NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Annie Lennox is not retiring.
Though her partner in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Eurythmics Dave Stewart recently posted that Lennox 鈥� 鈥� and would not be part of the 鈥淪weet Dreams 40th Anniversary Tour鈥� this fall, the 鈥淗ere Comes the Rain Again鈥� singer told The Associated Press that she will continue to perform, especially at events that support causes she is passionate about and her own nonprofit work.
鈥淚鈥檓 not retiring from anything,鈥� Lennox said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just stepping back because I spent decades on the road. And at the age of 68, I鈥檓 very fortunate in that I can do sort of one-off appearances now and then. But I think when it comes to an actual tour where you have like 73-date commitments night after night and traveling on the road, it鈥檚 incredibly intense. It鈥檚 arduous.鈥�
Instead, Lennox plans on performing at more events like 鈥� ,鈥� a fundraiser for numerous nonprofits, including Rotary International鈥檚 End Polio Now initiative. Lennox will perform on the floor of the Colosseum on Sunday, accompanied only by a piano, as part of the benefit.
Alberto Cecchini, member of Rotary International鈥檚 board of directors and one of the event organizers, said Lennox was an easy choice for headliner because of both her music and her commitment to ending polio. He said holding the concert in Italy will magnify the message of her performance.
鈥淲e are surrounded by beauty, by art and by history,鈥� Cecchini said of Italy. 鈥淎nd all this beauty has the power to inspire people.鈥�
Jennifer Jones, outgoing Rotary International president and new member of its board of trustees, said only seven wild polio cases have been reported in the world this year, from 1988 when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began.
鈥淲e have made a promise to the children of the world to eradicate this disease,鈥� said Jones, adding that once there are no more new cases, children will need to be vaccinated for three years to ensure the virus does not return. 鈥淲e have never been this close. And we can鈥檛 take our foot off the gas because billions of children will be vulnerable if we don鈥檛.鈥�
Lennox said she was inspired to get involved with End Polio Now because they are so close to eradicating polio that she wanted to do what she could to help secure that victory.
鈥淚鈥檓 very honored to be part of that,鈥� she said.
The AP recently spoke with Lennox about why she considers herself an artist and an activist and why those pursuits pair so well together. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
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Q: Why did you get involved in the fight against polio?
A: There are just infinite challenges on this planet. There have been for years. And I think there always will be. There鈥檚 just so much need. So, first of all, the Rotary Club 鈥� they do amazing work. And then I found out it鈥檚 to stop polio for children. You know, I was vaccinated when I was a kid back in the early 鈥�60s with every other schoolchild in the country and I鈥檓 just so grateful that I never had to have polio. I did see young kids in calipers back in the day, and they were the ones who didn鈥檛 have the opportunity to get the vaccine. Decades later, it鈥檚 appalling to me that there are still affected children who don鈥檛 make it. That鈥檚 shocking.
Q: Can you talk about why philanthropy is so important to you?
A: Well, philanthropy is a word I鈥檓 not completely comfortable with because in many ways I equate philanthropy with massive billionaires like Bill Gates. I mean, some of these billionaires are philanthropic and some of them are not. For me, I鈥檓 an activist and I鈥檝e been an advocate for various issues. And I鈥檓 an artist first and foremost. I feel I have a very small platform, but it has opportunities to do quite a few things in my smaller way. So I like the notion that I can use my platform as an artist to engage with different issues that I am passionate about.
Q: Is combining entertainment with fundraising is useful?
A: Every organization is looking for ways to raise funding. That鈥檚 an essential thing. And, of course, if you can have an event with an artist performing, the potential is that it gets a higher profile. , who combined the advocacy aspect with entertainment with a whole day of running film clips and appearances from various people. Comic Relief has been able to raise millions and millions of pounds and I鈥檓 not sure how else we would have done, quite honestly.
Q: What made you want to start your own nonprofit The Circle, which works to empower women and girls around the world?
A: Well, I鈥檓 a woman. And I鈥檝e lived my life as a woman. I鈥檝e given birth and I鈥檝e lost a child. So I鈥檝e had some really profound life experiences and I identify with women all over the world. I describe myself as a global feminist because I feel that the empowerment of women and girls should be a completely global issue. tries to bridge the gap 鈥� to support grassroots organizations and women鈥檚 aid organizations who are trying to basically get women their fundamental human rights in countries where they have very few human rights.
Q: That work clearly drives you.
A: As well as entertaining, there鈥檚 an aspect of wanting to make a difference in the world. I鈥檓 only one person among the billions of people on the planet, but it鈥檚 a very heartfelt commitment from me to do what I can.
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP鈥檚 collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP鈥檚 philanthropy coverage, visit .
Glenn Gamboa, The Associated Press