Chaka Khan and her sister Yvonne Stevens (a.k.a. Taka Boom) voluntarily enter a rehabilitation center to treat their addiction to prescription drugs. The Queen of Funk admitted that it was the death of long-time friend and colleague, Prince, which pushed her to seek treatment.
In a statement released to The Associated Press, Khan expressed worry about her health as she knows that she has been taking too much painkilling prescription drugs just like her deceased friend. The "Through the Fire" singer is addicted to the same opioid fentanyl which killed Prince.
"The tragic death of Prince has had us both rethinking and reevaluating our lives and priorities," she in a statement to AP. "We knew it was time to take action to save our lives."
It can be recalled that medical examiners confirmed that the "Purple Rain" singer died on April 21 due to accidental overdose of opioid fentanyl. The drug is usually prescribed to cancer patients and it is 25 to 50 times more potent compared to heroin.
The singer's decision to check into a rehab facility led to the cancellation of her upcoming summer concerts as well as performance at the California State Fair which is to take place this week.
Stanislaus Country Fair spokesperson Adrienne Alkhas released a press release on July 9. The statement read, "We are extremely disappointed Chaka Khan canceled because we knew how much the community was looking forward to it."
Khan is aware that some of her fans were disappointed in her, but she knows that they care more about her recovery and health so she is being positive about her confession and decision.
A popular singer and songwriter in the 80s, Khan began her career in 1970, as part of the funk band called Rufus. She has 10 Grammy awards under her belt and had sold around 70 million albums worldwide.
Throughout her solo career, Khan garnered three gold albums, three gold singles and a platinum album for her cover of Prince's single "I Feel For You." Although the track is not originally her song, the cover became one of her all-time greatest hits.
Watch Roosevelt Mitchell III reports about Khan's decision to cancel her shows to enter rehab: