Latest news with #StevieWonder
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Shares Poignant Response to Longstanding Rumor He's Not Really Blind
Stevie Wonder has used an appearance at a recent concert to address the longstanding conspiracy theory that he isn't actually blind. Wonder – who has been performing since the age of 11 and scored his first Hot 100 chart-topper with 'Fingertips' at 13 – has long been noted for his status as a blind man, having lost his vision weeks after his birth. More from Billboard Kesha Makes Chart-Topping Debut With New Album '. (Period)' Rauw Alejandro Gains Big: 'Carita Linda' Takes No. 1 Spot on Latin Airplay Chart Pusha T on Drake's 'What Did I Miss?': 'Just Not for Me' However, his prolific output and tireless work in the music industry over the past 64 years has resulted in a half-serious theory that Wonder can in fact see. Though often shared as a tongue-in-cheek rumor, Wonder's ability to navigate the world around him has resulted in many of these theories coming to light. In 2019, former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal shared a tale of Wonder recognizing him in an elevator, while comedian and actor Anthony Anderson once recalled how he challenged Wonder to a basketball game. 'What y'all don't know is, Stevie can see,' he told Stephen Colbert in 2016. 'It's just an act.' Now, at a recent tour stop in Cardiff, Wales for his Love, Light & Song U.K. tour, Wonder used an opportunity to speak to the crowd to dispel the enduring speculation. '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 began. '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,' he 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?' Wonder has not released a new studio album since 2005's A Time to Love, though since 2008, he has spoken about a new project titled Through the Eyes of Wonder, which has been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. 'What I want to do with our live performances is to create visuals that [give] my take on how I see the world and how most various things affected me,' he explained at the time. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Says He'll Never Give Up Performing: ‘You Don't Have to Retire'
Stevie Wonder has confirmed that he's not going anywhere, with the veteran musician claiming he'll be performing and creating until his dying day. Wonder's comments came from a new interview with the BBC's Sidetracked podcast, where he entered into a discussion with host Annie Mac about the topic of retirement. More from Billboard Shakira & The Weeknd to Headline 2025 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park The Who Kick Off Farewell Tour in Italy, Perform First Show Since Zak Starkey Sacking Tool Announce First Hawaii Concert in Nearly 15 Years After turning the question back onto Mac after she inquired about his thoughts on the matter, Wonder explained that as long as he's physically able to, he'll keep creating in some capacity. 'For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do,' he explained. '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.' 'I love doing what I'm doing,' he added. 'An artist doesn't stop drawing – you keep on. As long as you can imagine is as long as you are going to be creative, and as long as you let your mind work, you don't have to retire.' Close to the entirety of Wonder's life has been dedicated to creating music, with the 75-year-old having released his first single at the age of 11, and later scored his first Hot 100 chart-topper with 'Fingertips' at 13. Currently, it's been almost 20 years since Wonder released his last studio album, A Time to Love, though a number of singles have arrived in the years since – including 2024's 'Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart.' Since 2008, the musician has spoken about a new project titled Through the Eyes of Wonder, which has been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. During his appearance on Sidetracked, Mac asked Wonder about his relationship with music, to which the veteran artist responded he's 'going to put music out' at some point, and is 'excited' about the long-discussed Through the Eyes of Wonder project. During his recent time in the U.K., Wonder also performed in Cardiff, Wales where he took the opportunity to share a poignant response to viral rumors that he is in fact able to see. 'You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that?' he asked the crowd. 'But seriously, you know the truth. 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' Wonder explained. '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?' Watch Stevie Wonder's appearance on Sidetracked below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stevie Wonder: 'I'll keep playing as long as I breathe'
At the age of 75, Stevie Wonder is still going strong. His latest UK tour, which wrapped up earlier this month received rapturous reviews, with critics calling the star "fresh and on form" for "a riotously joyful celebration" of his while contemporaries like Billy Joel and The Eagles are reducing their musical commitments, Wonder says he will never consider retiring."For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do," the Motown legend told the BBC's Sidetracked podcast. "I'm not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body. "I love doing what I'm doing. An artist never stops drawing. As long as you can imagine is as long as you are going to be creative."The star also confirmed he was still working on a new album, titled Through The Eyes Of Wonder, which he first discussed in project has previously been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind would be his first studio album since 2005's A Time To Love; extending a recording career that started in 1962, when he was just 11 years old. Wonder spoke to Sidetracked presenter Annie Macmanus, the day before he headlined the BST festival in London's Hyde Park - playing a two-and-a-half hour set that encompassed his biggest hits, from Superstition and Isn't She Lovely to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and I of the set was drawn from the 1970s purple patch when he won the Grammy Award for best album three times in a row, for Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs In The Key Of told Macmanus that he never tired of revisiting those records."Songs are like children, they're with you forever," he said. "They are statement from the spirit within you. "And singing those songs is like me taking another breath." America 'going backwards' Earlier this month, during a concert in Cardiff, the musician addressed a long-standing conspiracy theory that he is not actually blind."You know there have been rumours about me seeing and all that?" he told the audience, "But seriously, you know the truth.""Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind," he told his disability a gift, Wonder continued: "Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight." In his Sidetracked interview, the singer talked about the importance of using music to spread positivity and speak truth to his life, he has been a vocal civil rights campaigner, and played a key role in the campaign to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr recognised as a national holiday in the who campaigned for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's US presidential election, told Macmanus that America was currently beleaguered by "people trying to go backwards"."It's not gonna go down like that," he insisted. "I think that if you look back in history, there's always been a point when people wake up."And I think that, for those who think it is gonna go down like that, remember that God is watching you."You can listen to Stevie Wonder's full interview on the Sidetracked podcast on BBC Sounds.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
WATCH: Stevie Wonder breaks silence to set the record straight on blindness rumours
The 75-year-old R&B artist, widely celebrated for his trailblazing contributions to music, recently addressed the long-standing speculation during an emotional moment on stage in Cardiff, Wales. Legendary musician and cultural icon Stevie Wonder has finally spoken out, putting to rest the persistent rumours that have followed him throughout his extraordinary life and career - namely, that he is not blind. 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' he affirmed. '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 colour they are, but what colour is their spirit?' Then, with clarity and conviction, he laid the speculation to rest. '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 told the crowd, in a moment captured on video and shared widely on social media. 'You know, there have been rumours about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth.' Performing as part of his Love, Light and Song UK tour, Wonder took a pause mid-show to confront the myth head-on, offering a heartfelt message to his fans and critics alike. It was a moment that not only reaffirmed his truth but also underscored the deep spiritual perspective Wonder has carried with him through decades of creative genius. His words spoke not only to the reality of his blindness but also to the unique lens through which he has always experienced - and expressed - the world. Rumours about Wonder's vision have swirled for years, often resurfacing in tabloids and online forums. From humorous anecdotes to outlandish conspiracy theories, these rumours have painted a distorted picture - one that often undermines both his humanity and his immense talent. Some have claimed he can catch falling microphones too swiftly, or face the right direction on stage too naturally. These speculations, often rooted in ableist assumptions, ignore the vast range of ways in which blind individuals adapt and navigate the world, and the fact that Wonder has lived with his condition for over seven decades. To understand Wonder's journey is to understand the resilience and vision that have shaped his legendary career. Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, he arrived six weeks premature, a factor that led to the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - a condition that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, eventually detaching it and leading to blindness. Though he lost his sight soon after birth, Wonder never allowed the condition to define or limit him. His mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, was instrumental in nurturing his spirit, even in the face of her own pain and fears. In the 2024 'The Wonder of Stevie" audiobook series, the musician recalled a powerful moment from his childhood. 'My mother went through different things, and so my experience with that was deep,' he shared. 'She would cry every night. And I remember telling her, 'Mama, you shouldn't cry, you're making my head hurt.'' It was then, even as a child, that Wonder expressed a remarkable sense of purpose. 'Maybe God has something for me that's bigger than all this,' he told her. 'History proved that true.' To speak of Wonder's artistry is to speak of a force that transcends physical limitations. His catalogue of music - spanning classic hits like 'Superstition', 'Isn't She Lovely', 'Higher Ground' and 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' - reveals a profound depth of emotion, soul and insight. He has not only shaped the sound of R&B and soul but has also been a tireless advocate for civil rights, social justice and humanitarian causes.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'But seriously, you know the truth': Stevie Wonder addresses conspiracy theory that he isn't actually blind
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Stevie Wonder has just completed a short UK tour and at one of the dates – at Cardiff Blackweir Fields – he addressed the long standing conspiracy theory that he isn't, in fact, blind. Yes, it case you don't regularly frequent the more out-there crevices of the Internet, there are, in fact, people who believe that for the past 60-odd years Stevie has been having us all on, that he's merely pretending to be blind, presumably to illicit sympathy and throw a more positive light upon his music. As if his astounding run of albums in the 1970s weren't incredible enough achievements in themselves. Some people will believe anything. But let's not blame it all on the Internet – the equally ridiculous 'Paul is dead' myth that alleged that Paul McCartney had died in 1966 and an imposter had somehow stood in for him to write and record large swathes of Sgt Pepper, the White Album and Abbey Road – arose many years before the first email was sent. Anyway, Stevie addressed the conspiracy theory at Cardiff saying: '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, you know there have been rumours about me seeing and all that,' he said, to much chuckling from the crowd. 'But seriously, you know the truth.' 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' he explained. '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 colour they are, but what colour is their spirit?' It's not the first time Wonder has talked about the conspiracy. In 2017, he joked with reporters from TMZ that he was going to 'reveal the truth about his sight' in that year. The 75-year-old singer, for whom the phrase 'living legend' is, for once, apposite, wrapped up the UK leg of his Love, Light and Song tour in Hyde Park over the weekend. New material from the singer has been thin on the ground in recent years – it's now twenty years since he released a new album, 2005's A Time To Love, although he did put out a one-off single last year, Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart? Solve the daily Crossword
