Grammy-winning singer Nelly Furtado is taking a step back from performing for the foreseeable future. The Canadian pop star shared the news on social media on October 24, 2025, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, reflecting on her career and the next phase of her creative life.

---

Nelly Furtado Puts Performing on Hold

Furtado, 46, explained that she is pausing live performances to prioritize other personal and creative projects:

“I’m putting performing on hold for the foreseeable future [to] pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life.”

Alongside her announcement, she shared a carousel of photos, including a nostalgic snapshot of herself at age 20 performing her first professional show at Lilith Fair, and a recent video from a summer concert in Berlin, where she soaked in the energy of her audience and the significance of fan appreciation.

---

Celebrating 25 Years of Whoa, Nelly!

Furtado reflected on her debut album and her early ambitions:

“When my album debuted, my biggest wish was hoping some kid would dust off the Whoa, Nelly! vinyl one day in a record shop and think it was cool or inspiring.”

She expressed gratitude for the enduring connection her music has with both longtime fans and new listeners in 2025, calling it “surreal and joyful” to see her songs rediscovered in fresh ways.

---

Music Remains at the Heart of Her Life

While stepping back from performing, Furtado emphasized that songwriting remains central to her identity:

“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 thanked fans, collaborators, and industry professionals who supported her journey, while offering encouragement to emerging artists:

“I also wish, to the new generation of artists, many years of fruitful and passionate performance.”

---

Connecting Through Generations

Furtado highlighted her excitement at seeing younger fans embrace her music. During a September 2024 festival in Australia, she was amazed by Gen Z fans singing along to her hits:

“I went, ‘Whoa, this is real. This is not just a fun app. This is my music reconnecting. This is a big deal.’”

Her recent album, 7, released in September 2024, was a special collaborative project with her daughter, Nevis Gahunia, 22, allowing Furtado to connect with her teenager through music:

“It just felt like the greatest gift in the world… What a blessing.”

---

Looking Ahead

While she steps back from performing, Nelly Furtado’s impact on pop music remains undeniable. Fans can continue to celebrate her iconic hits such as Maneater, Promiscuous Girl, and Say It Right, as she focuses on new creative pursuits and songwriting endeavors in the next chapter of her life.