After Prince tragically passed away in April due to complications related to a drug overdose, legendary singer and lifelong friend Chaka Khan paid tribute to Prince on Twitter, saying that she loved him and that he’s now “at peace with his Father.”
Now, the 63-year-old vocalist has revealed that she herself is battling her own drug addiction, and has checking into a rehabilitation program alongside her sister.
In a statement released to The Associated Press, Chaka Khan said that she has been struggling with an addiction to fentanyl, the same powerful painkiller which took Prince’s life, and that she was prompted to assess her life after the drug took his. “The tragic death of Prince has had us both rethinking and re-evaluating our lives and priorities. We knew it was time to take action to save our lives. My sister and I would like to thank everyone for their support, love and prayers.”
A representative for Khan added that she is set to resume recording mid July, and be back on tour August 1st, so it doesn’t look like fans will be waiting too long for the forthcoming postponed gigs.
“Unfortunately, I will miss concert appearances over the summer,” she added. “However, it’s vital that I put my health and well-being first. I know that I am disappointing some of my fans, but I also know they would want me to recover and be well and healthy.”
Chaka Khan showed her appreciation for the Prince with her cover of his 1979 track I Feel For You. Both the original and the newer version were highly praised, but it was Khan’s version which gave Prince the 1985 Grammy Award for best R&B song.
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