Long before they made music together, Chaka Khan and Sia felt like they had known each other for a lifetime. Now, with a brandnew song out and an album on the way, the two artists are giving fans a closer look at the friendship and creative partnership that has quietly been building for years.
Chaka, 73, and Sia, 50, recently released Chakzilla, a dancepop single that serves as the first taste of Chaka’s upcoming album of the same name. Sia co wrote the track and contributes backing vocals, making it their most prominent collaboration yet, though the two have a musical history that goes back further than many fans may realize.
How the friendship started naturally
Chaka describes the connection she felt with Sia from the very beginning as immediate and effortless. The two women hit it off in a way that quickly moved beyond the professional, leading to one of the more unexpected and touching relationships in the music world today.
That closeness eventually led to a meaningful milestone. Sia asked Khan to be her godmother, and Khan accepted without hesitation. She describes the whole thing as having come about quite naturally, the result of genuine affection rather than any formal arrangement. For Khan, the role was a simple but meaningful yes.
The bond between them became visible to a wider audience in 2023, when Sia joined Chaka on stage to perform I’m Every Woman at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The following year, the two teamed up on Immortal Queen, a track featured on Sia’s 2024 album Reasonable Woman, showing that their connection was more than just a one time moment.
What Khan says about Sia’s gifts
Chaka speaks about Sia with the kind of warmth and admiration you might expect from a proud godmother. She describes the pop star as someone with a generous heart and an exceptional mind, someone who moves through the creative process with intelligence and instinct in equal measure.
In Chaka’s view, Sia ranks among the most complete artists she has encountered, a rare combination of vocal ability, songwriting skill, and genuine artistry. Chaka’s admiration for her goddaughter’s work comes through clearly, and she describes her as close to perfection when it comes to art.
It was actually Sia who came up with the title Chakzilla, an idea Khan says she never would have landed on herself. That kind of creative spark is exactly what Khan appreciates about working with her.
The album and what fans can expect
Chakzilla, the album, is set for release on Friday, Sept. 18 and marks Khan’s first full-length project since Hello Happiness came out in 2019. Khan co created the project over roughly a year and a half alongside Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin, and she describes the finished product as sitting squarely in the pop and dance space.
The music video for the lead single gives audiences a vivid sense of the album’s spirit. In it, Khan portrays a Godzilla like figure who, rather than bringing destruction, sets about rebuilding the world around her. Khan says the character resonated with her because it reflects something true about who she is and what she values. She wanted the portrayal to feel authentic to her own sense of purpose.
Additional collaborators are featured throughout the record, though full details have yet to be announced. Based on everything Khan has shared, the project sounds like a homecoming, a reminder of why she has remained one of the most enduring voices in popular music for more than five decades.
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EXCLUSIVE : PEOPLE
