Alexandra Kay is focusing on her mental health. The singer-songwriter is bravely opening up about her own personal struggles, in the hopes that her story might also inspire others.
“I haven’t spoken about this, I don’t think, publicly, but it’s been a really hard year mentally for me,” Kay admits to SPIN. “I’ve struggled more with my mental health in the past year than I ever have. I’m pretty positive it’s just because of the huge changes that have gone on in my life over the last two years.”
Those changes included Kay’s divorce from her former husband, Indiana Touchette, which she opens up about in her All I’ve Ever Known album, out now.
“I went from being with someone that I was with for 11 years to not having that person in my life, to not having certain friends in my life anymore, to not having a whole ‘nother family in my life anymore, and moving out of my house, moving to a new city,” Kay reflects. “I live in Nashville, Tennessee now, and I was living in southern Illinois at the time. So much has changed in my life. I’ve always struggled with anxiety. I’ve always struggled with panic attacks.”
Fortunately, Kay decided to confront her personal struggles this year, determined to be the best version of herself, not only for her own mental health, but also for those around her.
“I’ve very much done my due diligence to heal myself properly this year,” Kay boasts. “Before, I would just be like, ‘Oh okay, it’s fine that I have a panic attack a day.’ But this year is the time when I really sat down and I was just — for myself, for my fans, for my family, to make sure that I can continue to stay here, that I can continue to be here, and be the best artist and best friend, and the best daughter and the best girlfriend, the best that I can possibly be for all of the people around me. I need to continue to go to therapy. I need to face all of this head-on.”
By her own admission, Kay focused on her soaring career amid her split from Touchette, a coping mechanism that she now realizes was unhealthy, and one she is determined to avoid in the future.
“Deflecting is the worst thing that you can do in those situations, and so I’m really proud of myself this year, that I’ve really consistently gone to therapy, and I’ve really consistently faced all of this head-on,” Kay says. “I really feel more healed and more myself than ever these days, and I’m just really proud of that.”
Kay is headlining her own All I’ve Ever Known: The Tour Chapter Two. She will join Morgan Wallen for his Hyde Park show in London on July 4, and will hit the road with Jelly Roll on his Beautifully Broken Tour beginning in August. She also has a duet with Jelly Roll, “Leave the Light On,” as part of the upcoming Twisters film. Both the movie and the soundtrack will be out on July 19.
Find all of Kay’s music and upcoming shows at AlexandraKayOfficial.com.