Nelly Furtado is poised to extinguish the stage lights for good, announcing a monumental shift in her career, revealing plans to embark on an indefinite hiatus from live performances and touring. "I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future," she wrote on Instagram on October 23, "to pursue other creative and personal endeavors that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life."
The 46-year-old singer expressed gratitude to her fans and collaborators for the "years of fun, community, and wonder" since the release of her debut album Whoa, Nelly! in October 2000. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my career, and I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to turn into a career," she continued. "I'll identify as a songwriter forever."
Nelly also shared a heartfelt message for aspiring musicians, wishing them "many years of fruitful and passionate performance" as the "new generation of artists." While she may be taking a break from performing, her hits continue to resonate with younger fans through social media. "To have so many people rediscovering my music has been surreal and joyful," she gushed. "It's been so much fun embracing this opportunity, getting back on stages, and seeing up close the true lasting power of good music. It's made me truly believe in magic."
Nelly has quickly credited her 22-year-old daughter Nevis Gahunia—whom she shares with ex Jasper Gahunia—for helping her navigate the digital landscape. "When my music first started trending on TikTok, my oldest daughter was only 16 or 17," Nelly told E! News in August 2024. "At the time, I was quite unfamiliar with it since I was home with the babies and stuff." (Nelly is also a mom to a 7-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son with rapper Jerry.)
In fact, Nelly noted that Nevis has become a pivotal figure in her professional life. "I'm lucky she comes into the studio with me and helps me out as well," she gushed. "There's nothing better than having that creative connection with your child and being able to work on something special together."
