Frankie Valli says he has not retired, pushing back after his brother Bobby said this week that the "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" singer was stepping away from music. "In spite of what you might have heard, I am not retired," Valli posted on Instagram on August 14, alongside a photo of himself performing, Rolling Stone reported.
The confusion began when Bobby Valli posted on social media that his brother "will now retire," writing that the family appreciated fans' love and concern. Bobby later apologized and edited the post to remove the retirement claim, saying he had been misinformed and hoping for a "speedy recovery" for his brother.
In May, Frankie Valli had announced he was taking the rest of the year off from touring to focus on his health, without disclosing specifics about what he was dealing with. He had been due to continue his farewell run, The Last Encores Tour, which began in 2023, into November of this year before canceling the remaining 2026 dates.
The health pause follows a rockier stretch of public scrutiny for the 92-year-old singer. Stereogum notes that Valli went viral in 2024 after footage showed him still performing onstage while backup singers carried most of the actual notes, prompting at least one online commenter to compare his continued touring to "elder abuse." Valli responded at the time by saying he planned to keep performing for as long as he possibly could, and he was still taking casino bookings earlier this year. Last year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys' Special Merit Awards for his decades of contributions to music.
Rolling Stone said a representative for Valli did not immediately return a request for comment on the latest statements. The saga is filed under this week's new pop coverage.
The facts
- Frankie Valli says he has not retired
- His brother Bobby posted that Valli would retire, then apologized for being misinformed
- Valli posted his denial on Instagram August 14 with a photo of himself performing
- In May, Valli said he was taking the rest of the year off touring for his health
- He had been on a farewell run, The Last Encores Tour, since 2023
- Valli received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award last year
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