Chaka Khan, 73, has declared she is "partnered out" and has no desire to find new romantic relationships following three divorces. The "Queen of Funk" also pushed back against being labeled a "straight icon," asserting that her personal life is not for public consumption.
Khan, whose birth name is Yvette Marie Stevens, first married at age 17 to Hassan Khan in 1970, a union that lasted one year. Her subsequent marriages were to Richard Holland from 1976 to 1980, and Doug Rasheed, which ended in divorce in 2001. Despite frequently singing about love throughout her career, Khan stated in a recent interview with The Observer that she is not actively seeking a partner.
"I don’t want to discuss that, because if I talk too much about what I would like to have, somebody will try to arrange it for me," Khan said when asked about her desires, referencing a line from her new album, "Chakzilla." "So I’m just going to mosey along and let life do what it do. One of them is not necessarily a partner. I’m not looking for that. I’m partnered out."
In a 2014 interview with The Daily Mail, Khan previously expressed apprehension about relationships, calling them her "biggest fear" due to the vulnerability involved. "Being in a couple is a lot of work," she stated then. "No man in his right mind would want to be married to someone like me."
When questioned about her perceived status as a "straight icon" for queer visibility, Khan expressed frustration. "A straight icon? What’s the straight part? What do you mean, straight in what way?” Am I? How do you know what the f**k I am? I don’t ever share that part of my life. That’s nobody’s business but mine,” she responded. Khan emphasized that she is "for everybody" and that she cares only that people's hearts are in the right place.
![The Queen of Funk, who is a vocal ally, went on to insist she's 'for everybody' as she highlighted that she hasn't actually labelled her sexuality
In a separate recent event, Khan's presence caused a significant delay at the opening night of "I’m Every Woman: The Musical" in London on August 4. The performance, starring Alexandra Burke, was reportedly held up for 40 minutes as organizers waited for Khan, the guest of honor, to arrive and be seated. Attendees reported restlessness and frustration among the audience due to the delay, which stemmed from Khan being occupied with red carpet interviews.