Nevis Gahunia Is Nelly Furtado's Daughter Who Seems to Have Inherited Her Mother's Talent and Looks

Publish date: 2024-05-18

Nelly Furtado is a Canadian icon of Portuguese descent who blazed the pop music space in the early 2000s. The singer fell out of the industry faster than expected following her landmark moment on stage in 2006.

Nelly Furtado was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on December 2, 1978. She is a singer and songwriter who rose to stardom after the release of her debut album "Whoa, Nelly!" on October 24, 2000. Four hit singles preceded the album, with two of them being "I'm Like A Bird" and "Turn Off the Lights."

Nelly boasts an accumulation of over 40 million records sold worldwide, a meaty achievement for someone whose reign lasted roughly five years. Nelly's career halted after the birth of her daughter, Nevis Gahunia, with music producer and DJ Jasper Gahunia.

Nelly Furtado on December 16, 2003 at MuchMusic Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. | Source: Getty Images

Nelly Furtado Split from Nevis' Father When the Girl Was Only Two Years Old

Nelly surprised fans when the news of her pregnancy with Jasper surfaced. The Canadian met her daughter's father years before they got involved romantically, and in 2001, they commenced a relationship and formed a musical power couple. Nelly was 25 when she delivered her daughter Nevis in 2003.

Nelly was reaching her peak as a singer-songwriter, piecing together collaborations with music engineer Timberland and making a lot of noise in the pop space. Nelly and her DJ boyfriend at the time took their daughter on tour throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This did improve album sales, but it was detrimental to their relationship.

After Nelly's "Come As You Are" tour, the couple faced unknown issues in their relationship and went their separate ways in 2005. The split was cordial, as they changed their dynamic to co-parents and remained close friends while raising their daughter.

Nelly Furtado and Timbaland at "The Today Show" Concert Series at NBC Studios Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, New York, United States, in 2006. | Source: Getty Images

When Nelly was asked whether she was a single mother in 2007, she answered, "That is a definition question. My daughter's father is present, and we raise Nevis together. Do we love each other? Yes. Do we still have a relationship? No." This statement painted a perfect picture of the nature of their co-parenthood.

Nevis was born into music, with both her parents having a solid reputation as musicians. In 2008, her mother married audio engineer Demacio Castellon, who accepted that Jasper would be a part of their relationship. Unfortunately, they separated in 2016, and Nelly made that announcement on "Loose Women."

However, during her marriage to Demacio, the singer spoke about how her daughter was lucky to have two dads. She mentioned their unique understanding as parents who work in the music industry and that they share similarities with their crazy schedules.

Nelly Furtado and husband Demacio Castellon at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Charity Gala at Carlu on October 16, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. | Source: Getty Images

Nevis Gahunia Is Already Following in Her Mother's Footsteps in Music

Although Nelly has chosen a life away from the limelight, her daughter seems to be picking up where she left off. Nevis is now 18 years old and is the spitting image of her mother in her heyday. Nevis was once seen sporting a white tank top and blue jeans, mimicking Nelly's signature style from the early 2000s.

Nevis is even following in her mother's footsteps as a musician, which she grew into and inherited from a very young age. "My daughter thinks writing songs is a joke. She's been able to do it since she was tiny, so she doesn't think it's a big deal at all. She's like, 'Really, Mummy, is that all you do all day?'" Nelly joked.

Recently her daughter has been on social media teasing a possible career in music. She sometimes posts pictures of herself with suggestive captions and other posts of herself hanging out with musicians. She has not released any music yet; however, if she does, it would be a full-circle moment for the girl who grew up around music.

Nelly Furtado Left the Spotlight after Juggling Work and Motherhood Left Her Burnt Out

This year, amid Nelly's absence from the limelight, Canadian rapper Drake invited her on stage to sing some of her greatest hits like "I'm Like A Bird." The duet was an iconic moment for Canadian music fans, considering the integrity they both hold.

Nelly was seen having a great time back on stage, performing for her fellow compatriots. The event was put together by Drake, intending to shine his light on the Canadian icons of the past. He treated his fans to American talent the following day when he brought out rapper Lil Baby.

Nelly's impact on music in the early 2000s is irrefutable. Though she faced many trials and tribulations throughout her career, the singer has her name stapled onto some of the greatest hits from the early 2000s.

Her hiatus from the limelight began when she broke down on stage. She juggled being a mother to a little girl and an artist all at once, subsequently malfunctioning under intense pressure and stress. Nelly then took a six-year break from music and returned with a drastically different demeanor.

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