At the bustling Billboard House during SXSW, Grammy-winning artist Corinne Bailey Rae and rising star Ravyn Lenae engaged in a candid conversation about the often-unseen challenges of navigating mental health within the exhilarating yet demanding landscape of the music industry. The discussion, part of the inaugural episode of Billboard’s "Like Minded" series, saw the two singers share personal insights into how they’ve coped with the pressures of fame, offering a relatable perspective for artists and fans alike.
The Weight of Acclaim: Navigating Success and Solitude
The "Like Minded" series, moderated by Billboard’s Delisa Shannon and Dr. Russell DuBois of Better Help, provided a platform for Rae and Lenae to delve into the psychological toll that widespread recognition can exact. Both artists, having experienced significant career milestones in different eras of music, offered a nuanced view on how success can be both a profound reward and a source of considerable personal struggle. Their willingness to speak openly about these issues underscores a growing trend of vulnerability and mental health advocacy within the entertainment world.
Corinne Bailey Rae, whose breakthrough came in the mid-2000s with her self-titled debut album in 2006, is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of that LP. Her ascent was meteoric, transitioning from intimate bar performances to commanding global arenas. This period was marked by surreal encounters, including meeting musical legends like Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, and even a memorable appearance by Prince at one of her early U.S. shows. The sheer scale of this transformation, Rae explained, felt "dreamlike," representing a period of immense change where her music transcended geographical boundaries and connected with an unknown, vast audience.
"It was a huge time of transformation," Rae shared, reflecting on her early career. "Coming from being in a band, where everybody who you knew in the audience was the full extent of the people who got to connect with the music to having a record where it just flew across the world and I had no idea who was connecting with it." This sense of disconnection, despite widespread acclaim, laid the groundwork for the mental health discussions that followed.
Solitude Amidst the Spotlight
Ravyn Lenae’s journey to the pinnacle of the charts, while perhaps more recent, also presented its own unique set of challenges. Her hit single "Love Me Not" reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025, a significant achievement that, from the outside, signaled unwavering success. However, Lenae revealed the less visible struggles that accompanied this professional triumph. The Chicago native found herself grappling with the isolation that can accompany such rapid growth, yearning for personal connection and normalcy while her professional life became increasingly demanding.
"What you don’t expect is the loneliness of it," Lenae admitted candidly. She recounted a moment on tour where, despite everything going well professionally, she found herself crying in her hotel room, bewildered by her own emotional state. The absence of family, the inability to engage in simple joys, and the stark realization of an impending, intensely scheduled future weighed heavily on her. This feeling of being adrift, even while surrounded by fans and industry professionals, highlighted the often-overlooked psychological price of fame.
Lenae also touched upon her engagement with mental health support, mentioning that she had previously sought therapy. While she has temporarily stepped away from regular visits, she expressed an intention to resume therapy sessions, underscoring the ongoing nature of mental well-being management.
The Ever-Changing Seasons of an Artist’s Life
Corinne Bailey Rae resonated deeply with Lenae’s sentiments, commending her honesty. Rae offered a perspective on the transient nature of career highs, a lesson she wished she had fully grasped earlier in her own journey. "The idea your life is changing and it will never change back," she mused. "I wish somebody said to me that all these things are for a season. They’ll be a season where you’re the hottest thing on the planet. But guess what? It won’t last forever." This philosophical outlook on the cyclical nature of the music industry can be a powerful tool for managing expectations and maintaining emotional equilibrium.
Rae’s own experience was further complicated by profound personal tragedy. Amidst her burgeoning career success, her husband, Jason Rae, passed away in 2008 from an accidental overdose. This devastating loss occurred during a period of intense professional growth, presenting an unimaginable dual burden of grief and public scrutiny. She likened her career to that of a surfer, emphasizing that one does not need to catch every wave, acknowledging the inevitable highs and lows that define an artist’s trajectory. This metaphor speaks to the importance of pacing oneself, choosing battles, and understanding that periods of intense activity are often followed by periods of calm, or even challenge.
The Evolving Conversation Around Artist Well-being
The dialogue between Rae and Lenae at SXSW is indicative of a broader shift within the music industry. There is an increasing recognition of the mental health challenges faced by artists, moving beyond the superficial glamour to address the underlying pressures. This candid exchange serves as a vital reminder that success, while desirable, does not immunize individuals from the complexities of their own minds.
The "Like Minded" series, by bringing together established and emerging artists to discuss such critical issues, aims to foster a more supportive and understanding environment within the industry. By normalizing conversations about mental health, it encourages artists to prioritize their well-being, seek help when needed, and develop sustainable strategies for navigating the demanding realities of a life in the public eye. The series intends to continue this crucial dialogue with future episodes, promising further insights from influential figures in the music world.
Broader Implications for the Industry and Public
The impact of such conversations extends far beyond the immediate audience at SXSW. In an era where social media often presents a curated, seemingly flawless version of celebrity lives, Rae and Lenae’s honesty offers a much-needed counter-narrative. It humanizes artists, reminding the public that they are individuals grappling with universal human experiences, albeit amplified by the pressures of fame.
This openness can empower fans, particularly young people who may look up to these artists, to acknowledge and address their own mental health concerns. By hearing from successful figures that it is not only acceptable but necessary to prioritize mental well-being, it can reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, it prompts the music industry itself to consider more robust support systems for its artists, from mental health resources to more sustainable touring and work practices.
The collaborative effort between Billboard and Better Help in presenting the "Like Minded" series highlights a growing commitment from major media and support organizations to address these vital issues. As the series progresses, its influence is likely to grow, contributing to a more psychologically aware and supportive landscape for artists and the broader public alike. The discussions initiated by Corinne Bailey Rae and Ravyn Lenae at Billboard House are a testament to the power of open dialogue in fostering resilience and promoting well-being in the face of extraordinary professional achievements.
