Hilary Duff Breaks Silence on Sister Feud in New Song
Hilary Duff has finally confirmed the long-speculated inspiration behind her poignant new single We Don't Talk, revealing it directly addresses her estrangement from sister Haylie Duff. The 38-year-old singer and actress, who had remained notably quiet about the song's origins, opened up during a candid interview with CBS News special correspondent Anthony Mason for CBS Mornings on Friday.
A Lonely Existence Without Her Sister
"It's definitely about my sister. And just absolutely the most lonely part of my existence is not having my sister in my life at the moment," Duff admitted, appearing close to tears. She confessed to significant internal conflict about including such a personal track on her new album luck… or something, which was released the same day.
"I really struggled with thinking about including that on the record. But it’s funny as a person that exists in the world without my other half, so many people are having that experience," Duff explained. Ultimately, she decided to include the song "because it's my reality." The album marks her first musical release in a decade and was produced collaboratively with her husband, musician Matthew Koma.
Uncertainty Over Sister's Reaction
The former Lizzie McGuire star expressed uncertainty about whether Haylie, a food blogger, will even listen to the track or how she might respond. "I’m not sure that will help," Duff maintained regarding potential reconciliation. "I think I have to exist as a person on my own and do what I want to do. I hope that for everyone. That is where I'm sitting."
She elaborated on her personal journey, stating, "It's taken me a lot of time to get there and to live that way and to not care about the noise around that and just be me." Duff acknowledged the public nature of her private struggle, saying, "I don’t know if she'll hear it. I don't know how she'll react to it. But it is a really personal part of my life that doesn't get to stay personal."
Lyrics Reveal Painful Estrangement
While Duff did not specify the exact reasons for the sisters' fractured relationship, which has seen them not photographed together since 2019, the lyrics of We Don't Talk offer poignant insight. The song includes lines such as: "If it's 'cause you're jealous / God knows I would sell it all, then break you off the bigger half" and "Let's have it out / I'll hear you out, you'll hear me out on the couch / Get back to how we were as kids."
Another verse poignantly states: "So sick of being so sad about / How we don't talk and you won't talk about it." The track is part of what has been described as Duff's most vulnerable and personal album to date, exploring complex family dynamics beyond the sisterly feud.
Album Explores Broader Family Themes
Duff's sixth studio album delves deeply into her life as a mother of four—she shares daughters Banks Violet, seven, Mae James, four, and Townes Meadow Bair, one, with Koma, and son Luca, 13, with ex-husband Mike Comrie—and her experiences as a former child star. Another track, The Optimist, reveals difficulties in her relationship with father Robert, addressing themes of estrangement and the pursuit of parental approval.
The Disney Channel alum recently performed a limited residency at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas and will return for more dates in May as part of her Small Rooms, Big Nerves tour, promoting the new album's release. Despite the personal turmoil expressed in her music, Duff remains focused on artistic authenticity, concluding about the song: "So, I might as well say how it is for me as an experience. I'm not trying to say something bad, it's literally just my experience. That’s really all I feel like sharing."
