TO CLOSE

Stevie Wonder plays at the inauguration ceremony of the Smithsonian Museum of History and African-American Culture at the National Mall in Washington in 2016. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

Stevie Wonder will receive a kidney transplant later this year, he told a crowd of festival-goers tonight in London. A donor has been aligned, he said.

"I'm going to have surgery," he said. "I'm going to have a kidney transplant in September of this year.All is fine … I have a donor."

The announcement of Wonder comes after a week of speculation about his health. the The Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday that the Motown star was facing a serious health problem.

More: Stevie Wonder has persistent health problems but remains in a state of mind, say friends

"I want you to know, I came here to give you my love and to thank you for your love," 69-year-old Wonder told the audience at Barclaycard British Summer Time in Hyde Park, London. His announcement won many applause from the crowd.

"So you do not have to hear any rumors about anything," says Wonder, looking optimistic. "I told you what was going on: I'm fine."

Wonder was hospitalized this spring and traveled with a medical team while it continues to occur, reported the Free Press. The friends of the iconic singer said that he remained in a good mood in the face of health problems.

He also hoped that the situation would remain private, they said, but rumors about his health began to appear online last weekend.

A friend said that public discussions "became exactly what he did not want. He is not too happy. "

Free Press has contacted the Wonder team for more information.

Contact Detroit Free Press Music Editor Brian McCollum at 313-223-4450 or [email protected].

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