Belinda Carlisle, 67, Reflects on Aging and Sobriety Journey

The Go-Go's lead singer shares how she overcame addiction struggles to revive her music career and personal happiness.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Belinda Carlisle, the iconic '80s pop rock star known for hits like "We Got the Beat" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," is opening up about her journey with addiction and how aging has been the "ultimate glow-up" for her. The 67-year-old singer recently shared a throwback photo of herself wearing a garbage bag outfit in the late 1970s, contrasting it with a chic present-day photo. Carlisle credits the lack of social media during her tougher times for preserving her privacy, noting she would have been the "Lindsay Lohan of her time" if the platforms existed. After years of relapse, Carlisle found sobriety and now enjoys a fulfilling routine of daily chanting, continued musical accomplishments, and overall personal happiness.

Why it matters

Carlisle's story highlights the challenges many celebrities face with addiction and the importance of privacy, especially in the social media age. Her ability to overcome her struggles and revive her career serves as an inspiring example of resilience and the transformative power of sobriety. As a pioneering female musician, Carlisle's continued success also underscores the enduring appeal of her music and the Go-Go's legacy.

The details

In a recent Instagram post, Carlisle shared a photo of herself from the late 1970s wearing an all-black outfit made from a garbage bag, contrasting it with a chic present-day photo of her toting a Christian Dior bag. The singer revealed that she had saved up to buy the designer bag by eating oatmeal for a month back then. Carlisle has been open about her past struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, crediting the lack of social media during that time for preserving her privacy. She told Rolling Stone Australia that she would have been "the Lindsay Lohan of her time" if the platforms had existed. After years of relapse, Carlisle ultimately found sobriety and now enjoys a fulfilling routine that includes daily chanting and continued musical accomplishments, such as the recent release of her new album "Once Upon a Time in California."

  • In the late 1970s, Carlisle wore an outfit made from a garbage bag.
  • In August 2026, Carlisle released her new album "Once Upon a Time in California."

The players

Belinda Carlisle

The lead singer of the iconic 1980s pop rock band The Go-Go's, known for hits like "We Got the Beat" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth." Carlisle has had a successful solo career and recently released a new album.

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What they’re saying

“I would've been the Lindsay Lohan of my time! Oh my God, yeah. And even when everybody had a cell phone, they didn't have a camera [inbuilt] yet. So that would've been the end of me, that's for sure. Jesus! We were really lucky. None of that was around, so you could behave badly and chances were that no one ever heard about it.”

— Belinda Carlisle (Rolling Stone Australia)

“I thought, I'll just drink wine, and I won't do coke. I realized that in order to continue with my career — which was in the toilet — the most important thing was to get sober. I remember playing this little club in Northampton at the end of my drinking and using. There were 12 people in the audience, and my dressing room was a closet for cleaning materials, mops, and brooms. I thought, Wow. I was able to turn things around, but I wouldn't have been able to if I had been behaving in the way I was before I got sober.”

— Belinda Carlisle (The Sunday Times)

What’s next

Carlisle continues to share her journey with fans on social media and through her music, with plans to promote her new album and potentially tour in the coming year.

The takeaway

Belinda Carlisle's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative impact of sobriety. Her ability to overcome addiction struggles and revive her music career serves as an inspiring example, particularly for female artists navigating the challenges of fame and the changing entertainment landscape.