George Benson to announce shock retirement from music?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Washington
  • Last updated on

Benson created a stir on Tuesday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Benson fans. Speculation had been rife that the American guitarist best known for his hit song Give Me the Night, is about to announce his retirement from music, at age 83, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a guitarist isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a guitarist-singer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouGeorge

For a little while on Tuesday evening, #ThankYouGeorge was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“George Benson was unlike any other guitarist we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouGeorge”
— @universalObserver, 19 May 2026
“I thought George Benson retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 19 May 2026

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