Celebrity

Stevie Wonder confirms music break as he undergoes major transplant surgery

Jul 07, 2019

Stevie Wonder will undergo a kidney transplant. Source: Getty.

Stevie Wonder has confirmed he’ll be forced to take a break from music later this year as he undergoes major surgery following a health scare.

The ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ singer, 69, confirmed he’s set to have a kidney transplant later this year after a donor became available, as he finished his set at the British Summer Time concert in Hyde Park, London, at the weekend.

“So what’s going to happen is this… I’m going to have surgery, I’m going to have a kidney transplant in September of this year,” he’s heard saying in video footage shared on Twitter by fans watching.

The moment, this evening at Hyde Park, Stevie Wonder told us why he would be taking a break from performing…. pic.twitter.com/pwfjnczGKx

— Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) July 6, 2019

“I’m all good, I’m all good, all good, I have a donor and it’s all good,” he told his fans.

“I want you to know, I came here to give you my love and thank you for your love… I love you and God bless you.”

The crowd could be heard cheering him on throughout the difficult announcement.

It comes after a source told The Detroit Free Press that the singer was battling a health issue recently, but insisted he had been doing better in recent months.

Fans have since shared their support online with one writing on Twitter: “And we loved him for telling us. The man is a genius and the best live performer of my lifetime,” while another added: “Absolute legend of the music industry, so lucky to have seen him on the isle of Wight at the bestival.”

And one commented: “Love this man. Had the pleasure of going to 1 of his concerts in the 90s and without a doubt he is the best musician in the world. Sincerely wish this amazing man all the very best.”

Wonder was announced as the final headlining act for British Summer Time earlier this year, bringing his ‘Song Party’ show – “a celebration of life, love and music” – to the stage.

According to The Independent, he previously said of his shows: “We’re living in a time where there’s so much going on in the world. But the one thing that we know for sure is that we can celebrate life, love and music.

“I’m very thankful that you have all have been so wonderful to me, giving me your life and allowing me to share my music with you since I was 11 years old, which was just a little ago. So we’re just going to play and have fun.”