Michelle Heaton reveals how a night out with Katie Price helped her during her alcoholism battle when she hit rock bottom after her hysterectomy

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Michelle Heaton says a night out with Katie Price helped her understand she needed to stop drinking.

The 45-year-old singer, known from the band Liberty X, has been sober for four years. This came after a serious health scare in 2021, when she was hospitalized due to her struggles with alcohol.

The singer was drinking heavily – almost two bottles of wine and a full bottle of vodka daily – at the worst point of her addiction. However, it wasn’t until she went out with a friend, a 47-year-old model, that she finally recognized she needed to get help.

Michelle told the Daily Mail that she knew she was struggling, but she hadn’t felt comfortable sharing her problems with anyone.

Oh my god, she said it was so hard. She kept trying to quit, honestly, but she just… couldn’t. And the worst part? She’d already announced she was stopping, so she felt like she had to keep up the charade, like she couldn’t admit she was still struggling. It’s just… heartbreaking, you know? She felt trapped by her own words. I just get it, I really do!

It was really upsetting, constantly wondering why I couldn’t control it and feeling isolated because I didn’t think anyone else understood. I was with some friends once, including Katie, and they weren’t drinking alcohol.

 

Honestly, when that happened, I was just completely floored! I mean, I was there to have fun, to enjoy myself, and it was the opposite of that. The drink was supposed to be part of the good time, but it just wasn’t doing it for me at all. I was so confused and disappointed – it just wasn’t making me happy, and that was the whole point!

I suddenly wondered, if others could succeed, especially someone I knew, and if they managed to stay sober while doing it, what steps did they take?

‘And then as soon as I accepted I needed help, help was always there.’ 

After receiving treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at The Priory, Katie stopped drinking alcohol for a year.

Michelle has spoken about how her problems with alcohol started when she was in the band Liberty X. She shared that there were times when the band members would drink in the mornings before doing TV appearances.

She explained that she used to believe she couldn’t perform without alcohol, as she struggled with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. She thought having a drink would calm her nerves.

The first performances I did after finishing rehab felt completely new. I experienced a powerful, positive feeling afterward that I’d never allowed myself to feel before, because I used to numb everything with alcohol.

Michelle explained that rehab helped her overcome her alcohol addiction and also taught her how to manage her strong reactions and set healthy boundaries.

‘I’ve allowed myself to be in situations I should never have been in,’ she explained. 

I was a people-pleaser and said yes to everything, whether it was staying out late or hanging out with strangers. I didn’t know how to set limits or protect my own needs.

That’s not good for me in several ways – not just because of the alcohol, but also because it’s hurting my confidence and how I feel about myself.

After receiving treatment and understanding what aspects of my life I’d neglected, my perspective has shifted dramatically for the future.

Look, I’m not claiming to be perfect. I definitely have my moments – I can get frustrated and even lose my temper, and yeah, sometimes I yell. Life just is messy, and it happens to the best of us, right?

I used to get really upset over little things, but I’ve learned to not let them bother me as much. I’ve also gotten better at setting boundaries and saying no when I need to.

As someone who’s spent years observing patterns in well-being, I’ve seen how major life changes can really impact our habits. In my experience, Michelle’s story is a good example of that. She’s always been someone who tends to fully immerse herself in things – a trait that can be wonderful, but also a bit of a double-edged sword. She’s openly shared that she’s had a complex relationship with alcohol, and it unfortunately became much more problematic after a hysterectomy at 35. It really highlighted how vulnerable we can be when facing significant health challenges.

She discovered she had the BRCA2 mutation gene, giving her an increased risk of getting cancer.

To lower her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, Michelle proactively chose to have a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus.

She said the decision was straightforward because she faced a very high chance of something negative happening – about 85 percent. She admitted she hadn’t considered the potential outcomes and that her reaction to the situation wasn’t healthy.

Even though I wouldn’t trade my two healthy children, experiencing menopause so young really changed my life.

I understand why someone would turn to alcohol after that, and it certainly sped up the process of developing a problem.

It’s hard because people can’t see what’s happening with your hormones, and at that age, no one really opens up about these things with their friends. I felt like I didn’t belong.

I was really down and didn’t feel good about myself, so I didn’t want to socialize or be intimate with anyone. I turned to alcohol as a way to cope.

Michelle and her husband, Hugh Hanley, have two children: 13-year-old Faith and 10-year-old AJ. Because of a family history, Michelle has talked to Faith about the possibility of carrying the BRCA2 gene.

Michelle explained that her client knows she may want to get tested eventually, so it won’t come as a surprise when she does.

We rarely talk about this, but if it does come up, I mention she might consider getting tested. However, medical understanding has advanced so much that testing might not even be necessary.

I explained to her that even if she were diagnosed with it, she might not require a hysterectomy or double mastectomy.

It used to be incredibly upsetting to talk about this – I’d have cried just thinking about it. It’s really painful, and you end up feeling responsible, even though it was actually my grandmother who carried the genetic condition. Even my dad feels bad about it, despite knowing that’s the case.

Michelle is currently rehearsing for the Ultimate Girl Band Show, a production that will begin in January in Hornchurch and finish in October in Chatham.

Liberty X’s Michelle Heaton is hitting the road across the UK with West End vocalists for a concert celebrating the greatest hits of legendary girl groups like the Spice Girls, TLC, and the Pussycat Dolls.

Michelle explained that she’d wanted to tour for nearly 14 years, but raising her children always came first and the timing never felt right until now.

I still perform occasionally with Liberty X, but I needed to wait until my children were in high school before committing to a full tour, as my husband works full-time and we needed to balance everything.

I’m all about enjoying myself while performing and sharing music that celebrates women. This opportunity means a lot to me, and I’m grateful to be able to do what I’m passionate about.

Tickets for the Ultimate Girl Band Show are available at www.sweeneyentertainments.co.uk

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, you can get free help from Alcoholics Anonymous. Call 0800 917 7650 or email them at help@aamail.org.

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2025-11-09 18:20