Kelly Osbourne Reflects on Quitting Music: “What if I Didn’t Stop”
Kelly Osbourne recently opened up about her decision to quit music during an episode of her family’s podcast, The Osbournes. When her brother, Jack Osbourne, inquired if she had ever considered “getting back in the game,” Kelly candidly reflected on her past choices.
“I’ve definitely thought about [getting back into music],” Kelly admitted. “I’ve definitely thought about what my life would have been like if I didn’t stop. It’s definitely a regret. Will I do anything about that regret? I don’t know.” Her introspection revealed a lingering curiosity about the path not taken.
Also Read: Witness Claims Ozzy Osbourne Danced in Graveyard and Howled at Headstones
The conversation delved into the reasons behind her departure from music during the height of her reality TV fame on MTV’s ‘The Osbournes.’ Her mother, Sharon Osbourne, described Kelly as a rebel, while her father, Ozzy Osbourne, bluntly attributed it to “Drugs.” Kelly elaborated, “I was doing so much TV. I was doing so much touring, and so much publicity, and so many interviews, and I wanted to go out and have fun. I didn’t want it to be all work and no play, and I didn’t know how to even that out and have any balance in my life.”
Kelly further explained, “And it was bad, but I also covered up a lot of my insecurity, and a lot of the naysaying and comparisons and just s— talking with drugs, so I numbed myself with it. So it kind of went hand in hand with that, with me, and I had to choose myself over all of that.” Her struggle with balancing a demanding career and personal happiness led to difficult choices.
Her musical journey began promisingly with a pop-metal cover of Madonna’s 1986 hit ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, a move suggested by her mother. Her debut album, ‘Shut Up!’, was released the same year but faced setbacks when she was dropped by her label, Epic Records, two months into touring. Despite a strong start, her music career hit a significant roadblock early on.
Kelly made a comeback in 2005 with her ‘sophomore’ album, Sleeping in the Nothing, but has not released any new music since. She revealed that she felt forced into a pop-punk persona by her former label, a pressure compounded by her identity as the daughter of a rock legend. This identity struggle influenced her musical direction and career decisions.
After her brief stint in music, Kelly transitioned fully into television, taking on roles as a host and judge on shows like ‘Project Catwalk’, ‘Project Runway’, and ‘Fashion Police’. She also competed on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2009 and ‘The Masked Singer’ in 2019.
-Sushmita Sarkar
