Chaka Khan reveals one piece of advice that changed everything

Chaka Khan has insisted becoming a singer was a “calling”, as the music legend reflected on a career that has spanned more than five decades.

The 73-year-old powerhouse voice shot to fame at just 20 when her band Chaka Khan joined Rufus and landed a record deal, quickly becoming one of the biggest acts of the era. 

After around 10 years with the group, she stepped out on her own and carved out an even bigger solo legacy with iconic hits including Ain’t Nobody, securing her place as a global music legend.

Speaking on the BBC World Service’s The Interview podcast, Chaka said her path into music felt destined rather than chosen.

“This is a calling. It’s bigger than anything in your life as an individual,” she said. 

“If you found the thing that you were put on this planet to do… it’s such a gift to find it.”

Despite her commanding stage presence, the songstress admitted she has long battled nerves behind the scenes.

“I’ve always been terrified, I still am,” she revealed. 

“I was petrified for a long time but I found a way to not appear that way. I never talked to the audience… I wished I could but it was too much.”

She credited guitar legend Carlos Santana with helping her overcome some of that fear, after he advised her to focus on just one person in the crowd, and “if you touch them, you touch everyone”.

The advice, she said, was “freeing”, helping her transform her experience on stage.

Now still performing to fans worldwide, I Feel for You singer says she feels deeply grateful for a career she never takes for granted.

“How many people get to make a living doing something that brings such crazy mad love and enjoyment to you?” she said. 

“I’m so lucky and blessed.”

Chaka was speaking ahead of her life story stage production Chaka Khan: I’m Every Woman – The Musical, which opens in London this July.

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