Singer Lulu, 76, has revealed she concealed an alcohol problem for years, describing herself as a "secret drinker" and saying she is now in recovery after attending rehabilitation.
In an interview with The Times ahead of the publication of her memoir, If Only You Knew, Lulu said she had "battled shame in secret for years" and only chose to speak publicly about her drinking once she had the "language to understand it." She told the newspaper she believed she had inherited a predisposition to addiction and that writing the memoir prompted her to seek therapy.
Lulu said she had long presented a polished public image and feared becoming "like my father," adding that she wanted to be the "best Lulu" and "Miss Perfect." She said family expectations contributed to her decision to keep struggles private, recalling that her mother had instructed her not to "air her dirty linen in public." The singer said those pressures and a focus on her career helped mask the extent of her drinking.
The disclosure follows years in which Lulu, who rose to prominence in the 1960s, hinted at personal difficulties in interviews but did not explicitly discuss addiction. In the Times conversation she said she had deliberately delayed speaking about the problem until she felt able to explain it clearly.
Lulu confirmed she had attended a rehabilitation program and sought therapy after completing her memoir. She did not provide a detailed timeline of her treatment in the interview, but said recovery was ongoing.
If Only You Knew is billed as a personal account of the singer's life and career, and Lulu said the process of writing the book surfaced emotions and memories that required professional help. She told the newspaper that confronting those memories was part of why she wanted to tell her story now.
Public reaction to celebrities discussing substance use has grown more immediate in recent years, and Lulu's remarks are the latest high-profile admission by a veteran performer. Her statements add to discussions about addiction, privacy and how public figures manage personal struggles while maintaining careers.
Lulu's career has spanned decades, including chart hits and acting roles, and she has frequently been portrayed as a consummate professional. In the Times interview she framed the revelation of her alcoholism as part of a broader candid reflection on her life, family and the pressures of sustaining a public persona. The memoir's release is expected to bring further detail about the experiences she has described.