Twenty-five years after the release of her debut album Whoa, Nelly!, Nelly Furtado announced that she’s pausing live performances “for the foreseeable future.” The news came as the Canadian singer reflected on her decades-long career, while celebrating the anniversary of the record that launched her into pop stardom.
“I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavors that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life,” Furtado wrote in an emotional post on Thursday, October 23.
“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.”
The announcement comes as Whoa, Nelly!, the album that featured top-hits like “I’m Like a Bird” and “Turn Off the Light,” turns 25. Furtado shared a photo of herself at 20, reminiscing about shopping for a “pink dress and some sparkly platform shoes to perform in.”
That moment, she recalled, marked the beginning of a journey that would take her from small stages to sold-out tours.
In her post, Furtado reflected on how her music has found new life with younger listeners. “My music has reached a whole new generation of fans and I couldn’t be happier about that,” she wrote. “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!”
Over the past few years, that rediscovery has been fueled largely by TikTok, where Furtado’s hits have gone viral again. Her music has seemingly resonated with Gen Z, connecting her with fans who weren’t even born when Whoa, Nelly! first came out.
She added, “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.”
Furtado also took a moment to thank the fans and creative partners who’ve supported her through the years. “I deeply thank all of those who have worked so hard to help me make my pop dreams come true on a creative and organizational level. I thank all my brilliant collaborators and loyal champions,” she wrote. “I also wish to the new generation of artists many years of fruitful and passionate performance.”
The “Promiscuous” singer recently released her album 7 after taking time off to focus on motherhood. That return was inspired by the renewed popularity of her music, and by her own family.
“I kept hearing my music being played and remixed by DJs, and at the same time, my eldest daughter was showing me how the online community — including a whole new audience of Gen Z fans — were discovering and embracing my music, 20 years later,” Furtado said in a statement. “I heard the calling!”
For longtime fans, Furtado’s announcement feels bittersweet. One commenter wrote, “I feel like we just got you back recently after years away, and you’re leaving again!!! So happy for you but also saddd.”
Another added, “Nelly we need you,” while one fan summed up the sentiment, “My heart is broken that I will never have been able to experience your music live Whoa, Nelly! was absolutely everything to me when I found it at 20 years old in 2000.”
Although she hasn’t shared exactly what projects she’s pursuing next, fans are eager to see where her creativity will take her.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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