Darlene Love is approaching her 85th birthday by reimagining rather than retiring from her music career. She is exploring residency performances in intimate venues such as New York's Carlyle Hotel or Las Vegas, envisioning a stripped-down arrangement with just herself, a pianist, and background singers. This reflects her desire to prioritise quality performances and storytelling over a heavy touring schedule, though she has already committed to holiday concerts in November and December.

Her decision stems from a desire to spend more time with family across her residences in New York, California, and Jamaica, whilst maintaining her artistic presence. At 85, Love retains remarkable vocal power after a six-decade career spanning Phil Spector's productions and collaborations with contemporary artists like Bruce Springsteen. She is also pursuing new projects including a documentary about her life and has found peace regarding her complicated professional history.