Shakira says happiness isn’t a luxury for everyone as she discusses her split from ex Gerard Piqué: ‘I can’t say I’m part of the club at this moment’

Shakira has opened up about how she is coping following the break-up of her relationship with ex Gerard Piqué over cheating allegations.

The mother-of-two, 46, admitted it was a ‘long answer’ when asked if she was feeling happy at the moment, summarizing that she can’t say she is.

Speak with Billboard about her life after the breakup, Shakira explained how she manages to balance raising her two sons and her revived music career.

Musing on her current state of mind, Shakira said, “I don’t think everyone has access to happiness. It’s reserved for a very select group of people, and I can’t say I’m part of the club at the moment.”

Shakira’s career goes from strength to strength. She recently became the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs. She is also among the top nominees at the upcoming Latin Grammy Awards.

Shakira says she channeled the pain of her breakup into her music, which has proven to be a big hit with fans.

However, Shakira admitted, “Nothing can compensate for the pain that comes with destroying a family.”

She said: ‘Of course I have to continue for the sake of my children; that is my biggest motivation. But my biggest dream, more than collecting platinum albums and Grammys, was to raise my sons with their father. Overcome obstacles and grow old together. I know I don’t understand that right now.’

Shakira’s most notable recent work is her diss track, Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53, which details a story of betrayal amid accusations of infidelity on the part of Gerard, who is now in a relationship with Clara Chia Marti, 26.

It seems Shakira has managed to pull off the classic move of using your art to exercise your demons, as she has had six chart-topping hits over the past twelve months, in the wake of her divorce from Pique, according to Billboard.

All six hits refer to Gerard’s divorce, which varies in emotions from great sadness to anger and ultimately the hope of what will happen in the future.

This year, the Colombian singer has scored two song numbers this year with TQG featuring Karol G. and Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53. with the Argentinian DJ Bizarrap, a diss song, but also an anthem for women’s emancipation.

Both TQG and Sessions would also reach the top 10 of the Hot 100, while the former topped the Billboard Global 200. Sessions reached number one in 16 countries, as well as on Hot Latin Songs.

Recently, Shakira was asked about the controversy surrounding Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53, and whether it was right to speak out so publicly about her relationship with the former football star.

“When I did that session, people on my team said, ‘Please change this. Don’t even think about coming out with those lyrics.’ And I said, “Why not?” I am not a diplomat at the United Nations. I am an artist and I have the right to work on my emotions through my music,” she stated.

She continued, “It’s my catharsis and my therapy, but it’s also a lot of people’s therapy. I know I’m the voice of many people, and I’m not pretentious, just realistic. I lend my voice to a lot of women who may have also wanted to say the same things I did, but may not have had the validation to do so.”

It sounded like Shakira felt an obligation to speak out for women as a whole when it came to the lyrics of songs like Sessions and TQG.

“I think songs like the Bizarrap session or like the one I did with Karol have given a lot of women strength, self-empowerment, self-confidence and also the support to express and say what they need to say.”

Before her recent string of hits, Shakira’s last number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart was Chantaje, featuring Maluma, in 2016.

Her descent from the top of the charts over the past decade sounded more like a choice for a woman who prided herself on putting her family and their life in Barcelona first.

‘My priority was my home, my family. I believed in ’till death do us part.’ I believed that dream, and I had that dream for myself, for my children,” the Barranquilla native admitted in the interview.

She added: “My parents have been together for fifty years, I don’t know, and they love each other like on the first day, with a love that is unique and unrepeatable. So I know it’s possible. My mother does not leave my (ill) father’s side. They still kiss on the mouth. And it has always been my example. I wanted that for myself and my children, but it didn’t happen.’

Despite the heartbreak and disappointment, the Try Everything star knew she had to keep going for herself and her two children, Milán (10) and Sasha (8).

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” she declared. ‘That’s what I do: make lemonade.

Since May, when the Colombian star moved from Barcelona to Miami, she has been spending as much time as possible in the recording studio working on new music for an upcoming album and tour.

It will be her twelfth studio album and first since the release of El Dorado in May 2017.

Inspired by her personal life and experiences, El Dorado mainly features songs about the singer’s relationship with Piqué, which began after meeting in 2011.

Now it seems that the focus is largely on Gerard again, in terms of lyrics, but now it is about saying goodbye to the sadness and enjoying her new life in Miami with her children.

“I think this will be the tour of a lifetime,” she said, as preparations for the global trek are still underway. ‘I am very excited. Just imagine: I had my foot on the brake. Now I’m pressing the accelerator, hard.’