Dionne Warwick, 84, reveals why you’ll ‘never’ see her performing with a cane

Living legend Dionne Warwick has no plans to retire any time soon, with a UK tour on the horizon, a newly recorded album and her numerous other careers.

But the Walk On By icon confessed to Metro that she’s aware she is ‘not 12 any longer’ and knows where her limits are.

After over 60 years of performing, Dionne, 84, is having to make changes but assured us she is nowhere near ready to say goodbye to the stage.

‘I will know [it’s time to stop] when I am not able to reach the bar that I’ve set for myself,’ she revealed ahead of her 2025 UK tour, Don’t Make Me Over.

That bar apparently includes her ability to walk on by herself as she asserted fans would ‘never’ see her on stage with ‘a cane or a walker.’

Dionne confirmed: ‘When I cannot perform the songs that I do, the way that they should be done, that’s when I would hang up my other ballet slippers, and go slowly.’

It seems more artists than ever are finding a second wind on huge tours in their 60s and 70s but that doesn’t mean age doesn’t have its limitations.

‘It can be a little bit maddening,’ she said. ‘But just taking the time to think, “Okay, let’s not do this this way. Let’s do it this way, instead, if we’re going to do it all”.’

Dionne has been performing since an early age before being discovered in 1962 by longtime collaborators Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

She even made a surprise appearance on the UK version of The Masked Singer in 2023 as Weather, after apparently refusing to get into costume.

Music is simply what she ‘loves’ so it makes going to work a little easier as the legend joked she ‘never, ever wanted to work’.

She added: ‘The point that it becomes my job because I never, ever wanted to work, yeah, when it becomes a job, that’s when you see me saying, “Goodbyeeee, thanks very much”.’

This year, the Hall of Fame inductee will visit the likes of Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leeds, and Bath on her tour.

She will of course be singing her beloved hits with a live band but the Say A Little Prayer singer will also show excerpts from the documentary on her life.

Dionne joked she ‘quits every day’ after being in the industry for such a long time but ultimately her love of music brings her back – that and the ‘butts in seats’ who are still demanding to see her live.

However, music isn’t the only love in her life as the singer is also well known for her witty X account, providing regular commentary on cultural events.

After the Grammys, she called out a viral clip where reporters called over Chappell Roan on the red carpet – snubbing producing legend Babyface.

In October, when Marlon Wayans announced Scary Movie would be returning, Dionne hilariously replied: ‘If you recreate the basketball scene please call me.’

She confirmed it is 100% running the page and apparently gets told she ‘should have been a comedian’ all the time.

While having an undeniable vocal talent may have got in the way of her stand-up career, Dionne humbly credits her composers for her chart success.

‘My music is the composers, Barachach and David, that absolutely dropped out of the sky and said, “Here you are, girl”,’ the icon laughed before adding she is ‘very, very conscious’ of what she chooses to sing.

‘I’ve been told this several times by my friends and other people, that I am a messenger. The messages that I want to carry are of joy, hope, love, happiness, inspiration and things of that nature and that apparently, has been what I’ve been able to do.’

Being a Hall of Fame inductee is just another ‘reward’ for all Dionne’s hard work, with the surprisingly humble star insisting she’s ‘just as normal as everybody else’.

When Metro asked why she’s never taken to the famous Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, Dionne laughed and said she has no clue.

‘We’ll see what happens,’ she said with a smile when asked about a future potential legends slot.

Worthy Farm might not be a given but Dionne has been back in the studio, recording a new ‘inspirational’ album as that is what we ‘desperately need now’.

Away from music, the Alfie hitmaker has recently relaunched a fragrance and is also pursuing her interior design company which she calls a ‘natural’ companion as a creative outlet.

Dionne teased: ‘I’m not ready to share what’s next for me yet but once I figure that one out, I’ll let you know.’

Tickets for Dionne Warwick’s tour are on sale now.

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