It was all "highlights, ten out of ten," at this year's Leading Ladies event with Hilary Duff at Hard Rock Hotel New York. The "Roommates" singer brought a mix of new and nostalgia, celebrating the release of her album, luck... or something, while also honoring the hits that helped make her an icon.
LISTEN NOW: Hilary Duff at Audacy's 'Leading Ladies'
Before her set, Hilary sat down with NEW 102.7's Karen Carson to talk about her journey through the industry, discuss the making of her latest project, and celebrate the important women in her life during Women's History Month.
"I think there's a comfort in my age I will say for sure," Hilary shares on why now felt like the right time to return after 10 years away. "Just having lived more life and having more stories to tell and and more experiences that I've lived through."
"After having my 4th child, I think I got really itchy to like purge and perform and just have a serious creative outlet," she adds. "To express myself and connect with people again. I don't always know the why. I just looked at Matt one day and I was like, 'I wanna make a record,' and he was like, 'great, let's do this. How do you wanna do it? What do you wanna say?' I think I felt safe and I maybe didn't, you know, 10 years ago quite have that confidence in myself, and didn't feel as ready to share then, and I did now."
Empowerment looks a little different to Duff these days, operating with some well-earned confidence and comfort in her own skin. "I think it looks different every day," she says. "I think it looks like an acceptance of yourself, and some days you do feel really strong and really powerful and some days you don't, and it's OK to have both existing at the same time."
"I think when you're a little younger that feels uncomfortable and when you're older you're like, 'oh I recognize what this is and tomorrow is doesn't mean the same thing.' I think getting older and saying no a little more often feels very powerful. I think being less apologetic for how you feel or what you want feels, you know, very powerful and, just like living and being your authentic self."
With a massive tour on the horizon, Hilary admits she's still figuring out how the family will be along for the ride, balancing 4 kids with the itinerary for the lucky me tour. "I have a base of people that we lean on and we love and they're my kids' family as well," she reveals. "They'll come in for a few days, go away for a few days. I'm playing shows almost every night so it's a lot of demand on me and my body and I miss them but... it's something I have to compartmentalize and be like, 'OK, this looks like a crazy month. Next month I'm gonna have a lot of time with them.'"
"We're constantly prepping them in advance so there's not like anxiety around me leaving and stuff, but it's hard. I honestly get really emotional thinking about missing the things that, for the past 10 years I've chosen them and building our family and our life and being a mother and I will always be a mom, but I'm putting myself first for a little while and it's very hard to do."
To hear Hilary's advice for her younger self, her feelings creating an album with her husband, and much more, check out the full conversation above.