> At a Glance
> – Lily Allen says daughters Ethel (14) and Marnie (12) are “mental” after relocating from the U.S. and restarting her music career
> – The family moved countries, schools, and houses after her split from David Harbour in 2024
> – Allen spent five years as a stay-at-home mum and is now juggling work and single motherhood
> – Why it matters: The singer’s candid look at major family upheaval shows how career comebacks can shake up kids’ lives
Lily Allen is learning that going back on the road hits different when your teens are watching. Fresh off a trans-Atlantic move and a divorce, the 40-year-old told a live taping of her Miss Me? podcast that her daughters are re-writing their image of her.
Life Overhaul
Allen told the London audience the last 18 months have been a whirlwind: swapping America for the U.K., switching schools for her girls, and stepping into single-mum life after four years of marriage to David Harbour.
> “My kids are f—ing mental at the moment. They are really developing their personalities. It’s just a lot. There’s a lot of questions.”
- House move
- Country move
- New schools
- New friendship circles
- The looming topic of boyfriends
Career vs. Couch
The Smile singer spent half a decade packing lunches before the work offers rolled back in. Now flights, studios, and promo shoots fill her calendar-something her daughters have never seen.
> “The last five years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mum. And now I’m a single mum that has to work and suddenly has a lot of opportunities on my plate.”
Allen says the girls get it-nice things cost money-but the emotional adjustment is rocky.
Honest Parenting
Speaking to British Vogue in October, Allen said she’s done sugar-coating motherhood for Ethel and Marnie. She wants them to see the messy middle so they can make different choices.
> “I felt totally gas-lit by my mum about motherhood. I need to show them that, yeah, we’ve been through something f—— devastating-twice now-and that I can get us through.”
Key Takeaways
- Lily Allen‘s return to music coincides with major life changes for her daughters.
- The family relocated from the U.S. to the U.K. after her 2024 split from David Harbour.
- After five years at home, Allen is balancing touring with solo parenting.
- She believes brutal honesty about motherhood will help her girls navigate their own futures.
As Allen juggles tour dates and teen drama, the singer sees the chaos as a teachable moment-for all three of them.
