Canadian superstar Nelly Furtado has resurfaced online ahead of her return to music after the 47-year-old shared her intention to step away from the industry due to intense body shaming.
Nelly took to Instagram to share a snippet of her upcoming song, “Torture of the Heart”, in collaboration with Canadian electronic duo DVBBS. The star wore a black tank top in the clip, as well as a forest green beanie, gold hoop earrings and a gold chain.
Fans took to the comments to share their excitement for her upcoming project, with one writing: “I’m so happy you are still releasing music,” while another added: “Let’s goooo!” A third chimed in: “The queen has arrived,” while another said: “Yay new Nelly!”
Nelly’s return to social media in recent weeks marks a major change after she declared her intent to step back from the music industry in 2025, following a wave of online body shaming. “I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavors that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I have enjoyed my career immensely, and I still love writing music, as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career. I’ll identify as a songwriter forever.”
“I’m grateful for all the years of fun, community and wonder,” she added. “Endless gratitude to anyone who has ever listened and vibrated with my music and attended any of my shows. I love you and your open hearts.”
© InstagramNelly has made a handful of public appearances in 2026, including at the Women’s College Hospital Foundation’s 15th Annual Women for Women’s event in Toronto in March, where she received the 2026 Trailblazer award. She was also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame days later, with fans ecstatic that she was finally recognized for her incredible contribution to the world of music.
Nelly’s upcoming collaboration with DVBBS comes months after she sent a demo idea to the duo. “It was almost like she was in the room, singing straight into our soul,” they told Billboard. “There’s nothing better than hearing a melody and lyrics that feel that authentic. You know right away it was written straight from the heart.”
© Getty Images“Working with Nelly was really special to us,” they continued. “We truly believe we created something beautiful together. She’s one of a kind, and seeing how open she is creatively was incredible.”
© Redferns“It’s amazing to see the world give Nelly her flowers right now,” they added of her impact. “She’s given a piece of her heart and soul to her art, and that will be forever timeless.” The mother of two previously opened up about her transformation over the years and the impact that returning to music had on her mental health.
© Getty Images“This year I became aware of the aesthetic pressure of my work in a brand new way, while simultaneously I experienced new levels of self-love and genuine confidence from within,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Know that it’s perfectly okay to be okay with what you see in the mirror, and it’s also okay to want something different. We are all cute little humans just bouncing around the earth looking for hugs. HAVE A BODY NEUTRAL 2025, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LOVE WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR HEART,” she concluded.
Read the full article here
