News | Entertainment
27 Feb 2026 19:04
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Chris Daughtry "beats himself up" over the deaths of his mother and his stepdaughter

    The 42-year-old singer lost his mother Sandra to breast cancer back in November 2021 just days before his 25-year-old stepdaughter Hannah took her own life and explained that while he dealt with each death differently, he still feels "guilt" over them both


    He said: "I dealt with both differently, processed both losses very differently - the common denominator in both is the guilt. The 'I wish I would have said this. I wish I would've done this. I wish I would've called more.'"

    The 'What About Now' hitmaker - who shot to fame when he reached the final of 'American Idol' back in 2006 with his rock band Daughtry and has been married to Hannah's mother Deanna since 2000 - was on tour when Hannah passed away and explained that "guilt" is the hardest thing to deal with when itcomes to grief because "you can't do anything about it."

    Speaking on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', he added: "Those moments of guilt are the hardest because you can't do anything about it. There are always going to be reminders of what you could've done or whatever, and I tend to beat myself up a lot over it.

    Following the death of Hannah, the family claimed that Hannah died by suicide while under the influence of narcotics at her home in Fentress County, Tennessee, in a statement, which went on to discuss Hannah's struggles which saw her being "shot in

    the face" in 2018, shortly after her biological father committed suicide.

    At the time, Chris said he was "devastated and heartbroken" by the tragic news.

    He wrote on Instagram: "I am still processing the last 24 hours. I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken. "I just recently lost my mother to cancer but I was blessed with the chance to say goodbye and I was processing it privately. "We never got to say goodbye to our precious Hannah and it's another huge hit to our family."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     27 Feb: Martin Short endured a series of personal tragedies before the death of his daughter Katherine Hartley Short - including the deaths of his parents, brother and former wife
     27 Feb: Jamie Lee Curtis has recalled her "little family" with Robert Carradine and his daughter Ever
     27 Feb: Kristen Bell insists she won't "roast people" at the Actor Awards
     27 Feb: Katherine Short's fatal gunshot wound appears to have been "self-inflicted", 911 audio has revealed
     27 Feb: BAFTA has launched a "comprehensive review" of its 2026 Film Awards ceremony
     27 Feb: Katherine Short spoke publicly about living with "mental illness" and the support she received from her service dog in the years before her death
     27 Feb: Donald Faison admits JD and Turk's bromance on Scrubs is "way stronger" than his and Zach Braff's
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Portia Woodman-Wickcliffe has retired from rugby for a second time, aged 34 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Commerce Commission has issued guidance on changes to gift card rules More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    A huge 8-nil win over Samoa for the Football Ferns in their Fifa World Cup qualifier in Honiara 18:57

    Politics:
    An economist says benefit sanctions aren't working 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Martin Short endured a series of personal tragedies before the death of his daughter Katherine Hartley Short - including the deaths of his parents, brother and former wife 18:51

    Rugby League:
    A mix of emotions for Auckland FC coach Steve Corica regarding the future of attacking weapon Jesse Randall 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Jamie Lee Curtis has recalled her "little family" with Robert Carradine and his daughter Ever 18:21

    Entertainment:
    Kristen Bell insists she won't "roast people" at the Actor Awards 17:51

    Golf:
    Amateur golfer Yuki Miya is in a place no one ... not even the 20-year-old himself ... thought he'd be, leading the New Zealand Open at the halfway stage 17:47

    Politics:
    The Post Primary Teachers Association says poor planning is to blame for a lack of high school teachers 17:37

    Law and Order:
    Two people have been arrested in connection to the death of Rotorua woman Sharlene Smith - one charged with her murder 17:37

    Entertainment:
    Katherine Short's fatal gunshot wound appears to have been "self-inflicted", 911 audio has revealed 17:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd