P!nk: 'Everyone Told Me, If You Have Children Right Now, Your Career’s Over'

P!nk is beloved not just for her acrobatic performances and fierce attitude, but also for her vulnerability.

She showcased that openness in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, where she recalled people telling her that her career would be "over" if she had children and recalling the loneliness she felt on the road before having children.

"Everyone told me, 'If you have children right now, your career’s over.' But I think, interestingly enough for me, everyone has this idea of me that I’m just my singles, right? That I’m the snarling, man-eating angry, like she-man," she explained.

Continuing, the What About Us singer said, "And, obviously, we’re all much more complex than any of that, but when I had a child, I think it softened me to the world, the part that didn’t understand me. And I think that’s when my career began, really. I mean, I did a lot of stuff before that, but really, truly, I think it’s when I started to really understand myself and understand the world and my place in it."

Discussing the loneliness artists feel, P!nk went into her own experiences, stating: "Having a family was really important to me because my family life was screwed as a kid, and I’m super-affectionate and cuddly and goofy. Just doing music wasn’t enough for me. I was lonely. I was so lonely. It’s a very lonely business.

"I really wanted to have a family, and it was just as important to me as ambition because I didn’t want it; if it’s just… if this is the carrot, I’ve eaten it. I’m still hungry. I’m hungry. I’m empty, and I love writing songs. I love singing songs. I love performing. Sitting with a guitar is one of my favourite things I’ll ever do, but cuddling with my babies and taking them camping and being dirty for three days is also one of the coolest things I’ll ever do, and making wine also happens to be pretty cool."

In a 60 Minutes interview last weekend, P!nk revealed that she has considered applying for Australian citizenship.

"Last year, I was thinking about applying for citizenship; I am not even joking," she explained. "I was like, ‘If we’re going somewhere Carey, [Australia] is where we’re going." 

The revelation arrived a few days after P!nk announced her first-ever stadium tour of Australia. She said in a statement, "I am so excited to finally get a chance to tour Australia and New Zealand in the summer!! I can’t wait to bring the Summer Carnival Tour to my home away from home and smile and sing together until our cheeks hurt. Summer 2024 can’t come soon enough!"

P!nk is a three-time Grammy Award winner and has had five #1 albums in Australia, including Hurts 2B Human, Funhouse, and Greatest Hits...So Far!!!, The Truth About Love and Beautiful Trauma. 

Her ninth album, Trustfall, was released on Friday, 17 February.