Hilary Duff Reflects on Her Musical Return With New Album ‘luck … or something’ After Nearly a Decade: “I Was Really Ready to Reintroduce Myself”

After a ten-year break from releasing music following her 2015 album "Breathe In. Breathe Out.," Hilary Duff is officially making her return. In a recent conversation for Variety's "Know Their Lyrics" series, the performer discussed her early pop fame, the intense media pressure she faced, and why now is the ideal moment for her comeback. Her new track, "Mature," draws from a short-lived romance with an older partner and acts as a thoughtful conversation with her younger self, informed by the perspective of maturity. Duff conveyed a strong eagerness to reconnect with the fans who have matured right alongside her.

The new album, titled "luck … or something," is scheduled for release on February 20, 2026. The name comes directly from a lyric in the song "Adult Size Medium," which explores whether Duff still connects with the person she once was—including the former Disney star who came of age in the public spotlight. She explained that the phrase is a direct answer to a question she is often asked about how she avoided the common downfalls of early fame. Her response highlights a mix of chance and personal resilience: "Some of it was luck, and some of it was me."

Duff stressed that she intentionally waited for a moment that felt genuinely meaningful before stepping back into the music industry. "I never wanted to jump the gun and do something that didn't totally feel right," she said, noting that her current creative collaborations and personal growth have made this move feel completely genuine. This sense of confidence is a stark departure from her mindset ten years ago. Looking back on the "Breathe In. Breathe Out." era, she admitted she lacked a clear artistic vision at the time. "I'm really proud of this record, but it doesn't feel cohesive to me," she shared. "I was not really holding my own ground with knowing exactly what I was doing."

She recalled feeling particularly disconnected from certain songs, like "Sparks," whose music video left her questioning her own identity. Even though the track remains a fan favorite, Duff acknowledged she probably wouldn't have chosen to record it if the decision had been solely hers. This type of creative struggle is not unusual for artists who first find fame as teenagers. As entertainment psychologist Dr. Lena Torres notes, "Many artists who transition from teen fame struggle with creative ownership. Taking time away can be essential for developing an authentic artistic identity."

Despite the overwhelming scrutiny that defined early-2000s celebrity culture, Duff looks back on her initial music career with both warmth and amusement. She described her sudden rise as "a combination of not entirely knowing what I was doing and also being thrilled to be a pop star." Interestingly, singing wasn't her original goal. As a child, she started vocal training to help manage a speech impediment. "I ended up loving doing the voice lessons and exercises, but I wasn't like a singer," she remembered. It was her admiration for Britney Spears—the pop legend whose record-breaking success in the late 90s and early 2000s set a new standard for teen idols—that ultimately sparked her own pop ambitions. "I was like, well I'm also gonna be a pop star, so watch this," she joked.

As she prepares to share new music, Duff is especially looking forward to revisiting her older hits. "For the first time in a really long time, like 15 years maybe, I feel so excited to sing my old songs again," she revealed. She plans to reinterpret these classics in a way that feels both deeply personal and nostalgic, allowing her to perform them entirely on her own terms at last. "To kind of do it my way now—it's going to be a really lovely victory lap."