Chaka Khan, 73, says she's 'partnered out' and has no interest in finding love after three failed marriages as she hits back at claims she's a 'straight icon'
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By NIOMI HARRIS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Chaka Khan has revealed she is 'partnered out' and has no interest in love after three failed marriages.
The legendary singer, 73, first tied the knot aged just 17 to first husband Hassan Khan in 1970, with the union lasting only a year.
Chaka - real name Yvette Marie Stevens - was also married to Richard Holland from 1976-1980, with her third marriage to Doug Rasheed in 2001 also ending in divorce.
And though she's sang about love in several songs throughout her expansive career, Chaka made it clear in a new interview that she's not 'waiting' for a new partner to come along.
Speaking to The Observer about her new album, Chakzilla, Chaka was asked what she was waiting for in reference to a line from her title track which reads: 'I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment.'
Giving a frank answer, she responded: 'I don’t want to discuss that, because if I talk too much about what I would like to have, somebody will try to arrange it for me. So I’m just going to mosey along and let life do what it do.
Chaka Khan has revealed she is 'partnered out' and has no interest in love after three failed marriages
'One of them is not necessarily a partner. I’m not looking for that. I’m partnered out.'
Chaka, who has two children from her first two marriages, has previously opened up to The Daily Mail about her reluctance to enter relationships.
She said in 2014: 'Being in a relationship [is my biggest fear], because it renders one so helpless. You’re so vulnerable.
'I don’t know if I’m ready for that to happen again. Being in a couple is a lot of work. No man in his right mind would want to be married to someone like me. I can understand that. I’ve tried it a couple of times, and I get it. I can’t even have a pet.'
She jokingly shared her thoughts on the ideal relationship, adding: 'My bed is my boyfriend, the telly is my husband (I can turn it on and off), and the Bible is my salvation.'
Meanwhile, in her chat with The Observer, Chaka hit back at claims she's a 'straight icon' for queer visibility.
The Queen of Funk, who is a vocal ally, went on to insist she's 'for everybody' as she highlighted that she hasn't actually labelled her sexuality.
At the suggestion that she's heterosexual, Chaka, who curated a late-night queer club event called Adonis Afters in 2024, snapped: 'A straight icon? What’s the straight part? What do you mean, straight in what way?” Am I? How do you know what the f**k I am? I don’t ever share that part of my life. That’s nobody’s business but mine.'
The Queen of Funk, who is a vocal ally, went on to insist she's 'for everybody' as she highlighted that she hasn't actually labelled her sexuality [pictured in 1981
She went on to add that she's 'for everybody' and that as long as ones heart is in the right place, that's 'all I care about'.
It comes after chaos unfolded at the opening night of the new Chaka Khan musical as the show was delayed by 40 minutes while organisers waited for the music legend to take her seat.
The maiden performance of I’m Every Woman: The Musical, starring Alexandra Burke, was due to begin at 7pm at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in north London on August 4.
But organisers delayed the curtain until guest of honour Chaka had arrived and taken her seat, after the singer was held up giving red carpet interviews.
The ten-time Grammy winner was eventually seated at around 7.40pm, meaning the performance began 40 minutes late.
One attendee told the Daily Mail: ‘Chaka was really late arriving for the show. She kept everyone waiting. It was a nightmare for the organisers. They couldn’t start the show without her, so they had to keep everyone waiting.
‘The crowd got very restless. Everyone was told to be seated by 7pm, so when the show didn’t start, people got annoyed. After a while, some people got fed up with waiting and went back out to go to the loo.
‘The whole event was chaotic. It was really insulting to the cast and crew.’
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