Stevie Wonder announced that he plans to take a break from touring to undergo a kidney transplant later this year.
The legendary singer shared the news Saturday while performing at the British Summer Time Hyde Park music festival in London, following growing rumors questioning the state of his health.
“So what’s gonna happen is this: I’m going to have surgery. I’m going to have a kidney transplant in September of this year,” Wonder told the crowd, according to a fans’ video. “You aint got to hear no rumors about nothing; I told you what’s up — I’m good.”
He also confirmed that he already found a kidney donor for the procedure and that he would still be performing three more shows before taking the time off.
“I’m all good; I’m all good; I’m all good. I have a donor; it’s all good,” he said. “I want you to know I came here to give you my love and to thank you for your love.”
There has been speculation that Wonder is suffering from kidney failure and has begun dialysis. The singer, 69, has still been performing and fulfilling his engagements in recent months, choosing to travel with a medical team.
His reps told the Detroit Free Press that Wonder is “doing better now than he was a couple of months ago.”
This week, a friend of Wonder’s confirmed that the legend was struggling with an illness.
“He’s got some health challenges, but he doesn’t want a big PR thing out of this,” said musician Joan Belgrave, a longtime friend of the singer. “He’s in great spirits. You would never know anything is going on. That’s how he wants it, and that’s how he wants to keep it.”
Saturday’s performance was the second of five major concerts at Hyde Park.
Get well soon, Stevie!