Chaka Khan’s decision to enter rehab for the second time for her addiction to painkillers stemmed from the death of her friend and collaborator, Prince.
According to the Associated Press, the R&B icon released a statement on her decision on Sunday (July 10) after reports spread Saturday evening (July 9). The 63-year-old checked into a rehabilitation facility with her sister Yvonne Stevens, known widely as Taka Boom. Khan says she has been battling an addiction to opioid fentanyl, the same painkiller that Prince was taking at the time of his death.
“The tragic death of Prince has had us both rethinking and reevaluating our lives and priorities,” she said. “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.”
Khan previously sought treatment in 2013 and told fans she began taking the drug after a knee injury. The singer known for such tracks as “Aint Nobody,” “Through the Fire” and the Prince cover, “I Feel For You,” says she plans to put the rest of her summer work schedule on hold for her health.
“Unfortunately, I will miss concert appearances over the summer,” she said. “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.”
Khan’s work has been sampled heavily in hip-hop, from Kanye West’s “Through the Fire” to Pitbull and Ne-Yo’s recent international hit, “Time of our Lives.”