Selena Gomez Says She May Retire From Music After Next Album

The singer-songwriter spoke about the possibility of retirement in her April cover story for 'Vogue': "I’ve been like, ‘Why do I keep doing this?'"

March 9, 2021

Selana Gomez — Image via Getty/Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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Selena Gomez says she wants to give music “one last try” before possibly stepping away for good.

The 28-year-old singer-songwriter hinted at retirement in her candid interview in Vogue magazine’s April issue. Though she’s had a lot of success throughout her decade-long career—securing multiple awards, platinum certifications, and chart-topping albums—Gomez said she suggested her music doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, as some perceive her as a non-serious artist.

“It’s hard to keep doing music when people don’t necessarily take you seriously. I’ve had moments where I’ve been like, ‘What’s the point? Why do I keep doing this?’” she told magazine. “‘Lose You to Love Me’ I felt was the best song I’ve ever released, and for some people it still wasn’t enough. I think there are a lot of people who enjoy my music, and for that I’m so thankful, for that I keep going, but I think the next time I do an album it’ll be different. I want to give it one last try before I maybe retire music.”

When pressed about the retirement admission, Gomez expressed a bit of hesitation, insisting she may not leave music entirely and may simply pivot to working more behind the scenes.

“I need to be careful,” she said, before saying she wanted to produce more and give “a real shot at acting.”

Gomez began her career in children’s programming, landing a role in Barney & Friends at age 10, before being casted in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. Gomez, like many child stars, said she is often concerned that others won’t be able to separate her early work from what she’s creating as an adult: “I still live with this haunting feeling that people still view me as this Disney girl.”

Gomez’s last full-length release was 2020’s Rare, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. More than a year later, she is now gearing up to release a Spanish language EP titled Revelación. The project is set to arrive next week, and will include the previously released tracks “De Una Vez” and “Baila Conmigo.”

“The project is really an homage to my heritage,” Gomez said about Revelación. “… A lot of my fan base is Latin, and I’ve been telling them this album was going to happen for years. But the fact that it’s coming out during this specific time is really cool.”

You can read Gomez’s full Vogue cover story here.