Nelly Furtado announces decision to ‘step away from performance’

Nelly Furtado has revealed her plans to take an indefinite break from live shows and touring.

The I’m Like a Bird singer announced her career shift in an Instagram post.

“I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future,” she wrote, “and pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life.”

She went on to thank her fans and collaborators “for all the years of fun, community and wonder” since the release of her debut album Whoa, Nelly! in 2000.

“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,” she continued. “I’ll identify as a songwriter forever.”

Nelly also shared a positive message for budding musicians hoping to follow in her footsteps, wishing “many years of fruitful and passionate performance” to the “new generation of artists”.

While the Grammy winner may be stepping away 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 to E! News in August.

“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.”