Willa Ford, 45, who was pals with Paris Hilton and posed for Playboy, releases first album in 24 years after overcoming PNES

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I remember when Willa Ford burst onto the music scene in the early 2000s! She was absolutely amazing, right up there with all the other pop stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore. It was such an exciting time for music, and I was a huge fan of all of them!

She was also friends with Paris Hilton and posed for Playboy magazine in March 2006.

However, she unexpectedly left the music industry. Ford then pursued a career in interior design and also took up acting, famously portraying Anna Nicole Smith in a 2007 biographical film.

The singer, now 45, recently shared a frightening health scare that motivated her return to music. It’s also the inspiration behind her new album – her first since releasing “Willa Was Here” in 2001, which included her popular single, “I Wanna Be Bad.”

In a recent interview with People magazine, Ford discussed the non-epileptic seizures she began experiencing in December 2023. These seizures, known as PNES, are not caused by brain abnormalities.

Okay, so I’ve been researching this obsessively, and it turns out these things aren’t about, like, brain malfunctions or anything scary like that! The Cleveland Clinic says it’s all down to stress – just regular psychological stress. That’s… actually kind of a relief, honestly. It’s not some random electrical storm in your head, it’s just… stress. I knew it! I just knew there had to be a reasonable explanation.

Although debilitating attacks left her unable to drive or work, Ford – known for her interior design work with Scott Disick on the E! show Flip It Like Disick – persevered through the challenges.

‘The seizures are what made me decide I wasn’t done living,’ Ford told the outlet.

I was absolutely devastated to learn what was causing her health issues! Apparently, those scary seizures weren’t just random – they were linked to something awful that happened to her way back when she was first starting out in music. It’s just so heartbreaking! But you know what’s amazing? She’s using songwriting now – writing her way through it, and honestly, it’s the most beautiful, powerful thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like she’s taking all that pain and turning it into art, and I’m just so incredibly proud of her.

‘That’s all I could do,’ Ford explained.

She still experiences episodes roughly once a month, but therapy and medication for anxiety have made things much easier. She also has a medication she takes when her symptoms become severe.

Ford wouldn’t elaborate about the trauma she suffered during the height of her pop music era.

This wasn’t about my record label, anyone I work with, or anything related to the music industry. It’s an incredible story that almost sounds made up,” the Florida native explained.

But she did suggest something unsavory happened to her by ‘this person’ when she was 25.

That said, she’s focused on healing, not revenge.

Getting even with this person wouldn’t benefit me personally; focusing on my own healing and progress is what truly matters. I’ve accepted what happened, processed it, and forgiven those involved, allowing me to move forward. My new album, ‘amanda,’ hints at the difficult experiences I’ve overcome, but ultimately it’s about my journey to recovery, as Ford explained.

The information is out there, and we’re beginning to question people who were once considered heroes, realizing they may not be as admirable as we thought.

‘For me to just lay down and just give up in a way, that’s not like me. It never was.’

Marissa Ford, who shares two children with her husband, former NFL player Ryan Nece, 47, expressed her excitement about the possibility of touring with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore, calling it ‘a dream come true’.

She said, ‘Every night [we’d be] like, “You’re the s—, you’re the s—, you’re the s—.’

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2026-03-07 01:18