Ashley Roberts Details Near-Tour Withdrawal Over Singing Fears

Pussycat Dolls member Ashley Roberts has shared her struggle with anxiety regarding her vocal performance during the group's reunion tour, revealing she nearly withdrew from performing a solo. Roberts, 45, admitted to 'freaking out' about singing live, a fear stemming from long-standing public perceptions of the group's vocal capabilities.

In a video shared at the start of the PCD Forever tour, Roberts was visibly emotional, explaining her desire to step out of her comfort zone and showcase personal growth. "I was gonna pull out, I was not gonna do it because I was psyching myself out saying it's gonna sound like s**t," she confessed. "A lot of the history within this group was like that we can't sing, 'they were just dancers'." Roberts stated her intention was to prove to herself that she could do more than just dance, which she described as her passion and a form of therapy.

Her vocal coach, Josh, who has worked with artists like Raye, played a crucial role in encouraging her to proceed. "There's just been so many years of a subconscious belief that I can't and so to have someone believe in me and then to heal this part of me is gonna be so big," Roberts said, becoming tearful. She ultimately decided to perform the solo, embracing the ethos that "sometimes it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be real."

Since recording the confession, Roberts has expressed increased confidence. She noted that the tour has provided an opportunity to confront and heal these long-held fears. The support from fans throughout the tour has also been a significant source of encouragement.

The Pussycat Dolls reunion tour has faced several challenges. In late September, Nicole Scherzinger sustained burns from spilled boiling water an hour before a performance in Dusseldorf, Germany, though she continued with the show. The group also had to cancel the entire U.S. and Canadian leg of their comeback tour due to poor ticket sales, resulting in the elimination of 33 planned dates. Initially announced as a 53-date global run, the band was forced to axe the North American shows just a month before their scheduled start, even after reducing ticket prices significantly. Refunds were issued to ticket holders.

The comeback itself was met with controversy due to the exclusion of founding members Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta, and Melody Thornton, who stated they were not asked to participate and described the reunion as a "cash grab."