Lisa McHugh is a doting mother and country music superstar. She’s just as fun, energetic and bubbly off stage as she is when she’s performing. The singer and her husband Nathan Khan have had a busy year after welcoming their second child, baby Hallie, who is now seven months. They are also parents to son Milo, who turns three this month. Lisa’s pregnancy journey with Hallie wasn’t easy after contracting a chest infection and pleurisy in the lead-up to the birth. Hallie was also in the neo-natal unit following her arrival and she was diagnosed with RSV and bronchitis before Christmas. Here, Lisa opens up about balancing motherhood as a mum-of-two, getting back on stage after giving birth and her busy year ahead.
Congratulations on the birth of baby Hallie, how is she?
She’s an angel, but she has had a rough start. She was in neo-natal for the first eight days of her life and then she was very unsettled with reflux and dairy intolerance. She was a wee unsettled chick for a while.
You also had a rough end to your pregnancy with a chest infection, pleurisy and long covid.
It was a rough time toward the end of things. Thankfully, we’re out the other side and everyone’s healthy.
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Is Hallie in more of a routine now?
It’s great to have that routine because babies really rely on it. Milo is great with her at home as well. Saying that, things are absolutely chaotic!
What was Milo’s reaction like when Hallie came home from hospital?
It was such a shock for him because I went out to get checked for a headache and I didn’t come back again for nine days. He didn’t know what was going on. When he came to the hospital to bring Hallie and I home, he wasn’t even interested in me, he went straight over to see Hallie. He’s obsessed with her and he’s really good with her.
How did you and Nathan explain your absence to him?
We didn’t, we just said I was away at the doctors. We could have brought him to see us in the hospital, but we weren’t leaving, so I didn’t want him to come and not have us go home with him again. That wouldn’t have been fair. We only brought him to the hospital when we were ready to go home with him. From that moment on, he was stuck to me for weeks and weeks.
What’s it like managing two kids?
It’s absolutely mental! And I thought I was busy with one kid…
How is Nathan finding being a dad of two?
We’re surviving and treading on water [laughs]. They’re a handful, but being parents is the best.
Does knowing what you were in for the second time round make it a bit easier, or are you ever prepared for it?
I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jump it was going to be, going from one to two kids. Hallie was so unsettled and we didn’t know what was wrong with her, so it was such a contrast to Milo and his birth. That was a big shock to us all.
Where did Hallie’s beautiful name come from?
We had a list of names when I was pregnant with Milo and we never really added to it at all. Hallie was
one of the names that I loved back then. I couldn’t believe it was a girl, first of all, and then she just looked like a Hallie when she came along.
You were back working on The Late Late Show Country Special a couple of months after having Hallie. Was it nice to get back out there and do what you love to do?
I took a long break away from work after having Milo two years ago and I knew that I didn’t want to take as long this time around. I was off from July until October and it was great to be part of The Late Late Show Country Special . It was a great show to come back for. I eased myself back into work gently with a few shows. This year will be mayhem!
Have you a jam-packed calendar for 2025?
We’ve a very busy year ahead. It’s great to be busy, but I’m not looking forward to the juggle.
What’s it like getting back on stage and being Lisa McHugh the singer, and not Lisa McHugh the mam?
It was so much fun. One of my first gigs back was Nathan Carter’sCarter On The Costa sun trip and
the audience gave me two standing ovations during my show. I was a bit nervous beforehand because it had been a while since I had performed. I was afraid of mum brain kicking in and that I would forget the lyrics, but thankfully it went really well.
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Were you nervous leaving Nathan and the kids at home while you went to Spain?
No, they came with me. That created even more chaos. I was changing nappies half an hour before I went on stage [laughs]. It was lovely having them there.
What was it like travelling as a family of four?
Thankfully, my mum and dad travelled over with us. We were so glad of the extra hands.
Read the full interview and see all the fabulous pictures in this month's issue of RSVP Magazine - on shelves now
English (US) ·