*In case you haven’t been paying attention, tonight’s the night that Willie Nelson, Chaka Khan, the late George Michael, and Missy Elliott will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Wille, George, and Missy are more than worthy of their awards and attention, but the focus of this article is Yvette Marie Stephens, better known to the world as Chaka Khan. She’s released 22 albums, sold over 70 million recordings and on top of that, she’s been recognized by the Recording Academy with 10 Grammys.
Oh, and did we mention that the 70-year-old timeless beauty, according to the Recording Industry Association of America/RIAA, is also the recipient of nine gold or platinum singles.
Ahead of the induction ceremony, scheduled for 8pm Eastern tonight (11-03-23) Khan sat down with TODAY.com writer Randi Richardson to discuss all sorts of things including her Hall of Fame induction, her career and the multiple projects she has in the works, and a lot more including mental health. Read on for a few excerpts.
TODAY Asked How did you first get the name Chaka Khan?
It’s not a stage name. It’s my spiritual African name. The whole name is much longer and it’s Yoruba. I was interested in the Yoruba way of life, which is a very healthy and spiritual way of life. Most of my names are named after Orisha, spirits that I would strive to become like, and each have a meaning. Chaka is warrioress. That’s feminine for T’Chaka, which is the male warrior. I married a guy named Hassan Khan and the two names just work really well together. They sound a lot better than Yvette Marie Stephens.
You’re getting this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor. You have 50 years in the business. How would you describe Chaka Khan’s legacy?
Long as hell.
Never ending.
It’s like every time I think, “Yeah, OK, now I can chill.” It’s not happening. God put me here to do this.
Have you considered retirement?
Absolutely. Yeah, but it doesn’t work. It’s really amazing. It’s really a major gift that God gave me and it’s so much more than just music in it, you know. It’s a big deal.
What are some of your self-care practices that you would advise young people to do to take care of their mental health?
I’ve been doing some transcendental meditation and simply I find it to be very helpful. I’m affiliated with the David Lynch Foundation, which focuses on this type of work, to promote healthy minds. Proceeds from my fragrance go to the foundation.
I’ve always been concerned about young people. … I think there needs to be some initiative in place for young people trying to get out here in this madness and stay afloat.
You can get the rest of Chaka’s answer and the entire interview with TODAY, here.
Meanwhile, as we noted up top, the induction ceremony for the 38th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony takes place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and, for the first time, will be streamed live,reports the LA Times.
The live stream begins at 5pm Pacific on Disney+ and will be available on demand on the platform after the ceremony.
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