Chaka Khan at 73: From Queen of Funk to Solo Legend

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953) rose to fame in the early 1970s as lead singer of Rufus. She scored classics like “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing” and the platinum hit “Ain’t Nobody.” Her solo debut delivered the R&B anthem “I’m Every Woman,” later a pop smash for Whitney Houston. Raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park, Khan overcame a turbulent childhood and joined the Black Panther Party as a teenager. A Yoruba naming ceremony at age 13 gave her the stage name Chaka, meaning “woman of fire.” She began recording with Rufus in 1972 and rejected offers to join other acts, confident in her own path. Throughout her career, Khan battled health issues and substance dependency, becoming sober by 1999. She follows a vegan diet for wellness and has two children. Today her net worth is estimated between $10 million and $30 million.

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