Following the release of her latest album, Luck … or Something, Hilary Duff is pulling back the curtain on the private tribulations that shaped her music. In a poignant new conversation, the singer and actress navigated the complexities of her past, touching on everything from high-profile divorces to the taxing reality of the Disney Channel limelight.
Appearing on the March 9 episode of On Purpose With Jay Shetty, Duff revisited the 2014 dissolution of her marriage to Mike Comrie. Reflecting on that chapter, she admitted she felt an early pull toward domesticity. “I felt like in that stage of my life, I was entirely ready to settle down… I wanted a baby,” she explained. “I craved something that was uniquely mine to focus on and nurture.”
Duff, who has long been transparent about her journey as a single parent, described the gravity of the split. “Choosing to dismantle a family unit is a profound and agonizing decision,” she remarked. Despite the heartbreak, she noted that she and Comrie have maintained a successful co-parenting dynamic for their son, Luca. The Lizzie McGuire star has since found a new chapter with husband Matthew Koma, with whom she shares three children.
The interview also delved into her fractured family ties, including the lasting impact of her parents’ 2008 divorce and her current estrangement from her older sister, Haylie. Duff described the emotional toll of growing up in a divided household as “devastating,” noting that the feeling of being cared for by both parents is something she has often felt was missing.
This internal conflict served as the blueprint for “We Don’t Talk,” a standout track on her new LP. “My sister and I aren’t on speaking terms right now,” Duff confessed, highlighting the difficulty of navigating such raw emotions after 25 years in the public eye. “It’s an incredibly vulnerable song about a very real part of my life. I hope this isn’t a permanent state, but it is where we are today.”
Beyond family dynamics, Duff explored the “loss of innocence” that accompanied her meteoric rise to fame. By age 15, the global spotlight had shifted from her talent to her physical appearance. “The world became obsessed with what I wore, who I was with, and what I ate,” she told Shetty. This relentless scrutiny briefly manifested as disordered eating as she attempted to exert control over her life while fitting a specific Hollywood mold.
Fortunately, Duff says that period was relatively brief, though the psychological impact remains a significant part of her history. Luck … or Something arrived on Feb. 20, making a strong entrance at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Fans will soon have the chance to see her perform these new tracks live as she prepares for her first world arena tour in over a decade, set to launch this June.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association for resources and support.
Watch the full, unfiltered interview with Jay Shetty below:
