Phil Collins Discusses Daughter Lily's Fears Over His Alcoholism

Phil Collins has spoken about his daughter Lily Collins's emotional reaction to his near-fatal battle with alcoholism. The singer revealed that Lily burst into tears at the thought of him dying, and that she now regrets writing a letter that forgave him for his past shortcomings.

Collins, 75, detailed his struggle with alcohol in an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. He recounted a period approximately two years ago when he was hospitalized and on life support in Switzerland, leading his family to gather for what were described as "tough decisions."

"I went in there for pancreatitis a couple of times because of drinking," Collins said. "But up until that point in my life, I had never been in hospital and suddenly I was living in hospital. And it was literally sobering."

He described waking up in the morning and wanting a glass of wine, but stated he never drank after 6 p.m. and did not consider himself a "caricature of a drunk" because he never drank while working, as it would affect his singing. Collins explained that his drinking escalated after his retirement, coinciding with other personal issues, including the breakdown of his marriage to his third wife, Orianne Cevey, in 2020.

Last Christmas, Lily Collins, who became a mother in January 2023, expressed her fears to her father. "Lily, for example, she just burst into tears, because she now has a child and she said, 'I never thought that my child would get to know her grandfather,'" Phil Collins recounted. "It was very touching, very moving."

Collins also addressed an open letter Lily wrote in her 2017 book, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me." In the letter, she wrote about forgiving him for not being the father she expected and for his mistakes, though she expressed hope that there was still time to move forward.

Phil Collins admitted he only read the letter once and has since learned that Lily regrets writing it, finding it "hurtful." He acknowledged that he treated her mother poorly and that touring extensively during Genesis's peak had impacted his family life. "I was gone, and, uh, we grew apart... So I understand what Lily means in that open letter," he said, referring to his first marriage.

Reflecting on his marriages, Collins stated, "I regret my marriages falling apart. Sometimes I jumped well, one time, I jumped. Two times, I was pushed. But, I wouldn't have written it like that but on the other hand, I got five fantastic kids that I wouldn't have if that hadn't happened. So I have to balance it."