At 64 years old, Irish country star Daniel O’Donnell has finally opened up about the loss that changed him forever — the passing of his beloved mother, Julia, who died exactly 11 years ago today.
In a recent interview, Daniel spoke with rare vulnerability.
He recalled that day in May 2014, when the world seemed to stop.
“She wasn’t just my mother,” he said, his voice trembling. “She was my anchor, my guide, my reason for singing.”
Daniel admitted that for many years, he couldn’t bring himself to speak publicly about the grief. The pain was simply too deep. “I carried it quietly,” he shared, “and I felt that if I talked about it, it might break me.”
But this year… something changed.
On the 11th anniversary of Julia’s passing, Daniel did something no one expected — something that left fans stunned and deeply moved:
He released a private video of himself and his mother singing together, recorded many years ago in their family home. The clip, simple and unedited, shows Julia smiling beside her son, her voice fragile but filled with warmth.
The post was captioned only with four words:
“Take good care of her.”
Fans from around the world flooded the comments with tears and gratitude.
“She’s still with you, Daniel.”
“I’ve never cried like this for someone I didn’t know.”
“Now I understand where your soul comes from.”
For Daniel, this wasn’t just a tribute — it was a final gift. A way to say all the things he never could. A way to heal.
And maybe, just maybe, a way to let go.