Stevie Wonder Says He Will Never Retire

Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest musicians of all time and at 75 years old, he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

During a new interview with BBC’s Sidetracked podcast on Monday, July 21, the Motown legend revealed that he will keep performing as long as he can.

“For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there’s more for you to do,” Wonder told host Annie Mac. “I’m not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body.”

He went on to explain that “an artist doesn’t stop drawing just because.” Instead, “you keep on. So as long as you can imagine, as long as you are going to be creative, and as long as you let your mind work, you don’t have to retire.” 

The 25-time Grammy Award winner said he still gets excited about music just like he did when he released his first album at 12.

“I love playing music, that’s like my mantra. I think I can do all the stuff I want to do – still have fun and do what I need to do – but I’m not going to stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body,” he said.

“I love doing what I’m doing,” Wonder added.

While some artists may have an issue playing their hits, Wonder loves to play the hits from his enormous catalog.

“Songs are like children, they’re with you forever,” he said. ‘They are statements from the spirit within you, and singing those songs is like me taking another breath.” 

Recently, Wonder answered all the conspiracy theories about him not being blind.

“I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, ‘When did I want to let the world know this?’ But I wanted to say it right now,” Wonder said at tour stop in Wales. “You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth.”

“Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,” Wonder continued. “Now, that was a blessing because it’s allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?”

Currently, Wonder is performing on the “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart Tour,” with shows in Pittsburgh, New York City, and Atlanta.