Phil Collins opens up about his biggest regret
The 75-year-old musician says his demanding career contributed to the breakdown of his first marriage.
British musician Phil Collins has reflected on his three marriages and the impact his music career had on his family, saying he regrets that his relationships with his wives ended.
In a recent interview with Piers Morgan on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," the 75-year-old singer and drummer spoke candidly about his personal life and his five children, according to Fox News.
"To some extent, I have to say I regret my marriages falling apart," Collins said. He also acknowledged that he would not have his five children if those relationships had not happened.
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Collins was married to his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, from 1975 to 1980. He adopted Bertorelli's daughter, Joely, and they had a son, Simon.
He later married Jill Tavelman, with whom he has daughter Lily, from 1984 to 1996. His third marriage, to Orianne Cevey, lasted from 1999 to 2006, and they have two sons, Nicholas and Mathew.
Looking back on his first marriage, Collins said his demanding schedule with Genesis meant he was frequently away from home.
"Genesis did, in one year, I think, three American tours, two European tours, and a tour of Japan," he said. "I was gone, and we grew apart."
Collins said he had never planned to marry three times and that, despite the breakdown of his marriages, he "always tried to be there for the kids".
His relationship with Lily has also evolved over the years. In her 2017 memoir Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, Lily wrote about the difficulties she experienced growing up and her feelings towards her father.
"I forgive you for not always being there when I needed you, for not being the dad I expected," she wrote in an excerpt read by Morgan.
The father and daughter have since grown closer. Lily shared photos of herself with Collins while celebrating his 75th birthday in January and described herself as grateful to spend the milestone with him.
She has also publicly expressed her appreciation for her father, including in a Father's Day tribute, where she thanked him for his "unconditional love, guidance and support".
Lily, who stars in the Netflix series Emily in Paris, welcomed her first child, Tove, with her husband, Charlie McDowell, via surrogate in January 2025, according to Fox News.
