Louise Redknapp reveals divorce gave her the courage to restart music career

Louise Redknapp has revealed her divorce from Jamie gave her the courage to restart her music career. 

The singer, 45, had taken a break from her career after the birth of her sons Charlie, 16, and Beau, 11 but after splitting from the sportsman, revealed she gave music another shot because she felt like she had ‘nothing to lose.’

Speaking on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s podcast Spinning Plates, Louise said that she is glad her sons see her doing something she loves, rather than sitting at home being ‘half herself’. 

Back on the grind: Louise Redknapp has revealed her divorce from Jamie gave her the courage to restart her music career, (pictured in February) 

Career break: The singer, 45, took a break from her career after the birth of her sons Charlie, 16, and Beau, 11 (pictured with dad Jamie Redknapp)

Career break: The singer, 45, took a break from her career after the birth of her sons Charlie, 16, and Beau, 11 (pictured with dad Jamie Redknapp) 

Referring to her divorce from Jamie Redknapp in 2017 after 19 years of marriage, she said: ‘I suppose it took something quite big to happen in my life to think I’ve got nothing more to lose. 

‘Like I feel like I’ve lost such a lot anyway that what’s my musical dignity when I’ve lost all of this anyway?

‘It took something sad and big in my life to maybe give me the courage to go, “oh, I’ll just give it a go, what’s the worst that can happen?'”

She added: ‘I’m pleased I did it and I think I learned as well that you can still be a really good mum and it’s okay. 

‘I think I told myself for so long that I can’t have it all.

'Half myself': Louise said she is glad Beau (left) and Charlie (centre) can see her perform and doing what she loves rather than being 'half herself'

‘Half myself’: Louise said she is glad Beau (left) and Charlie (centre) can see her perform and doing what she loves rather than being ‘half herself’

‘You can go away and you can work and you can be out of the house for a period of time without letting your kids down. It’s almost like I felt like you couldn’t have both. 

‘I used to think you can only have both if you’re really famous and you’re really big and you’re going on massive tours where all of your family can come. And actually, no, you can.’ 

Louise was a member of girl group Eternal in 1993, but left the band in 1995 to pursue a solo career. She had sold more than 5 million records in the UK alone and 15 million worldwide. 

While the mother-of-two was pregnant with Beau, she made an album which was never released. 

She said that as time went on, she convinced herself that no one would ever care about anything she put out there again.  

The presenter was a runner up with partner Kevin Clifton on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. 

Brought back the fire: The TV personality said being on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 reminded her how much she loves to perform (pictured with partner Kevin Clifton)

Brought back the fire: The TV personality said being on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 reminded her how much she loves to perform (pictured with partner Kevin Clifton)

She said on the podcast that doing the show, although she admitted there were negatives, was that it reminded her how much she loves to perform. 

Louise, who played her first live show in 15 years in December 2017, joined the cast of 9to5 in 2019 at the Savoy Theatre in London. 

She said that her children came to see her in the show and they ‘love what she does’. 

Louise said: ‘When I was in the West End they sat there and I think for the first time they experienced what it was like when you come out and you do your end bow and the audience stand up. 

‘And Chaz came into me after and said, “well, mum, I kind of had no idea how good you were”, and it absolutely melted my heart.” 

Doing their bit: Louise and Love Island star Josh Denzel prepared to take free school meals to children who need them during half term on Monday

Doing their bit: Louise and Love Island star Josh Denzel prepared to take free school meals to children who need them during half term on Monday

Charitable: Louise and Josh had a car filled to the brim with food for those in need

Charitable: Louise and Josh had a car filled to the brim with food for those in need 

Doing their thing: They were not afraid to pull their weight as they carried lots of bags

Doing their thing: They were not afraid to pull their weight as they carried lots of bags 

Careful: The group were socially distanced and wore masks to make sure they were safety conscious

Careful: The group were socially distanced and wore masks to make sure they were safety conscious 

The performer said that she’s glad her children are now seeing her performing and ‘doing something she loves’ rather than being sat at home and being ‘half herself’.

Louise, who has been living with her sons and mum through lockdown, candidly admitted that she still struggles on a daily basis.

She said: ‘I don’t know whether someone ever gets over getting divorced after 20 years and not working for a long period of time and regaining your ability to get back up on stage.’ 

The performer returned to work once Charlie and Beau were a bit older and received cruel comments for doing so.

She said people said she ‘just wanted fame’ and she ‘should have been happy with what she had’. 

The singer said: ‘I grew up from the age of 10 going to stage school and music was my everything. 

‘It’s what makes me tick, it’s what gives me my confidence, which is so bizarre because you’re standing on stage in front of people, yet without that I feel very unconfident. 

‘It gave me my confidence knowing I was worth something. That I was acceptable that I could walk into a room and put on that front of who I was. 

‘Because without any of that I actually most probably am quite an unconfident person. 

‘And to all of a sudden lose everything you know in life that give you your fire in your belly, your confidence to be what you want to be. 

‘As time went on I just struggled more and more with having no direction and no want to do anything. And that really, really panicked me.’  

She said that a message she keeps coming back to is that she wants to be as fearless now as she was when she was 17. 

The singer said: ‘I feel that I’m a better singer and better performer today than what I was even back when I was fearless because this time around I appreciate every last second of it.

‘Where I think first time around I knew no different. It was just what had been handed to me.

‘Even though I worked hard, I had been handed the opportunities time and time again to go and play those big Party In The Parks.’  

Louise is now working on a book titled You Got This, which details experiences and emotions she has gone through and what she has taken from them, which is due to be published in March 2021. 

'Daily struggles': Louise candidly admitted she still struggles daily and doesn't know whether someone can get over a divorce after 20 years of marriage (pictured in 2016)

‘Daily struggles’: Louise candidly admitted she still struggles daily and doesn’t know whether someone can get over a divorce after 20 years of marriage (pictured in 2016)