News | Entertainment
17 Feb 2026 7:50
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
     17 Feb: John Cleese says criticism of Islam is "not racist, it's culturalist"
     17 Feb: Margaret Qualley has described Jack Antonoff as her "person" in a rare comment about their marriage
     17 Feb: Stephen 'tWitch' Boss's widow Allison Holker has got engaged
     16 Feb: Steven Spielberg has donated $25,000 to help James Van Der Beek's family
     16 Feb: Michelle Obama got 10 new ear piercings in one sitting
     16 Feb: Margot Robbie has credited Rachel McAdams with helping her land all her major roles
     16 Feb: Daisy Lowe is pregnant with her second child
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A Dunedin man who sent a secretly-recorded sex tape to dozens of rugby mates, has failed to have his conviction quashed More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Now's the time to buy for those looking to get on the property ladder More...



     Today's News

    International:
    How to decide what type of car insurance is best for you 7:37

    Law and Order:
    A Dunedin man who sent a secretly-recorded sex tape to dozens of rugby mates, has failed to have his conviction quashed 7:37

    Entertainment:
    John Cleese says criticism of Islam is "not racist, it's culturalist" 7:27

    Environment:
    Thousands of Wellingtonians could be without power until Wednesday 7:27

    Law and Order:
    A learner driver who was under the influence of drugs when he struck four motorcyclists - three fatally - has been sentenced to eight and half years jail 7:27

    Health & Safety:
    Late diagnoses of ovarian cancer could come down to public confusion about the screening process 7:17

    Politics:
    The night snow came to Livigno, turning this surreal valley into an even greater paradise 7:07

    Law and Order:
    A man with a violent history will be sentenced today for murdering a Christchurch mother 7:07

    Entertainment:
    Margaret Qualley has described Jack Antonoff as her "person" in a rare comment about their marriage 6:57

    Entertainment:
    Stephen 'tWitch' Boss's widow Allison Holker has got engaged 6:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd