Paris Jackson Credits Music as Sobriety Lifeline, Details 'Ugly Behavior' From Drinking
The artist explains why she suppressed music as a hobby for years and how her perspective changed completely after getting clean.
"That was kind of the only thing that got me through the hard times before I got sober, was music," Paris Jackson said in a new vlog, according to an exclusive report from OK! Magazine on July 19, 2026. The singer and model, who recently marked six years of sobriety, opened up about her journey and the central role music played in pulling her through.
In the vlog, Jackson described how her perspective on music deepened after getting clean. "That was kind of the only thing that got me through the hard times before I got sober, was music. When I got sober, it helped me be like, 'Oh wow, music really is everything. "I was pretty scared to start doing music because I've kind of been playing guitar since I was 13 or 14. And I just suppressed it as a hobby."
The Turning Point
That fear subsided in her early 20s. "In my like early 20s, I was like, 'I can't do this anymore. It's what makes me happy, and I just have to do that.'
Jackson has also been candid about how alcohol altered her personality before sobriety, leading to what she has previously described as "ugly" and vindictive behavior. She has explained that drinking made her act in ways that conflicted with the moral compass instilled in her upbringing.
The musician has also disclosed a physical reminder of her past struggles: years of substance abuse have left her with a perforated septum—a hole in the cartilage separating her nostrils. She has chosen not to surgically repair it due to concerns about needing powerful painkillers during recovery.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Paris Jackson say about music and sobriety?
She said music was "the only thing" that got her through hard times before she got sober and that it's "like the air I breathe."
How long has Paris Jackson been sober?
She recently marked six years of sobriety.
What physical effect did substance abuse have on Paris Jackson?
It left her with a perforated septum, a hole in the cartilage separating her nostrils.
Why won't she fix the hole in her septum?
She is concerned about the powerful painkillers required during surgical recovery.
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