People - Pop musician Michelle: "I was never a child"
The singer Michelle, whose real name is Tanja Hewer, drew a personal balance as she announced her retirement. She stated in an interview with "Zeit" that music had given her support during her harsh childhood. "Michelle was also a kind of refuge for me," she recounted. "My mother was an alcoholic, my father was violent. I lived with a foster family, then on the street, and worked in a bar. There I met a couple. They gave me a room, in return I took care of their two children. The couple had a band and when their singer fell ill, I took over. That's how I was catapulted from the street to the stage."
Schlaganfall and Hundesalon
In 1993, she released her first single. Her new album "Flutlicht," which was released today, is said to be her last. Born in Villingen-Schwenningen, the artist reached the top spots in the charts, was a regular guest on television shows, filled concert halls, and earned gold and platinum for her sold albums. With the song "Wer Liebe lebt," she represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001.
She had already announced her retirement twice. The first time was after suffering a stroke. Following that, she opened a dog salon. "Many laughed at that," she said. "But for me, it was the opportunity to do a job that fulfilled me and be around animals. That healed me."
"Trusting the wrong people" - Words about her private insolvency
In 2008, she was privately insolvent. Her statement: "Money would have been a decisive factor for me, then the insolvency would not have happened. I would have taken care of my finances. Instead, I trusted the wrong people."
Currently, she is engaged to the 27-year-old musician Eric Philippi. The couple lives in Saarland. Hewer was married twice. She has three children, including a daughter with Schlagermusiker Matthias Reim. To her ex-partners, she has good relationships.
Good relationships with ex-partners
"We stay in touch, only because of our children," she said. "That's a responsibility. Even when the common path comes to an end, one must part ways in a good way. Not hating each other. And above all, not using the child as a means to get back at the partner. I have always managed to maintain good relationships with my ex-partners. I am very grateful for that."
The musician added, "Things get easier as you get older. I don't really know what it's like to be old. I was never a child, but I'm also not old. I still feel like I'm 32. I still jump into the pool with a water bomb."
- Despite facing challenges in her personal life, including a harsh childhood with an alcoholic mother and a violent father, the pop singer Michelle found solace in music.
- Michelle, whose music career took off when she filled in for a band member and caretaking for foster children, became a successful single in the German music scene.
- The children she cared for played a significant role in her early musical career, as they introduced her to music and encouraged her talent.
- The pop singer worked hard to build a relationship with her fans, performing in concert halls and earning gold and platinum awards for her sold albums.
- Although Michelle faced financial struggles and privately went bankrupt in 2008, she maintained good relationships with her ex-partners, particularly for the sake of their shared children.
- Having settled in Saarland with her current partner, the 27-year-old musician Eric Philippi, Michelle continues to embrace her youthful spirit and enjoys activities like swimming with water bombs.
