Stevie Wonder wasted little time addressing last week's reports suggesting he was having health issues.
The 69-year-old music legend announced Saturday that he'll undergo a kidney transplant.
Wonder made the announcement from the stage during a concert in London's Hyde Park, saying he'll take a break from touring in September to undergo the surgery.
(MORE: Motown legend Stevie Wonder to undergo a kidney transplant)“So what’s gonna happen is this: I am going to have surgery. I’m going to have a kidney transplant in September of this year,” Wonder told the crowd, as captured in a video tweeted by BBC reporter Aleem Maqbool.
The moment, this evening at Hyde Park, Stevie Wonder told us why he would be taking a break from performing.... pic.twitter.com/pwfjnczGKx
— Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) July 6, 2019
Wonder went on: "It's all good, it's all good, I'm all good. I have a donor, it's all good. I want you to know, I came here to give you my love and to thank you for your love. You ain't got to hear no rumors about nothing. I told you what’s up. I’m good."
It appears as if the legendary singer was responding to reports from earlier this year that he was in failing health.
(MORE: Stevie Wonder, NFL players take a knee in protest)Last week, the Detroit Free Press story quoted Joan Belgrave, a longtime friend of the singer, as saying of Wonder, "He’s got some health challenges, but he doesn’t want a big PR thing out of this."
I am very excited to personally invite you to my party, The Stevie Wonder Song Party: Celebrating Life, Love and Music, on Saturday 6th July at London’s Barclaycard presents @BSTHydePark with @LionelRichie & many more to be announced—tickets on sale now!https://t.co/NtX5v7YCe3 pic.twitter.com/opWu7KMzDC
— Stevie Wonder (@StevieWonder) March 29, 2019
"He knows what he has to do to get himself together, and he’s doing it," the friend added.
Wonder's next tour stop is Tuesday night in Dublin, Ireland, after which he returns to the U.S. in time for a July 11 show in Charlotte, North Carolina.
