On Saturday, just two days before she was set to perform at the California State Fair, Chaka Khan cancelled her show. The 10-time, Grammy winner announced that she will be entering rehab for drug addiction.
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, fair officials received a message from Khan’s representative, stating the singer was entering an addiction rehabilitation and aftercare program for addiction to prescription pain medication, said Sabrina Rodriguez, a Cal Expo spokesman.
The 63-year-old has struggled with addiction for decades, having abused cocaine, heroin, and alcohol during the ’70s and ’80s. The singer was said be sober in 2005 — after seeking professional help, but later relapsed.
“The battle of addiction is a serious and long process, which is why I chose to address my use of prescription medications — which came about as a result of the knee surgery I had a few years ago,” Khan said in a 2013 statement after exiting treatment for the same issue.
She added, “When and if necessary, I will seek alternative methods and traditional treatment to stay ahead of any potential problem. So many are not here today, and have lost this battle with addiction. Because these medications are legal, their abuse is often unknown — until it’s too late. If not handled, they are a silent killer.”
This recent rehab stint comes a few months after Khan’s close friend Prince, died of a prescription drug overdose. Quietly kept in both cases, the two seem to have something deadly in common.
We wish Khan the best and a full recovery. We know she’ll be back on top once she’s free of addiction.
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