Singing legend reveals the one show that put her off reality TV forever

Chaka Khan talks her 50th anniversary, friendships, new material and her upcoming music festival performances (Picture: Metro / Getty)

Queen of Funk Chaka Khan has, somewhat unbelievably, just turned 71.

And to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her iconic musical career – which has seen Chaka work with the likes of fellow musical legends Prince and Stevie Wonder – she’s giving two UK summer performances this year. 

In this weekend’s Sixty Seconds, the singer shares her excitement about coming home to England, collaborating with the greats, farm life in the US… and the experience that put her off reality TV for life.

Which hit do UK crowds go craziest for?

Ain’t Nobody, of course, and Like Sugar, which is beautiful and still doing really well.

Some of your songs are 40-50 years old but still so fundamental to the music scene. Can you believe that?

I’m amazed how much music I have out there. When I look at all I’ve done, I wonder I had time to sleep, eat and have kids.

Chaka Khan and Rufus (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)

Prince was someone you had a long working relationship with…

Yeah, we were great friends and he was a dream to work with. He was amazing, a genius, a savant. We did a whole CD in two weeks and it didn’t feel like two weeks because we had a great time.

The music I loved – it was just a wonderful experience. At the end of two weeks, he said, ‘Well, we’re done.’ And I was flabbergasted. What do you mean we’re done?!

Chaka Khan didn’t want her time working with Prince to end (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images)

Stevie Wonder wrote your break-out song (with band Rufus) Tell Me Something Good. Do you see him much?

I see him on my birthday or his birthday if we’re not working, or if we’re working close by or something like that. Birthdays for me now are just another day. Celebrating birthdays are for kids and young people.

Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan hang out on their birthdays (Credits: MediaPunch via Getty Images)

What are you working on right now?

I’m in the studio with [Aussie singer/songwriter] Sia. I’m going back to pop and we’re really doing some great, great music. She is unbelievable and a goddaughter to me – we are very close.

I haven’t met her parents as they’re in Australia but I’ve met everyone else. I know her husband and her husband’s parents. We haven’t put out a date, but some time this year I’m sure it will come out. I’m very excited about it.

Chaka is going back to pop, working with singer/songwriter Sia on music that she’s sure will come out this year (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

You’re performing at Love Supreme and Nocturne Live this summer. Why those festivals in particular?

Because they can afford me! I’m excited to be there, too. I lived in England for 30 years so it’s like a homecoming. I love it. I love the rain and foggy days – I miss it.

At Love Supreme you’ve got Kool & The Gang and at Nocturne Live it’s Joss Stone, Sister Sledge, Sheryl Crow and 
Mel C. Are any of them friends?

So far, no. Mel C I know a bit. This business is not conducive to forming really strong friendships. I meet a lot of people on the road but you’re like ships in the night.

What was it like doing The Masked Singer and being in a massive costume?

It was awful. God awful. Walking around in a big, heavy contraption that somebody has built for you. I’ve done quite a few reality shows but I won’t be doing any more that’s for sure.

Chaka Khan as Miss Monster on The Masked Singer (Picture: ITV)

You recently moved to a farm in Georgia in the US. What’s that like?

It’s an amazing place to be. I’m going to be a farmer and grow my own stuff.And I’ll have some animals. I need to be connected to nature – it’s important.

Do you still have a big wardrobe of outfits?

I do, I have clothes all over the place. I’m trying to weed it out and get rid of stuff. 
I probably have a whole garage of clothes since the move. I have boxes of stuff that 
I haven’t even opened yet. It’s crazy.

And how big is your earring collection?

I have no idea, but it’s big. My mother makes earrings as well so I wear a lot of the ones she makes. I have to wear big earrings because I have big hair. You want to see the earrings, so they have to be big!

Chaka Khan was surprised to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

You were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year. What did that mean to you?

That was really amazing for me. I wasn’t aware of a lot of the love that I had. I have been around a long time but there was a lot of love and it 
surprises me. It makes me feel good. Sometimes it’s a
bit of a hassle when you want to go grocery shopping and things like that, but it’s all good.

I imagine you’re an amazing grandma and great-grandma… I bet you sing good lullabies.

I am, but I didn’t have time to be that kind of grandmother. I’m more likely to wrestle with them on the floor and be very interactive. We do drawings and some crazy things together.


Chaka Khan will perform select dates in the UK this summer including the Nocturne Live concert series at Blenheim Palace in June and the Love Supreme Jazz Festival in East Sussex in July.


MORE : 70s music legend slams ‘horrendous’ music business after retiring from touring


MORE : Chaka Khan apologises for slamming Greatest Singers list: ‘I was pitted against other artists and took the bait’


MORE : The Masked Singer US: Miss Monster is clearly Chaka Khan – all the clues explained

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