Nelly Furtado Announces She’s Stepping Away From Performing for the Foreseeable Future

25 October 2025

Nelly Furtado at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on April 15, 2024. Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty

Grammy-winning singer Nelly Furtado has revealed that she will be stepping away from live performances for the foreseeable future to focus on new creative and personal endeavours. In an Instagram post shared on October 24, 2025, marking the 25th anniversary of her debut album Whoa, Nelly!, she reflected on a career that has spanned decades and generations of fans.

In the message she posted a throwback photo of herself at age 20 preparing for her first professional show and a video of a recent performance in Berlin, underscoring how meaningful the journey has been. “My music has reached a whole new generation of fans and I couldn’t be happier about that,” she wrote. “It’s been so fun embracing this opportunity … it’s made me really believe in magic.”

Despite stepping away from the stage, Furtado was clear that she’s not stepping away from music altogether. “I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career,” she said. “I’ll identify as a songwriter forever.”

The decision comes shortly after the release of her seventh studio album, 7, which debuted in September 2024 and featured a collaboration with her daughter, Nevis Gahunia. She explained that at this next phase of her life she feels drawn toward pursuits that better suit her personal growth and creative direction.

In her note she expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported her over the years fans who listened, attended shows, and allowed her music to become part of their lives—while also acknowledging the team of collaborators and fellow creatives who helped bring her vision to life.

For longtime followers, this announcement signals the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Furtado’s work has always blended pop success with artistic exploration from early hits such as “I’m Like a Bird” and “Promiscuous” to more recent festival appearances and deep-cut collaborations. Her recognition of the changing shape of her career reflects how artists evolve with time, life experience and shifting priorities.

While the specifics of how long she will remain off the road are undefined, her wording suggests a return to making music in non-performance capacities songwriting, studio work, and perhaps other creative ventures behind the scenes. Whether fans will see new live shows or tours in the future remains unclear, but for now the focus appears to be inward.

This moment also invites consideration of how the performance demands of touring, public visibility and constant travel fit into an artist’s life as they mature and change. In choosing to step away, Furtado is modelling a path that prioritises creative fulfilment and personal alignment rather than simply continuing by default.

In short, Nelly Furtado is closing the touring chapter of her career while keeping the heart of her musical identity intact. Her decision speaks to respect for the past, excitement for what lies ahead, and the courage to shift direction on one’s own terms.