British pop star Jessie J has candidly reflected on how her breast cancer diagnosis reshaped her outlook on life, revealing how she learned to embrace different versions of herself during a challenging and transformative period.
Speaking to fans during a stop on her No Secrets Tour at New York City’s Irving Plaza on Wednesday, January 28, the 37-year-old singer shared that last year marked a profound shift in her mindset. She described 2025 as “the year of perspective,” explaining that the experience taught her to carefully choose her battles and focus on what truly matters.
Jessie J publicly announced her breast cancer diagnosis in June 2025, just days before releasing her album Don’t Tease Me with a Good Time. Recalling the moment with her trademark humor, she joked that receiving the diagnosis shortly before her first album release in years was “the rudest thing” her body could have done. She also acknowledged how people often struggle to react when she uses humor to talk about cancer, but said joking helped her cope.
Looking back, the singer described the period as a “weird time” that required her personal self, Jessica, and her public persona, Jessie J, to support one another. She explained that all her roles—as a parent, performer, friend, sister, daughter, and mother—eventually merged into one stronger identity.
Rather than feeling like she was becoming someone new, Jessie said she learned to fully accept who she already was. Addressing questions about her recovery, she said being alive and able to sing mattered most to her.
Jessie J also offered encouragement to others facing similar struggles, urging them to hold on, stay positive, and believe in the power of the mind to help heal the body from within.