Lily Allen Says Her 2 Daughters Totally Ruined Her Music Career
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Lily Allen enjoys being a mother, but she feels that having kids has held her back from reaching her full potential as a singer.
During the "Radio Times Podcast" on Tuesday, March 12, Allen, 38, jokingly mentioned, "My children have put a dent in my career."
Allen has two daughters, Ethel, 12, and Marnie, 11, from her previous marriage to Sam Cooper, which lasted from June 2011 to June 2018. In September 2020, she tied the knot with Stranger Things actor David Harbour in Las Vegas.
"I adore my daughters and they mean the world to me. However, when it comes to being a pop star, they have definitely put a damper on it," Allen humorously remarked.
Allen started her music journey in 2006 with her first solo album, Alright, Still. The album was a hit and even got her a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. In 2009, she followed it up with her second album, It's Not Me, It's You.
After that, Allen took a break from music for five years to focus on raising her daughters. In 2014, she made a comeback with her third album, Sheezus.
In 2014, she had her own tour and also opened for Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz Tour. Allen released another album, No Shame, in 2018 and headlined her No Shame tour in 2018 and 2019. However, she has not been on tour for the past five years because she wants to stay home with her children, Ethel and Marnie.
Allen believes that she cannot give her music career full attention and be a good mother simultaneously.
“It really annoys me when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t,” she continued.
Lily Allen Says Her 2 Daughters Totally Ruined Her Music Career
Lily Allen shared that while growing up in London, she felt neglected by her parents. This experience influenced her to ensure that she does not repeat the same mistake with her daughters, Marnie Rose Cooper and Ethel Cooper.
She added, "Some people prioritize their career over their children, and that's completely up to them. However, my parents were often absent during my childhood, which left lasting emotional wounds that I am determined not to pass on to my own kids."
Looking back now, Allen has no regrets about choosing to prioritize her family.
"I decided to take a step back and focus on my children, and I'm happy that I did because I believe they have grown into well-rounded individuals," she shared. "Keeping my fingers crossed."
Allen revealed in 2018 that being a mother was challenging for her due to the lack of positive role models from her own parents.
"I wasn't raised by parents who were great at parenting," she shared with The Guardian in September 2018. "So, I never learned those skills. I thought being a parent would come naturally, but it didn't. This struggle triggered my postnatal depression."
During the interview, Allen disclosed that her depression caused her to be unfaithful, ultimately leading to the end of her marriage to Cooper.
"I had always imagined having a family with two point four children and living in the countryside since I was a child. I thought everything would just naturally come together and I would be the perfect mom. However, things didn't turn out as I had hoped," Allen shared. "I was really surprised and let down."
Editor's P/S:
Lily Allen's candid reflections on the challenges of balancing motherhood with her music career resonate deeply. Allen's decision to prioritize her children's well-being over her professional ambitions is a testament to her love and dedication as a mother. Her experiences also highlight the societal pressure on women to "have it all," a notion she rightly challenges as unrealistic.
Furthermore, Allen's account of her own childhood experiences and their impact on her parenting style provides valuable insights. Her determination to break the cycle of neglect and provide a stable and loving home for her daughters is inspiring. Allen's journey as a mother serves as a reminder that parenting is both demanding and rewarding, and that it requires sacrifices and compromises along the way. Her willingness to share her experiences openly contributes to a much-needed conversation about the complexities of motherhood in modern society.