Hilary Duff Opens Up About Old Romance Rumors, Family Struggles and Her Long-Awaited Music Comeback

Millennial pop icon Hilary Duff has officially returned to music after more than a decade — and she’s not holding back. Her brand-new album, “luck… or something,” produced alongside her husband Matthew Koma, marks a deeply personal chapter in her life and career.

After launching her first headlining tour in 18 years, Duff has been trending across social media, giving longtime fans a nostalgic return to her early-2000s era while introducing a more mature sound shaped by life experiences, motherhood and healing.

A Confident Return to the Stage

Before stepping onstage during her comeback tour, Duff shared a lighthearted ritual that keeps her grounded.

Speaking to CBS Mornings, she revealed she looks in the mirror and tells herself:

“You’re a bad b****. You got this.”

It’s a moment that reflects how far she has come since her Disney Channel beginnings — no longer the teenage star trying to prove herself, but a confident artist reclaiming her voice.

Moving Beyond the Lizzie McGuire Legacy

Hilary Duff first became a household name in 2001 with “Lizzie McGuire,” a role that defined an entire generation. But stepping out of that image proved difficult.

She admitted that distancing herself from the character took years:

“I think only something that I’ve come to realize in my thirties… was like, oh, it’s just complicated to play a role on TV that doesn’t ever grow up.”

At one point, she struggled with being constantly associated with the character, but now she embraces it with gratitude.

“And now I don’t care at all. And I am so overwhelmingly grateful for that experience.”

During her break from music, Duff focused on building her personal life. Now a mother of four, she says her family remains her greatest achievement.

New Album Inspired by Real Life

Her new album, created with husband Matthew Koma — whom she met while working on her previous album in 2015 — explores themes of vulnerability, healing and abandonment.

“There’s a lot of themes of abandonment on the record,” Duff said.

Writing these songs with Koma helped him understand her emotional scars more deeply, turning the project into both a creative and personal milestone.

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Rumors About an Older Romance in “Mature”

One of the most talked-about tracks on the album is “Mature,” where Duff sings about a past relationship with an older man. Fans quickly speculated that the song references actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Duff has intentionally kept the mystery alive:

“I have had so much fun watching the internet stir about this. There is no way I can say yes or no. It’s too much fun.”

However, she did confirm the story is drawn from her own life:

“It was very brief with someone older than me… not illegal, but inappropriate when you have this much time removed from it.”

Confronting Family Tensions Through Music

Relationship With Her Father

In the song “The Optimist,” Duff reflects on the complicated relationship with her father and how success affected their bond.

“I think it’s really challenging for one person to have major success in a family.”

She acknowledged that rebuilding a healthy relationship has been difficult over the years.

Rift With Sister Haylie Duff

Perhaps the most emotional moment on the album comes in “We Don’t Talk,” a song about her strained relationship with sister Haylie Duff.

“It’s definitely about my sister. And just absolutely the most lonely part of my existence is not having my sister in my life at the moment.”

Duff admitted she doesn’t know how Haylie will react to the song but felt compelled to share her truth.

“It’s literally just my experience — and that’s really all I feel like sharing.”

A More Honest, Mature Hilary Duff

With this comeback, Duff isn’t just revisiting her pop roots — she’s redefining herself as an artist willing to confront painful memories, complicated relationships and personal growth.

Her return signals a new era that blends nostalgia with emotional depth, resonating with longtime fans who grew up alongside her.

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