There is a reason why we haven’t seen Chaka Khan in any Prince tributes since his death in April.
The powerhouse, who shared a close friendship with the late musician and famously recorded a hit version of his song “I Feel For You,” says it’s simply too painful.
“I’m still mourning. It’s very personal for me. I loved him,” she tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Since Prince’s death, Khan completed a rehab stint to address an addiction to pain meds, which caused the death of Prince via an overdose.
Although she has declined multiple requests to participate in Prince tributes, she has yet to make up her mind about the official celebration on Oct. 13 in Minneapolis, endorsed by Prince’s family.
“I’m thinking about it,” she says. “I’m looking at the calendar to see what is going on. But I have something planned in the near future — a personal tribute.”
Khan would not elaborate on what that might entail. She did, however, discuss the Joni Mitchell tribute album that she’s currently recording.
“I’ve loved Joni Mitchell since I’ve started singing professionally,” Khan says. “I’ve been listening to her most of my life, and we’re very good friends. So when she got sick, I felt like now was the time.”
In the past year, Mitchell has suffered a brain aneurysm and Morgellons disease, a skin condition.
“I always wanted to cover a lot of her songs for years and years. I’ve been waiting for the right time. I felt like the Lord was saying get started now.”
