Where is Sade now? The ‘Smooth Operator’ singer and fashion icon is as private as ever, but has found new fans, with Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Rowland recently spotted wearing Sade T-shirts

May 2 , 2024

Where is Sade, Sade Adu’s band, now – and is its seventh album finally going to materialise? Photo: Getty Images

Music and fashion icon Sade Adu may have reached the peak of her success in the 80s and early 90s, but Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rowland and 2 Chainz have all been spotted wearing the band’s T-shirts

As fans continue to await a seventh album, Adu is leading a life outside the public eye – updates come mainly via her trans model son Izaak Theo Adu, who’s expressed gratitude for his mum’s support

Born Helen Folasade Adu, Nigerian-British singer Sade rose to fame as the lead singer of the band Sade in the 1980s. Adu’s gorgeous, velvety vocals complement the band’s blend of soul and smooth jazz, leaving an indelible impact on the music scene.

Sade Adu on stage during Live Aid in London, in 1985. Photo: Sygma via Getty Images

Her signature style has been a defining feature for decades too – from her crimson pout to her large gold hoop earrings, to her hair slicked back in a long plait or ponytail.

Adu’s timelessly classy aesthetic has made her a fashion icon, with her look getting widely emulated. Celebrities including 2 Chainz, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Kim Kardashian, Damson Idris and Kate Bosworth have also all been spotted wearing Sade T-shirts recently too. Adu’s legacy clearly persists today, almost 40 years after the band’s heyday.

At her peak, Adu, who is now 65, also explored acting, making her film debut in 1986’s Absolute Beginners, and lending her vocals to the movie’s soundtrack.

So what has Sade Adu been up to in the years since?

Sade Adu prioritised her personal life

Sade Adu pictured in 1989, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

While fans of Sade would have loved to see more albums and concerts from the band over the last four decades, Adu chose to “prioritise her personal life over her professional career”, according to the band’s website.