Lily Allen Opens Up on 'CBS Mornings': Sobriety, Tour Jitters, and the Raw Truth Behind Her 'West End Girl' Album

Mian Hamid November 22, 2025

Lily Allen Opens Up on 'CBS Mornings': Sobriety, Tour Jitters, and the Raw Truth Behind Her 'West End Girl' Album

U.K. pop star Lily Allen is ready to hit the road in support of her raw, highly anticipated new album, 'West End Girl,' but she's admitting to some pre-tour nerves. The album, which has generated buzz for exploring the complexities of her split from ex-husband David Harbour, is Allen's first since getting sober in 2019.

Appearing on 'CBS Mornings' on Thursday, Nov. 20, the 40-year-old singer opened up to host Anthony Mason about what it's like preparing to perform live without relying on substances.

Allen, known for hits like "Tennis" and "Madeline" (which is also the name of a key track on her new record), reflected on her earlier years of touring, noting that her twenties felt like "a big party."

"It was sure as hell was fun, you know, going out there," the pop star laughed. "But I'm not at that stage in my life."

The "Pussy Palace" performer shared that getting sober in 2019 was meant to help her truly bring 'West End Girl' "to life," yet she hasn't toured since that pivotal decision.

"I'm nervous," she confessed about playing live. "I don't think there's any risk of anything happening, but it's a real adrenaline rush that you get when you're on a stage and people responding to your words."

She highlighted the struggle that comes after the show when that post-performance adrenaline is "rushing around your body and looking for a place to get out." Allen pointed out that drugs and alcohol traditionally acted as a "really helpful" release for that rush.

"When you take that out of the equation, I haven't done it yet, but I can imagine that it's quite hard and there'll have to be like a routine that I get into or some kind of ritual to help me get out of that space," she explained.

Allen's journey to sobriety, which she has been open about since 2021 on shows like The Recovery, began after a "nearly lifelong battle with addiction."

"I started getting my value from attention of others and that is something that has played out until relatively recently really," she previously stated. "All I wanted was affirmation and praise... I got it from strangers, but I didn't really get it from the people I wanted it from."

The British singer admitted that while pursuing her music career after dropping out of school, she "definitely like buried my head in drugs and alcohol, but I was really sad."

Despite the real challenges of navigating a sober tour life, Allen concluded the interview by stating that she "can't wait" to connect with her U.S. fans and others across the globe.

The singer is slated to kick off her European tour in support of 'West End Girl' next year, with many U.K. dates already sold out. U.S. fans are eagerly awaiting the announcement of North American tour dates.

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