Patti LaBelle isn't slowing down at 82. Instead, the iconic singer says she's preparing to release her first new R&B album in two decades, marking a return to the genre that helped define her career. Speaking with The Root, LaBelle revealed she's spent the past year working on the project and hopes fans won't have to wait much longer to hear it.
"I have not done an album in 20 years," LaBelle said. "I've been working on that for the last year. So that's what I want, to finish and get it out to you guys soon, sooner than later."
The upcoming release will be LaBelle's first R&B album since 2005's Classic Moments. While she returned in 2017 with the jazz project Bel Hommage, she said this next record will be original music that reflects where she is in life. "I hope at 82 that I do age-appropriate music," she explained. "I can't do a young girl song. It has to go with who I am... It's always gonna be something that I really feel represents Patti LaBelle."
The announcement adds another chapter to a year that's already put renewed attention on LaBelle's legacy. Last fall, Primary Wave announced a partnership with LaBelle covering artist royalties across her catalog, including 18 studio albums, three live albums, 14 compilation albums and 47 singles.
That confidence carries into her latest comments. Asked how she feels about being called a legend, LaBelle didn't hesitate.
"It feels wonderful," she said. "I don't take anything for granted... But legend, I'll take it, because I've been doing it for so many years, and I've been doing it and not upsetting too many people, so I take that as a compliment."
LaBelle also addressed another reality of being a public figure in 2026: artificial intelligence. While she acknowledged the technology isn't going away, she said it has fueled bizarre false stories about her, including fabricated claims that she underwent cosmetic surgery or even had an abortion.
Laughing off the rumors, she said, "It's a hot mess," adding that she chooses not to let the misinformation consume her.
