Hilary Duff Gets Emotional Over Estrangement From Sister Haylie

Hilary Duff opens up about her estranged relationship from her sister Haylie, sharing how their relationship has changed over the years.

Hilary Duff is opening up about a difficult chapter in her family life. The singer is addressing her estrangement from her sister, Haylie Duff, speaking candidly about the distance between them. While Hilary acknowledged that their relationship is strained, she kept the details of their situation private.

Hilary And Haylie Duff Have Lost Touch

While Hilary and Haylie have reportedly had a strained relationship for years, the singer is now speaking openly about how the distance has impacted her.

On March 9, the Disney alum appeared on the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" to have a conversation about growth, her return to music, and being a child star. At one point, Shetty read the lyrics to Hilary's new song, "We Don't Talk," which she said was about her sister in past interviews.

"My sister and I don't speak. And I think in my adulthood I've come across more and more people that are having this experience," Hilary said in response, adding, "I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now."

The Duff sisters grew up in the spotlight and had a close relationship in their early years, often supporting each other as their careers in entertainment blossomed.

The Singer Became Emotional Talking About Her Song

Hilary released her latest album, "Luck... or Something," on February 20, and she explained the thought process behind the record. The singer drew on her life experiences, and although she said it was "painful" to share, she chose to write about what she went through.

"That's my truth. And I really worked hard to lyrically make sure that I'm just speaking about my experience, you know?" the singer told Shetty.

In "We Don't Talk," Hilary sings about her relationship with Haylie: "People ask me how you're doing / I wanna say, 'Amazing' / But the truth is that I don't know / What I always end up saying is how / We don't talk."

In another line, she sings, "And if it's 'cause you're jealous / God knows I would sell it all / Then break you off the bigger half."

Hilary Duff Doesn't Know How Haylie Will React To Her Song

In an interview with "CBS Mornings" in February, the "Lizzie McGuire" star asked if she would like Haylie to hear "We Don't Talk." In response, she said she didn't think hearing the song would help their relationship. Instead, she's just focusing on what "feels good" for her.

"I don't know how she'll react to it. But it is a really personal part of my life that doesn't get to stay personal, so I might as well say how it is for me as an experience," she explained.

According to the singer, there isn't a bad intention behind writing the song. She's simply singing about her experience and her feelings amid the ongoing rift between her and Haylie. "That's really all I feel like sharing," she added.

Hilary And Haylie Duff Had A Close Relationship

Hilary and Haylie Duff rose to fame together and once had a close relationship. Hilary rose to fame when she starred as the titular character on "Lizzie McGuire" in the early 2000s, while Haylie, who is two years older, appeared in the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" and the TV series "7th Heaven."

The sisters got to work together when Haylie appeared in a few episodes of "Lizzie McGuire," playing the role of Amy Sanders.

In 2015, the Duff sisters talked about how their relationship evolved as they became parents. They supported each other and were ecstatic about raising their children together. "It's pretty awesome. It was something that we've wanted since we were little -- to one day have kids together -- so we're pretty pumped," Haylie told People.

It isn't clear what started the rift between them. They were last photographed in public together in 2019.

Hilary Duff Also Wrote A Song About Her Father

Haylie isn't the only family member who was written about. Hilary also penned the song "The Optimist" about her father, Robert. The father and daughter have a complicated relationship, telling Shetty, "My dad and I don't really have much of a relationship, and we don't speak very often. It's hard because I think there's not a whole bunch of answers."

In "The Optimist," Hilary sings, "He'd tell me how he wished he'd stayed / And that he never meant to disappoint me / But 'til then I'll exist as the optimist."

Hilary's parents divorced in 2008 after two decades of marriage. Her father was unfaithful, and the family patriarch got involved in a legal battle and was sent to jail for selling family assets without the court's approval.