Chaka Khan says 'all lives matter': Former Black Panther speaks out on Black Lives Matter movement, Beyonce going country and why she hates singing her biggest hit

Former Black Panther Chaka Khan has vowed never to perform at any political convention again, including the Black Lives Matter movement explaining that 'every life matters'.

The 71-year-old singer - real name Yvette Marie Stevens -  said she would not get involved with the anti-racism campaign that began following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, United States in 2020. 

'All lives matter, let's get that straight,' she told the Telegraph. 'After all the s*** I've seen when somebody comes along with a realisation that every life matters, I think: finally they realise that, even if it's black lives.'

Despite performing at both Republic and Democratic events in the past she has now slammed politics as 'a sick powerful thing that needs to be eliminated'. 

The only campaigning the great-grandmother plans to take part in now is raising money for her foundation that supports autistic people and speaking to school children age five to 14 to help provide 'inspiration'.

Former Black Panther Chaka Khan has vowed never to perform at any political convention again

Despite performing at both Republic and Democratic events in the past the 71-year-old singer  has now slammed politics as 'a sick powerful thing that needs to be eliminated'

Khan praised Beyoncé's latest concept album Cowboy Carter, which was released two weeks ago

But back in the 1970s she had been involved in the Black Panther movement. She was recruited at just 14-years-old to handout fliers, taking inspiration from her father who took part in Civil Rights marches.

Throughout her career Khan, who now lives in Georgia, has battled and overcome racism within the music industry, blasting 'the totally racist decision' made by Island Records to remove her vocals from Addicted to Love.

The singer had recorded the 1986 duet alongside Robert Palmer before the recording studios decided to axe her vocals. The British popstar's solo version became a hit climbing up the charts home and abroad.

Khan's comments on racism within the music industry come just weeks after Beyoncé released her latest album, Cowboy Carter, a country music album.

The Single Ladies hit maker made the genre switch came after she was booed at the Country Music Awards in 2016. She said the concept album was born out of a past experience where she 'did not feel welcome'.

Khan applauded Beyoncé's decision highlighting that 'black people have been making country music from the beginning;'.

'Beyoncé's doing exactly what she should be doing,' she added.  

The 70's star's comments come just months after she revealed she had put her feud with Kanye West behind her.

The rapper had sped her vocals while sampling her 1984 hit 'Through The Fire' on his 2004 debut single 'Through the Wire', which she called 'stupid.'

The soul singer had numerous hits throughout her long career, from Ain't Nobody to I'm Every Woman - but she is undoubtedly known best for her 1984 hit 'I Feel For You'

 Kanye West (seen 2018) had sped Khan's vocals while sampling her 1984 hit 'Through The Fire' on his 2004 debut single 'Through the Wire', which she called 'stupid'

But the music icon has come around, and revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that her comments at the time were 'salty' and that she is not holding onto any 'silly grudges.'

'You know, that was my fault, too, for feeling salty about that in any way,' she said. 'If I understood the rap game more completely, like I do now, then that wouldn't have been a big deal to me.'

The soul singer had numerous hits throughout her long career, from Ain't Nobody to I'm Every Woman - but she is undoubtedly known best for her 1984 hit 'I Feel For You'.

But for Chaka, the grammy award winning song that brought her in millions, is one of the songs she hates singing the most.

'I hate most of the songs I have to sing,' she told the paper fearing that she might get some backlash from fans.

'Anybody would be tired of singing the same f***ing song for so many years,' she added.