Lily Allen’s Transformative Year: Music, Therapy and Moving Forward

A Powerful Musical Comeback

British singer-songwriter Lily Allen released her fifth studio album West End Girl in October 2025, which peaked at number two and was met with broad critical acclaim. The album, which comprises 14 songs, was written and recorded in just 10 days following the breakdown of the star’s marriage to Stranger Things actor David Harbour. This marks a significant return for Allen, who had not released new music since 2018.

Allen described the release as ‘completely and utterly liberating’, stating that she felt like she couldn’t get on with her life until she’d shared what she needed to say. The artist admitted that she wasn’t thinking about it as a ‘commercial endeavour’ but rather ‘it was an act of desperation’, demonstrating the raw emotional honesty that characterises the record.

Addressing Personal Challenges Through Therapy

Following the success of her album, Allen has enrolled in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for the past four months due to an apparent shopping addiction that resulted in recent purchases of a £120,000 Porsche and a £16,500 Hermes bag. This candid admission highlights the singer’s commitment to personal growth and self-awareness.

After spending Christmas with her two daughters, Allen decided to check herself into a treatment facility, explaining that she ‘knew the things she was feeling were too intense’. As a recovering alcoholic, Allen said she’s not afraid of working on herself and knew she needed some quiet time.

Looking Ahead: Healing and Hope

Following the former couple’s breakup in February after four years of marriage, Allen shared that David Harbour still keeps in touch with his stepkids, and she told The Observer that she ‘stays out of it’. This mature approach demonstrates Allen’s focus on what’s best for her children during a difficult transition.

Allen said her music was cathartic for herself and her children, stating that one thing she wanted to do was show her kids that ‘you can use that pain and harness it and turn it into something else. And I think I’ve done that’. Now, Allen is preparing for her 2026 tour – her first since she got sober in 2019, signalling a hopeful new chapter for the acclaimed artist.