10 Singers Who Threatened to Stop Making Music (& Why)

MsMojo

Say it ain't so! From health challenges to personal struggles, these famous musicians have all threatened to exit the stage permanently. Join us as we count down the musical stars who've warned fans they might quit the industry before their time! Our list includes Lewis Capaldi, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, and more! Whose early retirement would crush you the most?

Transcript

00:00That was kind of my secret, but I didn't think I was going to.

00:02Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're going over some of the most famous musical artists

00:07who warned fans they might quit the industry before their time.

00:10There's just so much you don't know that you're signing up for.

00:14Lewis Capaldi

00:15In 2023, the Scottish balladeer told the world about his diagnosis with Tourette's syndrome.

00:21I thought I had a degenerative disease.

00:24So to be told it was in fact that I have Tourette's was, as you can imagine, quite the relief.

00:30Lewis Capaldi explained his condition with his characteristic humor.

00:34However, he also relayed how the condition is aggravated by performing and touring.

00:39If his condition gets to the point where performing becomes impossible,

00:42he admits he'll have to slow down and potentially retire.

00:45Yeah, everyone always says to me, like, oh, that must have been so beautiful and lovely.

00:49And I was like, no, I was like, get me off stage at once.

00:52This is a horrific experience.

00:54So yeah, that's like one of the worst days of my life.

00:56So thanks for bringing it up.

00:57I know.

00:58No, I'm joking.

00:58But Capaldi did begin a hiatus after displaying symptoms at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival.

01:04But it didn't last too long.

01:06He returned with new singles in 2025.

01:09If anything, Capaldi's charisma and quick wit could mean a great career in comedy.

01:13Your new single, Survive, is a brave anthem that addresses your condition with Tourette's.

01:19Yes, I'm a very brave boy.

01:21Lizzo

01:21Despite having a song catalog that's almost exclusively populated by upbeat, self-love anthems,

01:27Lizzo gets more than her fair share of online hate.

01:35Her message of body positivity hasn't won over everyone.

01:39In a since-deleted Instagram post from March 2024, Lizzo released a statement that ended with the words,

01:46I quit.

01:47This came after lawsuits filed by former backup dancers who alleged several instances of harassment,

01:53discrimination, and other unprofessional behaviors.

01:56To do that to be to threat, let me tell you one thing.

01:59I've never been like, I'm sorry, that is too-

02:02You're gonna get it.

02:03I just don't do that.

02:06Lizzo came forward to clarify the statement.

02:08While it initially read like a retirement, she insisted it was just a poorly worded declaration

02:14that she was no longer entertaining negativity.

02:16When I say I quit, I mean, I quit giving any negative energy attention.

02:28What I'm not gonna quit is the joy of my life, which is making music.

02:32Selena Gomez

02:33Since making her successful Emmy-nominated foray into TV with Only Murders in the Building,

02:40Selena Gomez's music career has been on the back burner.

02:43You've got too much stress, let it go.

02:47You're a must.

02:49Too much stress.

02:51The show, the show, the show can't go on.

02:55Admitting that acting was always her first love, she spoke on the Smart List podcast about

03:00potentially giving up music.

03:02The Bad Liar singer floated that she may have one album of new material left.

03:06In a perfect world, you would pick either one or the other going forward.

03:10Uh, well, I do feel like I have one more album in me, but I would probably choose acting.

03:17Though she doesn't appear ready to hang it up just yet, it's understandable that she

03:21would be preparing us now.

03:23Between the acting, TV hosting gigs, and burgeoning cosmetics empire, she's got more than enough

03:29on her plate.

03:30When you put yourself out there and it's just you, it can be a bit more frightening.

03:35And I think I was just a little tired of it.

03:40Paloma Faith.

03:42Sometimes a heartbreak can inspire a musician.

03:45Only love, only love can hurt like this.

03:52The singer behind Only Love Can Hurt Like This knows that very well.

03:57In Paloma Faith's case, heartbreak also caused her to re-evaluate her career.

04:01Faith's long-term relationship ended, leading to her acclaimed 2024 album, The Glorification

04:07of Sadness.

04:09It also had her considering leaving music to become a teacher.

04:12It feels very heavy that I broke up with my children's dad.

04:17I feel a real sense of responsibility.

04:19I feel like these stages of grief are just so kind of present.

04:24Sitting down for interviews with several outlets, she expounded on the end of her relationship

04:29and confessed the possibility that she might give it all up and become a teacher.

04:34While more music was coming, Faith said she's considering leaving the music industry.

04:39You've had kids, you've done the pop star thing, go and do a PGCE, because then you can

04:43have the same holidays as your kids.

04:45And I'm like, okay, considering it, just might put one more record out.

04:51Super stardom has been a slow burn for this singer.

04:56SZA's been putting out great music since the early 2010s, but seems at peace with the

05:01idea of slowing down.

05:07On X, SZA posted that once she satisfied the terms of her record contract, she had plans

05:13to make a surprising career move.

05:15She announced her intention to turn to farming with the generous aim of providing food for

05:20underserved communities.

05:22I just want what's mine.

05:25And what's yours?

05:27It's mine.

05:29She made a similar claim about leaving the industry as early as 2016 due to disputes with

05:34her record label.

05:35But something about this feels real.

05:37Okay, I'm gonna leave y'all two alone.

05:40I got some things to handle.

05:42Azalea Banks.

05:43In 2019, the artist behind 212 took to Instagram to tease that she was quitting music for good.

05:49In Azalea Banks' words, her music is simply too good for the public.

05:59Taking aim at the negative media attention about her, she essentially promised never to

06:05release another work as punishment.

06:07She does have a point.

06:08Banks courts controversy like few other artists.

06:11Rebelliousness in me.

06:13No, you will not box me and you will not quiet me so I'll say even more crazy s**t.

06:19Between her inflammatory statements and bizarre social media behavior, her body of work has

06:24long become a distant memory.

06:26She has released some songs since the announcement, but always under a cloud regarding her management,

06:32her labels, or her collaborators.

06:34Jay-Z.

06:39The rapper turned mogul didn't just threaten to quit music, he made it official.

06:44Not the last album.

06:46Sorry.

06:46Don't start that.

06:47Do a joy.

06:47Retire, come back.

06:49Alright.

06:49No.

06:49Four years.

06:50No.

06:51You heard it.

06:52Four years?

06:53Seemingly at the height of his fame, Jay-Z was expanding his empire behind the scenes.

06:58In 2003, he announced his retirement for making solo studio albums.

07:03But this didn't last too long.

07:05Various appearances and high-profile collaborations kept him in the spotlight.

07:10My baby father.

07:11Bloodline Rwanda.

07:12Why would you try me?

07:13Why would you bother?

07:14I am Beyonce.

07:15Giselle Nukata.

07:16While he claimed he wasn't going to make music, he stayed firmly inside the music industry

07:22as an executive.

07:23But by 2006, he was back with a new album.

07:26In fact, some of his biggest successes were still to come.

07:29Are you retired?

07:32Um, no.

07:33You know, I tried that.

07:36I'm terrible at that.

07:36I was about to say.

07:37I found one thing that I'm terrible.

07:37Because you announced it.

07:38You announced it.

07:39You said, I'm retired.

07:40Yeah, yeah.

07:41You made the world say, oh, damn.

07:44Farewell.

07:44I just needed a break.

07:45Ariana Grande.

07:47With an Academy Award nomination on her resume and her success in the Wicked films, Ariana Grande

07:53is on her way to becoming a movie star on top of a pop star.

07:56Popular.

07:58I'll help you be popular.

08:01But her role as Galinda almost had a consequence no one knew about.

08:05As she told writer and podcaster Evan Ross Katz, when she took the role, Grande had intended

08:11to leave music and commit to acting full time.

08:14Totally rearranged everything about my relationship to creating, you know?

08:22I, um, I didn't think I was going to make an album ever again when I left for London.

08:29That was kind of my secret.

08:30Though she has since reassured us that she's not quitting, the idea that she could leave

08:34the recording booth behind is enough to make Arianaators everywhere start to sweat a little.

08:39Nicki Minaj.

08:48Fans didn't know what to think in October 2025 when the Pink Friday artist announced that

08:53she was canceling her upcoming sixth album slated for March 2026.

08:58Wish that I could have this moment for life.

09:03For life.

09:05For life.

09:06Her loyal fans are holding out hope.

09:08She made a similar announcement in 2019, but this announcement came after heavily publicized

09:14political statements, legal troubles, and social media feuds with Jay-Z, Cardi B, and the

09:20Roc Nation record label.

09:22They painted me out to be the bad guy.

09:24Well, it's the last time you're going to see a bad guy do the Roc game like me.

09:28She even signed off her ex-posts saying bye to her loyal fans, The Barbs.

09:33Minaj explained, saying that quitting music would be a damning blow to her industry enemies,

09:38who want to use her artistry and success to make money for themselves.

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10:04Chapel Roan

10:05Fame has its drawbacks.

10:07Chapel Roan has never shied away from sharing them.

10:10I don't care that it's normal.

10:11I don't care that this crazy type of behavior comes along with the job, the career field I've chosen.

10:20That does not make it okay.

10:22That doesn't make it normal.

10:23I don't, it doesn't mean I want it.

10:25It doesn't mean that I like it.

10:26Despite criticism, she has been clear about how it feels to be followed home,

10:31accosted at the airport, and to have so-called fans invade her family's privacy.

10:36Once she feels the attention in danger is too much,

10:38she says she has no problem dropping music entirely if her safety is at stake.

10:43That's not normal.

10:44That's weird.

10:45It's weird how people think that you know a person just because you see them online

10:50or you listen to the art they make.

10:52Since her near-overnight rise to fame, the Pink Pony Club singer has stood firm in her beliefs and ideals.

10:58It's earned her praise and vitriol in equal measure.

11:01But one thing's for sure, she's going to defend herself.

11:04Whose early retirement would crush you the most?

11:16Tell us in the comments.

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