Shakira Says She Put Her Career on Hold for Ex Gerard Piqué Before Breakup

Shakira is ready for her comeback after heartbreak, and that's the deal, my dear.

Ahead of the upcoming release of her first studio album in seven years, the "Whenever, Wherever" singer is reflecting on her musical journey and how it was affected by her relationship to former pro-soccer player Gerard Piqué, from whom she split in 2022.

"For a long time I put my career on hold, to be next to Gerard, so he could play football," Shakira told the Times of London newspaper in an interview posted March 16. "There was a lot of sacrifice for love."

The Grammy winner and her ex, with whom she shares sons Milan, 11, and Sasha, 9, announced their split in June 2022 after 11 years together and five months before the star athlete retired from professional soccer. Since then, she has released several new singles, most of which will be featured on her upcoming album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. The record, whose title translates in English to "Women No Longer Cry," is set to drop March 22.

"There were so many pieces of my life that crumbled in front of my eyes and I had to rebuild myself in a way, picking up the bones from the floor and putting them all together," Shakira told the Times. "And the glue that kept it all together was music."

While the "Hips Don't Lie" singer continuously released new songs during her relationship with Gerard, she has not toured since 2018. She has, however, performed sporadic gigs in recent years, including a joint 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show with Jennifer Lopez and a sizzling solo performance at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

In her new music, Shakira expresses her emotions about her breakup from Gerard. The singer told the Times that her new album represents "the transformation of pain into creativity, frustration into productivity, anger into passion, vulnerability into resilience."

Case in point: Track "BZRP Music Session #53," released as a single in January 2023—two weeks before Gerard and Clara Chia Marti made their romance Instagram official—contains the Spanish lyrics, translated to English: "A she-wolf like me isn't for guys like you, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh / For guys like you, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh / I was out of your league, that's why you're / With someone just like you, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh."

As for how her and Gerard's sons feel about the song, Shakira told the Times, "They know that there's only one way to live life and it's accepting the pain. And each one of us has different ways of doing that."

And Milan is following in his mother's footsteps as he processes his parents' breakup. "When his father and I were going through separation, he wrote two amazing songs," Shakira told the newspaper, "the kind that will bring you to tears."

Look back at Shakira's family photos over the years:

Family vacation! Shakira shared snapshots of her and her children visiting Disney World in Florida in January 2022.

The mother-son duo wore their Mickey Mouse ears while enjoying a day at the amusement park.

"Watching the @miamiheat win while having a hugs and kisses session," the artist captioned a December 2021 Instagram post, "(sweeter than a pound of cotton candy!)"

Shakira posted a video of herself and her "new dancers" brushing up on their choreography to TikTok in August 2021.

Shakira spent time with her boys after Christmas and couldn't help but snuggle up with all of them.

Gerard Piqué had a boys' day with his sons Milan and Sasha in October 2018.

These two are best friends and it's too cute.

Sasha and Milan looked like little rockers as they watched their mom in concert in summer of 2018.

The family of four rang in the new year together in a snowy location in 2017.

After Sasha got sick in 2016, Shakira shared this snap to show how happy and healthy he was.

Happy baby, happy father.

The "Whenever, Wherever" singer loves taking her boys with her on her travels...even all the way to Japan!

"Daddy-Sasha time!" Piqué captioned this adorable selfie in December 2015.

In October 2015, the family dressed up as the iconic Italian mouse character Topo Gigio for Halloween.

Lovey, lovey.

Milan and Sasha brought their dad good luck during a Spanish league football match.

The retired soccer star snuggled up to his two boys in May 2015 and there is almost too much cuteness in this photo to handle. 

The family members enjoyed a day of fun at the farm in 2014.

Shakira and her now-ex took their son Milan on a trip in 2014 before they expanded their family.

The Colombian singer shared a sweet smooch with her oldest son before getting ready for baby number two.

We can't get over this photo of Shakira and Milan. It's so stinking cute.

In 2013, Milan dressed up as a police man for Halloween and it was adorable.

Summertime in the French countryside sounds wonderful don't you think? We have a feeling Shakira and her family loved every second they were there.

In July 2013, the athlete spent quality time with his first born.

Milan has the giggles thanks to his dad's tickles.

When Shakira was a coach on The Voice, she made sure to bring her son along for the ride.

Gerard looked totally at ease as he held his son back in April 2013.

Baby Milan looked so peaceful in this family photo at his first soccer game.