Lauren Alaina dropped by the Good Morning America studios Tuesday morning to chat with host Robin Roberts about her new album, Road Less Traveled.
Before performing the title track for the studio audience, the season 10 American Idol runner-up chatted about the journey she took writing her long-awaited sophomore record.
“When I had the first album I was 16,” the 22 year old singer explained. “On American Idol I had a lot of pressure.” “[There were] a lot of people with a lot of opinions,” Lauren explained about her online critics, “and they’re not always nice.”
Lauren had an eating disorder before she competed on American Idol, and the pressure of performing in front of millions of people only made it worse. “I wrote this album as I got better,” Lauren said. “And I didn’t know how to put the album out without being honest. I feel like that’s what music is all about.”
The singer was all smiles as she described getting healthy. “I just lost 21 pounds without a single bad habit!” she gushed. “I’m working with Atkins and I have a trainer. And I’ve had really great people in my life that have taught me how to do it the right way. Which I did not think was possible when I was 16.” She added, “I’m so excited…I have abs! I went from flabs to abs guys!
When Roberts noted that the new album is “uplifting” and “about self acceptance” Lauren explained that her new single “Road Less Traveled” is all about her eating disorder and the things she went through over the last few years.
“I had a crazy couple of years,” Lauren shared: “My dad’s an alcoholic. He went through rehab when my mom asked for a divorce. October 6 was my dad’s 3 year anniversary of being sober. I’m so proud of him!”
“I’m doing great now!” she added.
Watch Lauren Alaina’s Good Morning America interview and “Road Less Traveled” performance right here.
