Belinda Carlisle is getting candid on her past struggles.
The singer, 66, got sober in 2005 when she hit a “spiritual bottom” and stopped smoking, drinking and doing drugs.
“I knew that if I had carried on, I probably would lose my family — and everything,” Carlisle told People. “I knew that if I continued I would die.”
At the time, the “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” artist “was sick of living a life of secrets and lies” and was “ready” to clean up.
“There’s different types of bottoms, but mine was just self-hatred,” Carlisle reflected.
As for how she got sober, Carlisle credited a 12-step program and her yoga practice, which she does “every single day,” to help her stay on track.
“I have a pretty strong spiritual foundation that I live from, so, I meditate, I chant, I read, I study and I pray every day,” Carlisle said.
The Grammy-nominated singer explained that the best part of being sober is “you live each day.”
“There’s so many days that I used to go to bed at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m. Now, I get up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., so I have a full day,” Carlisle reiterated.
The lead vocalist of the Go-Go’s added that life “just keeps getting better” after she cut alcohol and substances out.
“My life is more exciting than it was when I was at the top of the charts,” Carlisle gushed. “So, living each day to the fullest, I think, is the best part.”
The activist also took a moment to reflect on posing nude for PETA in 1990 alongside her all-female bandmates, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin, and Charlotte Caffey. The ladies were “the very first” to star in PETA’s groundbreaking “I’d Rather Go Naked” anti-fur campaign.
Carlisle told People, “I’ve always had pets, I’ve always loved animals. I’ve been an animal advocate for the past 40 years. That’s just the way that I’ve always been.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member shared that in 2014, she decided to put her passion for animals to use. After traveling to India and witnessing many of them living on the street, Carlisle thought, “Well, I’ve been of service in the States to animals most of my life, and there’s a lack of animal services here, so why not do something?”
The star then co-founded Animal People Alliance (APA). This nonprofit provides care to street animals in India and Thailand and jobs with living wages to vulnerable people to improve their quality of life.
“Since then, we’ve treated 90,000 animals,” Carlisle exclaimed.
“I had a pug named Pierre who taught me everything,” Carlisle said of her four legged baby who died 15 years ago. “Not everything I know, but he taught me a lot.”
Although, Carlisle doesn’t have any pets at the moment, she shared, “The animals I have are in India.
“I just love them from afar because I can’t do it right now.”
