Demi Lovato has had quite a 2020. She kicked off the year by singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2, and is closing things out by hosting the People’s Choice Awards on Nov. 15. In between, she had a whirlwind romance with actor Max Ehrich where they fell in love, got engaged, and broke up all within a six month span. Now the “Confident” singer is reflecting on her “rollercoaster” year and her new song about the demise of her relationship with Max.
“This year…it’s been such a rollercoaster. Honestly for me the beginning started out…I was on this trajectory to have a pretty eventful career and I was planning my comeback, releasing the album and honestly what I can say is thank god I didn’t release the album when I wanted to cause I had so much to experience,” Demi told Jenna Bush Hager on the Nov. 12 Today Show‘s fourth hour.
“The most important thing that I learned is how much I’m okay with myself and loving myself,” now-single Demi explained. She and Max started seeing each other at the start of the March 2020 COVID-19 quarantine, and he ended up quickly moving into her place and spending lockdown with the singer. Before long they were popping up in Instagram photos while kissing and appearing to be every bit a couple.
Max then proposed to Demi on July 22, 2020 on the beach in Malibu. She happily accepted and wrote about their engagement on Instagram, telling Max, “I knew I loved you the moment I met you. It was something I can’t describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand but luckily you did too…I’ve never felt so unconditionally loved by someone in my life (other than my parents) flaws and all. I’m honored to accept your hand in marriage.”
But things didn’t last long. By Sept. 24 the pair had split up just after celebrating their the six month mark as a couple. Demi wrote her latest song “I Still Have Me” about the end of her relationship with Max, and told Jenna that the tune was “therapy” for her. “When I write my songs, when I go to the studio to record them, it’s a very cathartic and therapeutic experience for me. And so any time I go through something…especially when I don’t say things publicly or comment on certain situations, I just let my music comment on it. And that’s actually as far as I’ll comment on that situation,” Demi said with a smile.