Nelly Furtado is retiring after 25 years on stage: Here's why

Why Nelly Furtado is ending her career

The Portuguese-Canadian singer and Grammy winner explained that her decision stems from a desire to focus on new life goals that are more aligned with this stage of her life.

"I'll identify as a songwriter forever. I am grateful for years of joy, connection, and inspiration," the pop star wrote.

Nelly Furtado (photo: instagram.com/nellyfurtado)

Despite stepping away from the stage, she emphasized that she is not ending her creative work.

"I still love writing music. I'm grateful for all the years of fun, community, and wonder," she added.

Throughout her career, Furtado has sold tens of millions of albums and remains one of the most influential figures in pop music and entertainment.

Is body shaming a reason?

Despite the official explanation, Nelly Furtado's fans have been actively discussing another, more troubling reason for her decision.

Fans suspect that the singer chose to retire due to constant online criticism and hate directed at her body. Recently, Furtado has frequently faced negative comments regarding changes in her appearance.

Nelly Furtado (photo: instagram.com/nellyfurtado)

Earlier this year, the artist publicly supported the #BodyNeutral2025 initiative, which promotes self-acceptance without judgment or idealization.

At that time, she admitted that after returning to the stage, she "became aware of the aesthetic pressure of my work in a brand new way," but also learned new levels of self-acceptance.

What made Nelly Furtado famous

Furtado became one of the most successful pop and R&B performers of the early 2000s.

Her albums "Whoa, Nelly!" and "Loose" brought her international fame, and songs like "I'm Like a Bird," "Say It Right," and "Promiscuous" became global hits.

During her career, she has sold over 45 million records. In 2002, Nelly Furtado won the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Her music remains relevant: in recent years, her hits have regained popularity thanks to viral trends on TikTok.

Top 5 hits by Nelly Furtado

Say It Right

Promiscuous

All Good Things (Come To An End)

Maneater

I'm Like A Bird