Chaka Khan Says She's 'Not Nostalgic' for the Past: 'I'm Just Busy with My Life'

Khan opened up about her five decades in the music industry for a new 'Harper's Bazaar' cover story

Living in the past isn't of interest to Chaka Khan.

The 10-time Grammy winner, 71, opened up about her five decades in the music industry for a new Harper's Bazaar cover story, telling the outlet she doesn't spend much time looking back on her career.

"I’m not nostalgic at all," said Khan, who rose to fame in the '70s as the lead singer of Rufus. "I’m just busy with my life, and suddenly I’ve been doing it for 50 years."

Related: Why Chaka Khan Thinks It's 'Ridiculous' When People Call Her the 'Queen of Funk'

The "Ain't Nobody" singer added that she's "not counting" the years as they go by. "I’m just living every day like everybody else, so I’m surprised when birthdays come up. I’m like, ‘Oh, wow, tempus fugit,’ and I keep it moving," she said. "I’m really a next person."

Khan, however, is aware of what she's accomplished — and the fact that her fan base now spans generations, as many of her longtime listeners have passed her catalog onto their kids.

"The beautiful thing is throughout my career, I’ve always had a lot of love," said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member. "That has been maybe the high point of what I do: the love that I receive from people."

Related: Chaka Khan Shares Her Key Life Lessons Ahead of 70th Birthday: 'It's Bigger Than You'

She added, "To see now how the daughters and the granddaughters and the grandsons of people who grew up with me are now into me, that’s really special to me. It’s always been a lovefest with my audience and myself, and it still is."

Looking at her career as a whole, Khan told the outlet she hopes to leave a "good and loving, positive" legacy behind her — "one that has brought joy and some enrichment to somebody’s life, that has been of some help to someone in some way, in a good way."

The "Through the Fire" vocalist continued, "That’s all I can ask. I can just pray that when it’s over, I’ve done good by as many people as possible."

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Khan recently revealed one thing she doesn't want to be said of her — that she's the "Queen of Funk." She told The Independent in June, "That’s ridiculous! I’ve been trying to drop that ‘funk’ thing forever. For. EVER! I hate to be boxed in, you know?"

In the new Harper's Bazaar story, she spoke about her ability to perform within numerous and unexpected genres. "I can do anything," declared Khan. "I could sing Chinese folk music if I got the pronunciation right."

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