Nelly Furtado is stepping back from performing "for the foreseeable future"
The I'm Like a Bird hitmaker feels now is the time to switch her focus to "other creative and personal endeavours" as she embarks on the "next phase" of her life
29 October 2025
In a lengthy Instagram post to mark her 25th anniversary of her debut album Woah, Nelly!, she explained: "I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life.
"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."
Noting the resurgence in her music thanks to TikTok, she said: "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."
Nelly's last performance was at Munich's SUPERBLOOM Festival in August.
Thanking her fans and those who helped her achieve her "pop dreams", Nelly went on: "I'm grateful for all the years of fun , community and wonder.
"Endless gratitude to anyone who has ever listened and vibrated with my music and attended any of my shows . I love you and your open hearts.
"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 .
"I also wish , to the new generation of artists ,
many years of fruitful and passionate performance."
The 46-year-old star posted a throwback picture from the start of her career and a video of her performance at Berlin's Citadel Music Festival this summer.
She concluded: "The second slide is me in Berlin this summer finally understanding what receiving flowers means.
"Thank you and goodnight!
Nelly."
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