The Queens Tour may have brought four music legends together, but after more than a year on the road, Chaka Khan is happy to be home.

The tour, featuring Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills, wrapped up its final show in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 31. While fans celebrated the historic run, Khan had a humorous answer when asked about her favorite part of the experience.

A Long Road for Four Icons

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Khan explained that the demanding schedule was the toughest part of the tour.

“It was tough. We haven’t toured like that in many years,” she told the outlet. “It was a great show, and we had a great time working together. It was just a lot. We had a lot of intense traveling and intense work. So that’s my only problem with the whole thing.”

The Queens Tour gave audiences a chance to see all four legendary performers share one stage while celebrating their decades-long careers. For Khan, that sense of unity was one of the highlights.

“I love the fact that we were all up there working together,” she said.

She also spoke warmly about her fellow stars and the friendships they have built over the years.

“We all just respect each other and love each other. I’ve known Patti for a long, long time. [We’ve] been friends for a very long time, so it was nice to get back with her. And also Gladys is lovely. She’s up there singing beautifully, doing a great job,” added the singer. “And the audiences have been so great.”

No Time for Backstage Hangouts

With four busy performers sharing a packed schedule, there was not much downtime behind the scenes.

When asked if the group spent time together away from the stage, Khan gave a simple answer.

“No, it was totally work,” she said. “It was one stage to the next.”

Looking Ahead to ‘Chakzilla’

Now that the tour is over, Khan is turning her attention to new music. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member recently released her single “Chakzilla,” the title track from her upcoming album due Sept. 18.

“It’s a really, really great album, a great CD with great songs. It’s going to be on the pop dance side,” she explained of the project, which comes out Sept. 18 and was created alongside Sia. “We’ve got lots of great people collaborating as well.”

The album will be Khan’s first full-length release since 2019’s Hello Happiness.

Focused on What’s Next

The new project arrives during a period of major recognition for the singer. Khan was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2025 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.

Still, she is not spending much time looking back.

“Anytime someone gives you kudos like that, it’s a beautiful thing,” says the “Sweet Thing” artist, whose mind is set on the future. “I’m very much a forward thinker,” she adds. “I’m a real next girl.”

For Khan, the Queens Tour may be over, but the next chapter is already beginning.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She’s made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.

She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.

A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.

She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.