Nelly Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for her versatile music style, chart-topping hits, and award-winning albums. With a career spanning over two decades, she has become one of the most influential voices in pop and Latin music, captivating audiences worldwide with her unique voice and creative artistry.
Quick Facts About Nelly Furtado
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nelly Kim Furtado |
| Birthdate & Place | December 2, 1978, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Singer-songwriter, Record Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in / 165 cm |
| Spouse & Children | Demacio Castellon (married 2003, divorced 2017), 1 child (Nevis) |
| Parents | Maria Manuela and Antonio Jose Furtado |
| Education | Central Elementary School, Reynolds Secondary School |
| Career Start | 1996 |
| Breakthrough Role | Debut album Whoa, Nelly! (2000) |
| Major Works | Whoa, Nelly!, Folklore, Loose, Mi Plan, The Spirit Indestructible |
| Awards | Grammy Award, Juno Awards, Billboard Music Awards |
| Philanthropy | Amnesty International, World Literacy Foundation, environmental causes |
| Social Media | @nellyfurtado (Instagram, X followers) |
| Net Worth | $30 million (estimated) |
| Residence | Toronto, Canada |
| Upcoming Projects | New music releases and collaborative projects |
| Fun Fact | She can sing in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and often blends languages in her songs |
Early Life & Background
Nelly Furtado was born in Victoria, British Columbia, to Portuguese immigrant parents. Growing up, she showed a natural talent for music and performance, influenced by both her cultural roots and contemporary pop music. She attended Central Elementary School and later Reynolds Secondary School, where she explored singing and songwriting.
Career Beginnings & Rise to Fame
Nelly began her career in 1996, performing locally and working on demos. Her big break came in 2000 with the release of her debut album Whoa, Nelly!, featuring the hit single “I’m Like a Bird.” The song earned her international fame, a Grammy Award, and critical acclaim. Her ability to blend pop, folk, and world music quickly set her apart in the music industry.
Nelly Furtado : What’s New?
Major Achievements & Legacy
Over the years, Nelly Furtado released several successful albums, including Folklore and Loose, which spawned hits like “Promiscuous” and “Maneater.” She has won numerous awards, including a Grammy and multiple Juno Awards, cementing her legacy as a versatile and influential artist. Beyond her music, she is active in philanthropy, supporting causes such as literacy, human rights, and environmental protection.
Personal Life & Recent Work
Off-stage, Nelly Furtado has balanced her career with family life. She was married to Demacio Castellon and has one child, Nevis. After a brief hiatus from music, she returned with The Spirit Indestructible and continues to explore new musical collaborations. Fans can expect upcoming projects that highlight her multilingual singing and innovative style.
Nelly Furtado has left an indelible mark on the global music scene with her talent, versatility, and dedication. As she prepares for new music releases and collaborations, audiences eagerly anticipate the next chapter in the career of this legendary singer-songwriter.
Most Common Questions About
In 2023, Nelly revealed she has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 18 month previously. Offering insight into her diagnosis, Nelly revealed she since she’s been diagnosed as an adult she hasn’t been ‘overly dramatic about it,’ and has focused ‘finding solutions’ to manage the condition.
Nelly Furtado took a step back from music and the public spotlight after a nervous breakdown in 2006. “I had a nervous breakdown on stage. I was on the Loose tour (2007) and my daughter was with me — I was being a mum and a singer on the road. I was exhausted.
She first gained fame with her trip hop inspired debut album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000), which was a critical and commercial success that spawned two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, I’m Like a Bird and Turn Off the Light. The first of the two singles won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Furtado split with her management and went independent thereafter, releasing her indie-pop sixth studio album, The Ride, in 2017 under her own label Nelstar Entertainment[pt]. Her seventh studio album, 7, was released in September 2024.
The chord progression is Fm–E♭–D♭–B♭m. Furtado’s vocal range spans from A♭3 to F5.
Nevis Gahunia
Contrary to perpetual questioning, New American Roots musician Tony Furtado shares no relation with Grammy nominee Nelly Furtado.
She disappeared from interviews and magazine covers, and then left her “Get Loose” tour behind in 2006. “I had a nervous breakdown on stage,” Furtado recounted to Daily Mail in 2012. “I was on the Loose tour and my daughter was with me—I was being a mum and a singer on the road. I was exhausted.”
1!) Nelly Furtado took off with songs like “I’m Like a Bird” and soared even higher with her album Loose. The star is releasing new music in 2025. She’s got an estimated net worth of $40 million.
Nelly was named after gymnast, Nellie Kim. Her father was a stonemason originally from the Azores, Portugal. He couldn’t speak English when he first came to Canada. Her parents, Maria & António are originally from the Azores, Portugal.
She first gained fame with her trip hop inspired debut album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000), which was a critical and commercial success that spawned two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, I’m Like a Bird and Turn Off the Light. The first of the two singles won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
In 2023, Nelly revealed she has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 18 month previously. Offering insight into her diagnosis, Nelly revealed she since she’s been diagnosed as an adult she hasn’t been ‘overly dramatic about it,’ and has focused ‘finding solutions’ to manage the condition.
Nelly Furtado took a step back from music and the public spotlight after a nervous breakdown in 2006. “I had a nervous breakdown on stage,” she told the Daily Mail in 2017. “I was on the Loose tour [2007] and my daughter was with me – I was being a mum and a singer on the road. I was exhausted.”
Nevis Gahunia
She lived with ADHD — a developmental disorder with symptoms including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity — her whole life, but it was the “chaos” of raising two young children close in age led to her diagnosis. “When I was attending college, [I was like] ‘Boing, boing, boing, boing.
Nelly Furtado took off with songs like “I’m Like a Bird” and soared even higher with her album Loose. The star is releasing new music in 2025. She’s got an estimated net worth of $40 million.
About the album title, Furtado stated it was the only title that made sense to her, as well as being her seventh studio album and seven years having passed since her previous album, because “it’s more like a collection. Fashion collections don’t really have titles, they’re just called collection number 10 or 21.
Nelly was named after gymnast, Nellie Kim. Her father was a stonemason originally from the Azores, Portugal. He couldn’t speak English when he first came to Canada. Her parents, Maria & António are originally from the Azores, Portugal.
“I believe I’ve had it my whole life, but playing instruments six days a week as a kid kept me in check,” Furtado told the magazine. Inattentive ADHD is a type of ADHD when a person has difficulty concentrating, focusing on a task and staying organized, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Furtado was born on December 2, 1978, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her Portuguese parents, António José Furtado and Maria Manuela Furtado, were born on São Miguel Island in the Azores and had immigrated to Canada in the late 1960s. Nelly was named after Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim.
