What JoJo's Experience Watching Her Mom Overcome Addiction Taught Her About 'Letting Go of Any Shame' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.Photo:Courtesy of Clover Records

Courtesy of Clover Records

Writing a memoir was cathartic forJoanna “JoJo” Levesque.

Last year, the 34-year-old “Too Little Too Late” singer-songwriter opened up about the highs and lows of her life and career in her first bookOver the Influence, which connected with enough readers to earn a spot on theNew York Timesbestseller list. The experience changed her life.

“I didn’t realize how much I was holding onto before I released the book, and how much heaviness that I felt,” Levesque, who’s currently promoting her newNGLEP, tells PEOPLE. “I love writing songs, and I love singing, but this book was a hinge point in my life. I’ll never be the same, I think, after that — in a positive way.”

Joanna “JoJo” Levesque’s ‘Over the Influence’ book cover.Amazon

Amazon

Many stories from the book became major news stories, from reflections on child fame to run-ins with other celebrities. While she chose to leave out the names of stars with whom her interactions weren’t so positive, others she specified, like asupportive evening spent with Selena Gomez and Taylor Swiftat a time when she was unable to release music due to issues with a former record label.

SinceOver the Influencecame out, Levesque hasn’t heard from any of the famous names she wrote about, and that’s okay. “I had to accept, in sharing some stories, that people were going to have their feelings about it. Not everyone was going to understand where I was coming from or the point of sharing certain things,” she explains, noting she “never” intended to “go in” on any of her peers.

Putting her life into words wasn’t an easy or even always comfortable task. A large part of Levesque’s time spent growing up to parents Diana and Joel (who died in 2015) involved witnessing their respective journeys with addiction.

Joel Levesque and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.Diana Levesque and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.

Joel Levesque and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.

Diana Levesque and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.

Within the book’s pages, she recalled many heart-wrenching stories, from her mother’s mental health struggles and suicidal ideations to her late father’s use of substances and unwillingness to accept his daughter’s offers to help.

Before publishing the memoir, Levesque spoke to Diana about including some of their darkest moments. She was ultimately okay with the stories being told — and still feels as such knowing fans have now readOver the Influence, says the author.

“My mom is in the best place she’s ever been, that I’ve ever seen her in my life, so it’s pretty amazing that we’re both at this good place at the same time,” explains Levesque, who also opened up about her own addictive patterns in the book.

Noting that Diana is “proud” of what she’s accomplished with the book, she continues, “Her sobriety journey has really changed the way that she looks at things. She’s taught me a lot about letting go of any shame that we’ve been holding onto, individually and together.”

Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Another major theme ofOver the Influencewas Levesque battling with the desire to return to the major success she earned as a young star with early hits like “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little Too Late,” especially after her musical output slowed down due to the record label drama.

Eventually, she found a way to redefine success and therefore enjoy the creative process with less pressure on the commercial outcome. So, when her memoir became aNew York Timesbestseller, she took a moment to process the feat.

“It was very validating, and I had to check myself and be like, ‘Even if this didn’t happen, you’d still be worthy, and this is still a success and an accomplishment,'” says Levesque. “It was not something I expected.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com