Music Chaka Khan never actually wanted to go solo The R&B star got her start as a member of band Rufus, and she wishes it had stayed that way. By Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, It Happened One Fight, is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen. EW's editorial guidelines Published on December 31, 2023 07:20PM EST Chaka Khan may be every woman, but she never wanted to be the only one. The R&B superstar recently admitted to Rolling Stone that it was never her desire to be a solo artist. Khan began her career as a member of the band Rufus, and she would've preferred to keep it that way. As Khan's star rose, she began to be singled out on album covers for the band, leading to strife within the group. "We were having a great time as a group,” she said, “Everybody was getting along. Everything was fine. And I was enjoying it. It was fun. It was great. And it was just when they put my name out front, that’s when all the crap started. The trouble came, because they started focusing on me." Khan was a late addition to funk band Rufus. The band started their career in 1970, but she didn't join until 1972, replacing Paulette McWilliams as a lead vocalist. Many of Khan's early career successes were Rufus, including her recordings of "Tell Me Something Good" and "Ain't Nobody." Chaka Khan. Arturo Holmes/Getty The Grammy winner also explained that she particularly felt bad to have the spotlight turned on her because she joined Rufus after they were already on the rise. "They were a band that had [already] been around for an and I felt really, I was thankful to be with a band like that, with a history," she said. "And it was awkward for me, very awkward. I never did see myself as a solo artist." But go solo she did, releasing her debut album Chaka in 1978. Khan continued to collaborate with Rufus until they dissolved permanently in 1983. She found immense success as a solo star, earning eight more Grammy Awards on top of the two she had won with Rufus and regularly topping music charts. Recently, Khan was honored with the Musical Excellence Award by the Rock & Roll Hall of Hame. She also released a new fragrance and is currently on tour celebrating 50 years in the recording industry. Related content: Chaka Khan is over her 'silly grudge' with Ye about sampling her song Chaka Khan makes amends after diva diatribe on Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey: 'I took the bait' Watch Chaka Khan and Idina Menzel duet on 'I'm Every Woman' for International Women's Day