Paris Jackson reveals key influence behind her sobriety journey

Ahead of her upcoming album HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE, Paris Jackson has opened up about her sobriety journey.

On August 17, 2026, the singer and actress appeared on the podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, she openly talked about her experience and sobriety journey. “I do believe that it’s through hearing other people’s stories of recovery that I was able to open my ears and find recovery myself,” Paris said.

Adding, “It’s almost like a word of mouth and giving of experience, strength and hope to each other that helps us stay sober. This beautiful community that can exist, and I think for people outside of that, it’s not really for them.”

“It’s interesting,” she said remarkably.

“I’ve definitely spent several years where the sobriety has been celebrated, and it’s been this amazing piece of connection for me and these people that I love so deeply, and then I’ll see maybe someone’s reaction that doesn’t understand and maybe someone’s reaction that’s on the outside of it,” Paris further added.

Reflecting on the time of her recovery the guest explained how all the past struggles are now viewed by her as a positive force, saying, “Once I actually went from seeking recovery to being in recovery, I’ve started seeing it as, this is my superpower.”

“I now see that my experience can benefit other people.”

Noting, “My deepest moments of suffering, once I transform them and alchemize them, they can become very potent pieces of medicine for other people. What a gift.”

“And so that’s been my perspective, and then when I hear the exact opposite from someone else, it’s like, ‘Whoa,’ you know? It’s very startling,” she further noted.

Moreover, Michael Jackson’s daughter described how the lived recovery stories of the people who had faced greater struggles than her, helped her conquer her own challenges, “I’ve been in situations where I’m talking to someone that has never had a drink or a drug, and they’ve never even smoked a cigarette, and they’re trying to tell me about my heroin addiction. I’m not going to listen to them. Like, respectfully, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She continued, “But then I hear someone whose story is so much worst than mine, or they’ve just seen more and been through more and done more. ‘If they can get it, I can get it’ kind of thing.”

“It’s a tricky line to kind of tread as far as talking about these things on podcasts or interviews and things like that because I by no means want to be a spokesperson for sobriety, but sharing my story is something that has helped me. Hearing other people’s stories has helped me. So if I can pay that forward, absolutely.” she revealed further.