It’s been a week since Demi Lovato has gifted us with a new song – her first in almost two years.
Her powerful and emotional performance at the GRAMMYs of her new single, “Anyone,” got the audience on their feet to give her a standing ovation. Plenty of other celebrities have also gone on social media to shower her with praises – including childhood friend Selena Gomez.
But before making her triumphant return to the GRAMMY stage, she wasn’t even sure she would ever perform again.
On Thursday (January 30), Demi went on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, where she revealed to host Andy Cohen that her July 2018 overdose left her with serious doubts if she would ever return to music.
“Yeah, absolutely [I thought I might not return to music],” Demi said. “It was a general [thought] though. We didn’t know what was going to happen. We didn’t know how healthy I would be when I left. It was a scary time in my life, for sure.”
“Anyone” was recorded just four days before her overdose happened. And Demi also opened up about what the song represented for her.
“That song, [“Anyone”], I knew that it represented that period in my life when everything hit the fan. I knew it represented everything I was going through, the vulnerability… I’ve never had a moment like this where I’ve sat down at a piano, or stood next to a piano, and sang my heart out. I thought, if I ever come back from this… I was still in the hospital. I didn’t know. If I ever come back from this… I want it to be at the GRAMMYs and I want it to be this song,” Demi said.
At the GRAMMYs, Demi actually had to start over the song. And she shared that it was because she got overwhelmed with everything her performance represented.
“I think I was just overwhelmed and overtaken by emotion. When I performed the song, I looked at the front row and I saw my mom and my two sisters, and I think having… seeing them in the front row just overwhelmed me with emotion,” she shared. “Also, it was very much in my head, like, this is the first time you’re on stage in a year and a half… so I had that voice in my head. And then, also, I put myself back in that hospital bed listening to that song, on little speakers in the ICU. I put myself back in that position and I was just overwhelmed.”
Demi expressed her gratitude for all the support she’s gotten and shared that she hopes her song might be able to inspire hope for people going through difficult challenges.
“I’m just really, really grateful that the response has been so awesome. I think people are able to hear that song for what it is, which is a very emotional plea for anyone else listening,” she added. “I want to represent that for people, and showing them they can get through anything.”
Demi’s about to make a decade-long dream a reality as she gears up to take the stage again on Sunday (Feburary 2), when she sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Still, she candidly admits to being nervous about it.
“I’ve spent more time with that song, ‘Anyone.’ I’ve spent more time listening to it. I crafted it. … So when you put your heart and soul into something, it takes on a life of its own. Whereas the national anthem, if I mess up, everyone goes after you if you do,” she explained.
“I’m not going to read the comments… but there’s so much pressure on the national anthem,” she added.
But she’s not about to let her nerves get the best of her. “I feel very excited, nervous, but also grateful,” she said. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be so surreal.”
“I think 10 years ago I was being more realistic. Normally you don’t get to do the halftime show… I did [get to sing the national anthem], in time, and here I am,” Lovato noted.
