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Episode details

World Service,25 May 2026,26 mins

Chaka Khan, singer: Music is a calling

The Interview

Available for over a year

鈥淭his is a calling. It's bigger than anything in your life as an individual. If you found the thing that you were put on this planet to do, and a lot of people are put on this planet and they don't know, it's such a gift to find it.鈥 Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus speak to global music icon Chaka Khan about her life and career. Born Yvette Marie Stevens in the US city of Chicago in 1953, her big break came at the age of 20 when her band Rufus signed its first record deal. With her powerful vocals and striking stage presence, she quickly caught the public鈥檚 attention. The band enjoyed commercial and critical success in the years that followed, before Chaka decided to go it alone around a decade later鈥 a decision which transformed her life and career. Worldwide hits such as I鈥檓 Every Woman and I Feel For You followed, as well as collaborations with legends like Whitney Houston and Prince, multiple Grammy Awards, and an induction into the Rock 鈥榥鈥 Roll Hall of Fame. As a new musical telling her story begins its run, the 73-year-old has a lot to reflect on. Thank you to the Sidetracked team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the 麻豆社, including episodes with Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, and artist Tracey Emin. You can listen on the 麻豆社 World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on 麻豆社 Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenters: Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus Producers: Ben Cooper, Gr谩inne Morrison and Christine Czerniec Editor: Damon Rose Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterview麻豆社 on social media. (Image: Chaka Khan. Credit: Getty)

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