Whatever Happened To Nelly Furtado?

Nelly Furtado ditched the spotlight to gain more time for herself. "My life was pretty much on fast-forward from the age of 20," the pop sensation told Refinery29. "I signed my first record deal, and then it was constant juggling of my work and my home life." She added, "I didn't quit music, but I quit juggling." So, what does a retired juggler do with all that extra time?

For one thing, Furtado started taking college classes. She studied a variety of subjects, including playwriting and ceramics. She also tried her hand at sewing. When she wasn't learning new skills, Furtado played guitar and piano with her daughter. At one point, she even got a job at her daughter's school library. In hindsight, Furtado realized, "All those things help me remember who I was."

During her hiatus from music, Furtado also cultivated some international friendships. She connected with a group of Colombian women who helped her rediscover her purpose. "I went to Colombia a year ago, and had this awakening being around these strong, kick-ass women who are not only mothers, but performers," she raved to Vogue in 2023. "I am a mother, and it is part of my identity, but I'm also the mother of my creativity and art. That also needs to be nurtured."