Chaka Khan
| Birthday | March 23, 1953 |
|---|---|
| Age | 73 Years (May, 2026) |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Relationship Status | Divorced |
Biography
Chaka Khan, born Yvette Marie Stevens, is an American singer, songwriter, performer, and author widely known as the Queen of Funk. She first became famous in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus, where her powerful voice helped make songs such as Tell Me Something Good, Sweet Thing, Do You Love What You Feel, and Ain’t Nobody major hits. She later became a major solo artist with signature songs including I’m Every Woman, I Feel for You, Through the Fire, and This Is My Night. Across a career spanning more than five decades, Chaka Khan has influenced R&B, funk, pop, soul, dance, jazz, gospel, and rock music. She is a 10-time Grammy winner, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee through the Musical Excellence Award, and a 2026 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. In recent news, she has remained active with new music, including the dance-pop project Chakzilla, created with Sia and producer Greg Kurstin.
Early Life
Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up on Chicago’s South Side and developed an early love for jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul music. As a child, she formed a girl group called the Crystalettes with her sister. Her early exposure to music, activism, and Chicago’s creative culture helped shape the powerful stage presence and vocal identity that later made her one of the most influential singers of her generation.
Career
Chaka Khan rose to fame as the lead singer of Rufus in the 1970s. The group broke through with Tell Me Something Good, written by Stevie Wonder, and later delivered major funk and R&B classics including Sweet Thing, Do You Love What You Feel, and Ain’t Nobody. She began her solo career in 1978 with the album Chaka, which included I’m Every Woman. In 1984, her version of Prince’s I Feel for You became one of her biggest solo hits and helped define her crossover success. She later continued releasing music, collaborating with major artists, appearing on television, and performing internationally. Her albums include Chaka, Naughty, What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me, I Feel for You, The Woman I Am, Funk This, Hello Happiness, and the recent Chakzilla project. She has won 10 Grammy Awards, received 22 Grammy nominations, and was honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.