With a voice that captivated audiences, Nelly Uchendu's 1976 hit, Love Nwantinti, introduced a fresh take on Igbo highlife, blending traditional melodies with contemporary flair. The success of the song earned her the title "Lady with the Golden Voice." Over the course of her career, she released six LPs and displayed remarkable versatility in tracks like Waka, Aka Bu Eze, and Mama Hausa, solidifying her place in the Nigerian music scene.

Uchendu also performed internationally, including a notable appearance in London during the 1980s alongside Sir Warrior and his Oriental Brothers. She also made her mark in acting, guest-starring as Ikemefuna’s mother in the 1986 NTA television adaptation of Things Fall Apart, where she performed Ikemefuna’s Song. She continued to blend singing and acting in later roles, including in the 1994 Nollywood film, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, and as a vocal contributor to the musical scene in the 1993 Igbo movie Taboo.