Nelly Furtado, the Canadian singer who gained international recognition in the early 2000s with hits such as “I’m Like a Bird,” “Promiscuous,” and “Maneater,” has announced that she will no longer be performing live. Her decision marks a significant shift in her career, which has spanned over two decades.
Furtado first captured the attention of music fans with the release of her debut album Whoa, Nelly! in 2000. Since then, she has released six more albums, cementing her place as one of the most successful artists of her generation. Over the years, she has sold more than 45 million records and received numerous awards, including a Grammy, a Brit, and a Billboard Music Award.
After 25 years of touring the world, the 45-year-old artist has decided to step back from live performances. She shared a heartfelt message on social media, accompanied by a series of photographs that chronicled her journey through the years. In her post, she reflected on the significance of her debut album and the impact it had on her life.
“25 years ago today my first album Whoa, Nelly! was released. In the first slide I am 20 years old, about to play my first show as a professional artist at Lilith Fair. I went down to a store called ‘Original’ on Queen West in Toronto and shopped for that pink dress and some sparkly platform shoes to perform in. It was so meaningful, and my artist self felt so actualised.”
She continued by expressing her gratitude for the continued support from fans. “25 years later, my music has reached a whole new generation of fans and I couldn’t be happier about that. In the year 2000 I remember feeling purpose in hoping some kid would dust off the Whoa, Nelly! vinyl one day in a record shop and think it was cool or inspiring, so I never could have guessed that there would be so many new ways to discover ‘old’ music in 2025!”
Furtado also spoke about the joy of seeing her music resonate with younger audiences. “To have so many people rediscovering my music has been surreal and joyful. It’s been so fun embracing this opportunity, getting out on stages again and seeing up close, the true lasting power of good music. It’s made me really believe in magic.”
Despite her love for music, she has decided to step away from live performances for the foreseeable future. “All this aside, I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life. I have enjoyed my career immensely, and I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career. I’ll identify as a songwriter forever.”
She expressed deep gratitude to her fans, collaborators, and everyone who supported her throughout her career. “Endless gratitude to anyone who has ever listened and vibrated with my music and attended any of my shows. I love you and your open hearts. I deeply thank all of those who have worked so hard to help me make my pop dreams come true on a creative and organisational level. I thank all my brilliant collaborators and loyal champions. I also wish, to the new generation of artists, many years of fruitful and passionate performance.”
Fans responded with overwhelming support, praising her for her contributions to music and her humble nature. “And an icon and international superstar was born. Not to ‘fly away’ but to soar and stay. Your music makes the world a better place. A more joyful place. Love you Nelly. On top of it all, you have a heart of gold and manage to stay humble and true despite your international superstardom,” wrote presenter Dina Pugliese.
Earlier this year, Furtado opened up about the pressures of maintaining a certain image in the music industry. “This year I became aware of the aesthetic pressure of my work in a brand-new way, while simultaneously I experienced new levels of self-love and genuine confidence from within,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “For whoever cares, I have never had any face or body surgeries or augmentation, besides for veneers on the top row of my teeth, quite recently.”
In a message for 2025, she encouraged others to embrace their individuality. “We are all cute little humans just bouncing around the earth looking for hugs.”
