Disney star Demi Lovato is leaving her hit show Sonny with a Chance to focus solely on her music career. The announcement comes just six months after Lovato had a nervous breakdown and checked herself into a rehab center in Illinois.
Speaking to PEOPLE the 18-year-old said:
“It made sense for me to go ahead and leave the show to focus on my music,” while adding, “It’s kind of sad for me that a chapter of my life has ended but there couldn’t be a better time for me to move on. I don’t think going back to Sonny would be healthy for my recovery.”
Lovato also told People:
“Being in front of a camera would make me nervous.”
Lovato has only helmed the children’s show since 2010 and Disney seems to be fully behind her decision to focus on her music career, releasing the following statement:
“We respect Demi’s decision to focus fulltime on her music and not immediately return to her acting career. She is a talented young woman and our hearts are with her as she continues to take action to improve her health and bounce back from adversity.”
Show producers had already been working on a way to change up the show should Lovato not return, it will now be renamed So Random! and will be turned into a sketch comedy show that will debut in June.
Disney in large part chose to support Lovato’s decision because she records her music under the Disney owned Hollywood Records.