the world with an emotional post confirming that she is quitting performing.
The I’m Like a Bird and Promiscuous singer, 45, took to Instagram on Friday to share the heartfelt message, revealing that she feels it’s the right time to “step away” from the stage and focus on “other creative and personal endeavours.”
The announcement comes just weeks after the singer was targeted by body-shaming comments following her headline set at Manchester Pride, where she proudly embraced her natural figure and silenced critics with a high-energy performance that celebrated confidence, diversity, and self-love.
This time, however, Furtado’s tone was markedly different.
“Thank you for the ride,” she wrote to her 1.2 million followers. “It’s been the honour of a lifetime to create, perform, and connect with you all through music. But for now, I feel it’s time to step away and make space for other creative and personal endeavours. I’ll always be writing music, it’s part of who I am, but I won’t be performing for the foreseeable future.”
Furtado’s post was accompanied by a nostalgic photo of herself at 20 years old, taken before her first professional appearance at Lilith Fair in 1999, and a recent clip from her triumphant Berlin concert earlier this year. In the caption, she reflected on the moment, describing it as “finally understanding what receiving flowers means” as fans chanted her name.
Although Furtado didn’t explicitly mention the online abuse she’s endured, many fans believe her decision was influenced by the harsh criticism she’s faced since returning to the spotlight. The singer, who took a lengthy hiatus from the industry before her 2024 comeback, had spoken openly about learning to love her body again and ignoring “unrealistic expectations.”
Her emotional post featured a photo of herself at 20, taken before her first professional performance at Lilith Fair, alongside a clip from her triumphant Berlin concert this summer, a moment she described as “finally understanding what receiving flowers means,” as the crowd cheered her name – Credit: instagram.com/nellyfurtado
Her emotional post featured a photo of herself at 20, taken before her first professional performance at Lilith Fair, alongside a clip from her triumphant Berlin concert this summer, a moment she described as “finally understanding what receiving flowers means,” as the crowd cheered her name – Credit: instagram.com/nellyfurtado
Her announcement was met with an outpouring of love and support from fans and fellow artists alike. Pop singer Bebe Rexha commented, “You’re a legend and always will be. Take all the time you need.” Fellow Canadian artist Avril Lavigne added, “You’ve inspired so many of us. We love you, Nelly.”
Fans flooded the comments with tributes, thanking her for her contributions to pop music. One fan wrote:
“You’ve given us soundtracks to our lives. Take care of yourself, queen, you deserve peace.”
Another added:
“We’ll miss you on stage, but your legacy will always shine. Thank you for everything.”
Since debuting in 2000 with her hit single I’m Like a Bird, which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide and achieved chart-topping success with hits like Maneater, Say It Right, and All Good Things (Come to an End).
Her 2006 album Loose, produced by Timbaland, remains one of the most successful pop records of the 2000s, a daring reinvention that cemented her status as one of the most versatile artists of her generation.
While it’s unclear how long her hiatus will last, fans are hopeful that Furtado’s creative spirit will lead her to new projects, both inside and outside the music industry.
As one fan perfectly summed up:
“This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later.”
